STIR UP THE GIFT – 2 Timothy 1:1-7
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on October 1, 2014 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group; October 1, 2014
2 Timothy 1:1-7
Theme: The apostle Paul reminds Timothy of his good heritage to encourage him in faithfulness..
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
This morning, we begin a study of the last of Paul’s letters—a second letter to his beloved colleague Timothy, and the letter he wrote just before he was put to death for his faith.
Scholars believe that Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem (described for us in Acts 21-22) occurred in 58 A.D. His arrival in Rome (described in Acts 28) probably occurred in 61 A.D.; and he was released two years later. From 64-67 A.D., Paul carried on his missionary work—very possibly making a trip to Spain; and wrote 1 Timothy and Titus from Macedonia. But he was arrested again in 67 A.D. and imprisoned again in Rome. It was during this time that Caesar Nero had burned Rome; and wanting to deflect the blame from himself, he accused the Christians. A great imperial persecution occurred; and Paul was taken from prison and beheaded in 68 A.D. It was shortly before his execution that he wrote this second letter to Timothy.
One of the things that stands out in the reading of this letter is the personal resolve we see in Paul to stand strong and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ in the face of persecution (1:12; 2:8-10; 3:10-12; 4:6-8, 17-18). And he often uses himself as an example in this letter to urge Timothy to faithfulness (1:8, 13, 2:1-3, 3:10-14). There is no indication whatsoever that Timothy was shrinking back because of the persecutions he saw. But it may be that he was tempted to do so, and needed encouragement—which Paul was eager to give. The key verse might be 2:15–“Be diligent to present yourself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Paul certainly exemplified such integrity of ministry to him! A very simple outline of this letter might look like this:
I. BE ACCEPTING OF AFFLICTION FOR THE GOSPEL (Chapter 1).
II. BE APPROVED BEFORE GOD IN YOUR WORK (Chapter 2).
III. BE AWARE THAT A FALLING AWAY IS COMING (Chapter 3).
IV. BE ACTIVE IN THE LIGHT OF PROMISED REWARD (Chapter 4).
Note, then, how Paul’s letter begins with . . .
I. A BOLD GREETING (vv. 1-2).
A. Paul beings with these words: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus . . .” (v. 1). Such an introduction to such a letter is filled with significance. Paul introduced himself as an apostle—making this a very authoritative letter. He affirmed that his authority as an apostle was not from himself—as so many ‘false apostles’ boasted in his day (and as even some boast today). His authority came directly from Christ (see Galatians 1:1). Many who were opposed to his gospel doubted his apostleship, and perhaps even drew support for their doubts in the fact that he was suffering in a prison. But he nevertheless asserted that his message—and the ministry of preaching it—was indeed from the Lord. And he affirmed that he fulfilled that ministry according to the promise of life in Christ. He was about to lay down his life; but he had confidence—knowing who it was that he believed, and that He was able to keep his life for him in the light of the Day of His return (see v. 12).
B. The bold apostle Paul greeted Timothy with genuine love and tender compassion. He wrote, “To Timothy, a beloved son . . .” (v. 2). It may be that Timothy was brought to faith in the Lord by Paul; so Paul always felt a fatherly love for him. He wishes the very best for Timothy; saying, “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those things could only be his through Christ. And note the order: God’s grace comes first in His provision of His Son; then mercy that comes to those who place their faith in the cross of His Son; and finally peace because of a relationship with God through His Son. Paul could wish this for Timothy because he knew that he truly was in Christ—and he could wish no better things in Christ for him than these things.
II. A GRATEFUL RECOLLECTION (vv. 3-5).
A. Paul’s first official act in this letter is to give thanks to God—quite a thing to do while in a prison cell awaiting execution! As we read on in verse 5, what it is that Paul gives thanks for is the recollection of the faith in Christ that Timothy displayed. But in verse 3, Paul expresses the manner in which he gives thanks for Timothy’s faith. He affirmed: “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” (v. 3). The fact that Paul was in a prison cell wasn’t an indication that he was out of God’s will. He affirmed that, in his ministry, he served the God of his fathers—the Jewish ancestors—with a pure conscience (see Acts 23:1), because he preached nothing more than what was in the Scriptures. As he stood before Governor Felix, back in Acts 24:14, he said this: “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.” But in that confidence, he remembered Timothy in prayer night and day. Imagine what an encouragement it must have been to Timothy to know that such a great and faithful man remembered such a worthy thing about him and was praying for him day and night! Sadly, many of us are “remembered” for our failures and our unworthy behavior—but how it must have stirred Timothy to know that he was remembered and prayed for so well!
B. In thinking of Timothy in this way, Paul expressed his genuine heart of affection for him; “greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy . . .” (v. 4). Those tears from Timothy came at their parting; but they only increased Paul’s longing for his young friend. In fact, viewed from its practical purpose, this letter was written as an official call for Timothy to come to him (see 4:13, 21). But the practical call was certainly prefaced with great affection.
C. And then comes that for which Paul gave thanks: “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” (v. 5). Can there be a higher commendation from the great apostle Paul than that one’s faith was certain to him to be the real deal? Paul pointed to Timothy’s heritage of faith to stir up his passion. He reminded him of his believing mother and grandmother (see Acts 16:1). It’s very clear that they taught Timothy from the earliest days of his life from the Scriptures (3:14-15). God never wastes a good heritage of faith!
III. A SERIOUS ADMONITION (vv. 6-7).
A. That thing for which Paul gave thanks now becomes the basis of his appeal: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (v. 6). Paul was a part of the eldership that first laid hands on Timothy and set him apart for ministry (1 Timothy 4:14). It was not that the laying-on of hands conferred a gift to Timothy, but rather that it recognized and confirmed that it was already there from the Lord. But Timothy was in danger of allowing what had been given to him—both by a godly heritage and an official calling—to grow cold and inactivated. Therefore, Paul called him to stir it up—just like a fire needs to be occasionally stirred into flame. Note that the gift was of God—but the stirring up of the gift was of Timothy! We too need to stir up the flame—lest we loose our zeal!
B. The reason that the flame might cool is made clear: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (v. 7). Timothy was perhaps growing “timid” (or “cowardly”, as the word Paul used could imply). We can hold back in our faithfulness because of the fear of what we might suffer. But Paul—sitting in a prison cell—reminds Timothy that such a fear is not from God. God gives us a prevailing attitude of power, love and soundness of mind through His indwelling Holy Spirit. So, away with the opposites—weakness, fear and undisciplined, thinking!
* * * * * * * * * *
Paul will now go on in the letter to urge Timothy to be willing to face suffering along with him for the cause of the gospel. That’s a forward look. But in this morning’s introduction, he gave Timothy a backward look—a glance back at his godly heritage from his mother and grandmother, and the great example he had received from Paul—to stand as the basis for that forward look.
May God help us to learn from the good things He has given us in the past, and stir up our zeal for His cause for the times ahead.
