Lesson 9
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, may the words of our mouths, the thoughts and meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You. May You and the Holy Spirit’s anointing be with us to open our spiritual eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to understand and apply Your teaching, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
2 Timothy 1: 1-18, salutation, prayer, instructions
VV 1-2, 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, a beloved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul spelled out his credentials, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God will according to the promise of God. Paul pronounced a blessing of grace, mercy, and peace to the recipient of this epistle, Timothy, his protege and spiritual god-son in the faith.
VV 3-7, 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Paul thanked God in prayer day and night without ceasing, with a pure conscience, and a great desire to see Timothy. Timothy’s messianic Christian grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice, nurtured him in the faith from a young age. Paul imparted spiritual gifts to Timothy through the laying of hands. Paul encouraged Timothy to be bold because the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will anoint him with power and a sound mind.
VV 8-11, 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Paul encouraged Timothy to share in his sufferings, and not be ashamed of him and the gospel of Christ. The gospel had the power of God to save lives, Romans 1:16. God saved us with a Holy calling, not according to our works but according to grace. grave. He saved us by grace through faith. Jesus Christ through His incarnation abolished death on the cross, brought eternal life and immortality to those who believe in Him. Paul spelled out his credentials again, preacher, apostle, and teacher to the Gentiles.
Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek’’.
V 12, For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel despite suffering and persecutions, because he believed that Christ was able to keep all that he had committed to Him until His second coming.
VV 13-18, 13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day, and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
Paul encouraged Timothy to believe in sound doctrine with faith and love. Many of his supporters in Asia Minor including Phygellus and Hermogenes had deserted him. Paul prayed for the family of Onesiphorus, his faithful supporter and co-worker in the faith, who was not ashamed of him and ministered to him in many ways at Ephesus.
Application:
Paul’s instructions to Timothy also apply to us. We are to believe in sound doctrines with faith and love. We should not be ashamed of the gospel despite suffering, tribulations, and persecutions, because it is the power of God to save lives. We are to persist and persevere in prayer every day, giving thanks to God, and interceding for our family, friends, and associates.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us to hold firmly to sound doctrines with faith and love. Help us not be ashamed of the gospel because it had the power to save lives. Help us give thanks to You every day in prayer and intercessions for our family, friends, and associates, in Jesus’ name, Amen.