SECOND TIMOTHY

Chapter 1

Introduction

In July of 64 A.D. a great fire destroyed a large part of the city of Rome. Rumors freely circulated in the devastated city that the fire had been ordered by Nero. Through various relief efforts Nero unsuccessfully sought to remove suspicion from himself. In a final desperate effort to clear his name, Nero charged the Christians. The result was savage persecution against Christians, beginning in October of that same year. Hundreds of Christians died by means of hideous martyrdoms. Christianity was considered treason against Rome. Waves of persecution spread out from Rome to its provinces.

The Apostle Paul was arrested for a second time, taken to Rome, and this time bound in a dank dungeon. He was treated as a dangerous criminal, an enemy of the State. When his trial came up he was accused of a capital crime. Paul courageously took up his own defense, preaching the gospel to the judges and showing that Christianity was no enemy to Rome. His bold words made a verdict of guilty difficult, so he was for a time remanded to prison as the case was adjourned for further study by the court. Although he had escaped the imminent danger of death, he knew that his execution had only been postponed. He would write, in Second Timothy 4:6 and 7,

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Paul would eventually be led out of the city and, with the flash of the executioner's sword, his head would be severed from his body.

From a purely human point of view, the church seemed bound for extinction. It's key founder and leader, Paul, was soon to be executed. Believers were becoming ashamed to be associated with Jesus, His church, or its leaders.

We are not enduring intense persecution like our first century brothers and sisters were, but we can still feel ashamed. We're embarrassed and hesitant to share our faith for fear of ridicule or rejection.

Three times in chapter one Paul tells Timothy that he has nothing to be ashamed of - in verses 8, 12, and 16. They are words for us as well, any of us who have ever been or who ever will be ashamed. They tell you three things: #1 Serving Is Nothing For You To Be Ashamed Of, #2 Suffering Is Nothing For You To Be Ashamed Of, and #3 Seeking Is Nothing For You To Be Ashamed Of

Paul served God with a pure conscience, and he exhorted Timothy to stir up his gift and do the same, regardless the stigma of shame that was attached to being a Christian

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul served as he did because it was the "will of God." It wasn't his whim to be an apostle; it was God's will. God's purpose for Paul came with a promise - "the promise of life in Christ Jesus." Real life, meaningful life, had begun for Paul when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus promised Paul life, and Paul purposed to serve Him.

Timothy had come to know Jesus under Paul's preaching. A traveling companion of Paul's, Timothy had been left in Ephesus to pastor the church there. "Grace and peace" are the normal salutation; here he adds "mercy" because of the difficult days they were facing.

2 Timothy 1:3 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,

Paul was in prison... The church was being persecuted... Yet he was thankful! Perhaps he was thankful because he was prayerful, praying "night and day."

He stays on his topic of serving, saying he had a "pure conscience." Regardless his being in prison, regardless the church being persecuted, he had done nothing wrong.

Mentioning his "forefathers," the nation of Israel, tells you that the message of the gospel is nothing new or unique to Paul. It was the completion and continuation of the message God had been presenting to mankind since the Garden of Eden and through the Old Testament.

2 Timothy 1:4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,

Timothy had cried at their last parting, and was probably crying frequently, knowing Paul was facing execution. His spiritual father, his spiritual adviser, his friend was going home ahead of him. How would he carry on without the wisdom of the great apostle?

2 Timothy 1:5 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.

God had done a work in three generations of Timothy's family. Twice he emphasizes the genuineness of Timothy's conversion. It's as if he was telling Timothy that he had no choice but to go on serving His Lord.

You don't choose to serve God; He chooses you to serve Him! If you are genuinely saved, your life belongs to Him to do with as He pleases.

Perhaps Timothy was considering drawing back, having a lower profile. After all, as a leader he would especially be in danger during any official persecution.

2 Timothy 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Rather than draw back Timothy ought to "stir up the gift of God." Fan to flame your gift is another translation. Burn all the more brightly on account of the darkness surrounding you.

Paul had been among those who prayed for Timothy at his ordination. God had imparted to him everything he needed to serve Him. Rather than give in to his fears, he ought to walk in "power and love and a sound mind:"

"Power" because he may himself face martyrdom...

"Love" that sacrifices for the good of others at any cost...

"A sound mind," literally self-discipline to stay on the course God set for him...

Serving God was nothing to be ashamed of. Prison and persecution were not shameful; they were honorable! Always the apostles thanked God that they were counted worthy to be identified with Jesus as His prisoners, as His persecuted.

Serving God is nothing to be ashamed of! Ridicule and resentment are not shameful; they are honorable. You are the light in the dark place you call your job, or your school, or your neighborhood. Fan to flame the things God has given you.

Twice in this next set of verses Paul speaks of his sufferings.

2 Timothy 1:8 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,

Being in prison can cause considerable shame to those associated with the prisoner. Paul was not really the prisoner of Nero; he was the prisoner of Jesus - in prison on His behalf. It is our lot in life to suffer for the sake of the gospel, but we do so "according to the power of God."

2 Timothy 1:9 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,

You are a part of a great and eternal plan that God determined "before time began." In eternity past, God purposed to "save" by grace all those who would believe on His Son, Jesus Christ. He "called" you individually by means of the gospel message. Your salvation has nothing to do with your "works," but now that you are saved, you have a "holy calling" to perform good works.

Suffering is a part of God's plan. It is nothing to cause shame.

2 Timothy 1:10 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,

God's eternal plan for humanity is revealed and made plain in the "appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ" in His incarnation, then resurrection and ascension. The gospel that saved you and that you now serve and suffer for brings "life and immortality to light" to all those who hear it. Jesus has "abolished death" in the sense that men, women, and children can live forever in heaven. It is worth a little suffering in this life to bring this message to those who would otherwise perish eternally in perdition's flames.

2 Timothy 1:11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

2 Timothy 1:12 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.

A "preacher" is someone who makes a public announcement for someone else. Paul did this with the authority of an "apostle" by means of "teaching."

It was because of his commission by Christ that he suffered. Why, then, be ashamed? The Lord had not abandoned him but was guarding him still. Paul lived for eternity, knowing that the "day" was rapidly approaching that he would see his Lord and be rewarded.

Again Paul exhorts Timothy to persevere in his own suffering:

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

The possibility of suffering was not to disturb Timothy from his ministry. His ministry was "a good thing committed to" him by God and still empowered by "the Holy Spirit" who "dwells in us." Suffering was no reason to shrink back from serving.

Suffering is nothing for you to be ashamed of. Jesus suffered; and if He were here today, He would suffer again at the hands of unbelievers. You stand in His place and suffer for Him!

When Paul's trial first came up, he had sent to Ephesus and all over Asia asking for Christian men to come and offer testimony on his behalf. It would be dangerous to be associated with Paul; everyone disregarded his appeal. Everyone except one.

2 Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;

2 Timothy 1:17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.

2 Timothy 1:18 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.

We don't know why Phygellus and Hermogenes are singled out; but what a terrible thing to be remembered for!

Only Onesiphorus came, at great personal risk. He is described as seeking after Paul in order to minister to him.

Seeking is a spiritual attitude that we need to cultivate more and more. When Dennis Davenport last taught here he described it by using the term "scary faith." You ought to be pressing forward into new spiritual territory, areas you don't feel comfortable in, seeking ought new ministry opportunities - boldly going where you've never gone before!

When is the last time you pressed yourself to step out into uncharted areas? If it's been a while, ask God to show you a new open door to walk through.

Conclusion

Paul told Timothy "do not be ashamed." It doesn't mean that he was. In fact, the verb is in a tense that scholars say indicates that he had not yet become ashamed. Paul's words were meant to be preventive, not corrective.

Still, they tell you that is was a real possibility that Timothy could become ashamed. It was a very real danger that he needed to guard against. And if Timothy needed to be on guard, how much more do we need to be on our guard!

Serving... Suffering... Seeking... Are nothing to be ashamed of.