Be Not Ashamed Of The Gospel

INTRO

Today begins our study of Paul’s second letter to Timothy. In 1 Timothy, we saw how Jesus is Our Mediator. In 2 Timothy, Jesus is presented as the Righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:8). Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are victorious. Through Him, we can receive the crown of righteousness. In our study on 1 Timothy, we learned Timothy’s name means, “one who honors God.”¹ He was brought up in the Word of God by his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. His father was Greek and was probably not a believer (Acts 16:1). Timothy was from the city of Lystra, which was a Roman city in Galatia (which is now Turkey). Paul traveled through Lystra on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6-23), met Timothy there, and probably led Timothy to Christ, and he became Paul’s “dearly loved son”. On his second journey, Paul visited Lystra again and chose to take Timothy with him on the rest of his journey (Acts 16:1–3).

MacArthur outlines the relationship of Paul and Timothy, stating, “Timothy was to be Paul’s disciple, friend, and co-laborer for the rest of the apostle’s life, ministering with him in Berea, Athens, Corinth, and accompanying him on his trip to Jerusalem.”² During Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, Timothy was with him and stayed with him until Paul was released. Timothy then went to Philippi. Timothy also served as Paul’s representative, visiting many of the churches Paul started. At the time of 1 Timothy, Timothy was serving as pastor to the Ephesian church (1 Timothy 1:3).³ Hebrews 13:23 states that, at some point, Timothy was put in jail and later released.⁴

Paul wrote 1 Timothy and Titus shortly after he was released from his first imprisonment in Rome (AD 62–64).⁵ Paul wrote 2 Timothy during his second imprisonment (AD 66–67) and shortly before his execution. During his second imprisonment, Paul had little hope he would be released (2 Timothy 2:9; 4:6–8, 13), and he wrote Timothy to give him his final words of advice and encouragement.⁶ MacArthur compares these two periods of imprisonment for Paul:

“Unlike Paul’s confident hope of release during his first imprisonment, this time he had no such hopes. In his first imprisonment in Rome before Nero had begun the persecution of Christians (AD 64), he was only under house arrest and had opportunity for much interaction with people and ministry (Acts 28:16–31). At this time, five or six years later (AD 66–67), however, he was in a cold cell (2 Timothy 4:13), in chains (2 Timothy 2:9) and with no hope of deliverance (2 Timothy 4:6).”⁷

Within the letter, Paul gave Timothy six exhortations: (1) remain faithful in his work (2 Timothy 1:6); (2) teach and live by strong doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13–14); (3) avoid mistakes (2 Timothy 2:15–18); (4) accept he would face persecution for his faith (2 Timothy 2:3–4; 3:10–12); (5) remain confident in God’s Word; and (6) preach God’s Word without ceasing (2 Timothy 3:15—4:5).⁸ Paul wanted Timothy to remain strong in his faith and in his calling.

TEACHING

2 Timothy 1:1-12: Wiersbe summarizes these voices as courageous enthusiasm.⁹ Paul expressed his call to the ministry (v. 1), his love for Timothy (v. 2), his prayer support for Timothy (v. 3), his joy in his relationship with Timothy (vv. 4a, 5), and his desire to see Timothy (v. 4b). Paul seemed to be acknowledging he was not experiencing that joy while imprisoned the second time and longed to be with his beloved son in Christ.

Having joy is important in the Bible. Robert Driskell gives seven things that are important to know about joy: “Worldly joy is fickle and temporary” (Job 20:5, 18); “in the Old Testament, joy was associated with the true worship of God” (1 Chronicles 15:16; Ezra 3:12; 6:16); “joy is a gift from God” (Galatians 5:22); “doing God’s will increases our joy” (2 Corinthians 1:24; 2:3; Philippians 1:4; 2:2); “circumstances cannot take away our joy” (2 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Peter 4:13); “the only thing that can steal our joy is sin”; and

“Christians should always rejoice” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). C. S. Lewis stated, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”¹⁰ Paul longed to experience that joy with Timothy.

In verse 6, Paul encouraged Timothy to continue to use (“keep ablaze”) the gifts he had received from God. The picture Paul made was that he was sitting in his cell, reviewing his ministry, and remembering a holy time when he and others laid hands on Timothy to commission him for ministry (v. 6). General Booth of the Salvation Army said, “The tendency of fire is to go out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart. Anyone who has tended a fireplace fire knows that it needs to be stirred up occasionally.”¹¹ The laying on of hands is seen throughout Scripture for blessing, healing, and consecration (Numbers 27:18; Mark 10:16; Luke 4:40; Acts 8:17; 1 Timothy 5:22; Revelation 1:17).

Paul then reminds Timothy that fearfulness does not come from God, but power, love, and sound judgment do (v. 7). Paul explains his own situation and tells Timothy not to be ashamed of him in prison or who Timothy is in Christ (v. 8); for Christ has rescued us (saved us) from death and punishment (the process of justification) and called us into a holy calling to be set apart for Him (vv. 9–10). Paul again reviewed his own calling as a herald, apostle, and teacher, and reminds Timothy he suffered because of these callings (vv. 11–12).

2 Timothy 1:13–18: Paul reminds Timothy he had been given spiritual authority and was to hold on to the strong doctrinal teaching he had received (v. 13). Paul reminds Timothy they had shared the gospel for two years, with many converts. Yet all of those in Asia had turned away, including Phygelus and Hermogenes (vv. 13–15). However, Onesiphorus had not fallen away; he had visited Paul often in prison and was not ashamed of his chains (vv. 16–17). Paul prayed Onesiphorus and his family would receive God’s mercy (v. 18).

CLOSING

This is 2 Timothy 1. We’ll continue the story tomorrow.