2 Timothy 1 Commentary
Check Paul’s letters and see how often he references his special calling. He has kept his eyes on the ball! So dramatic is Paul’s calling that he won’t stop referring to it. In this salutation, he has underlined his apostleship as one coming from Christ Jesus. The mission is “to proclaim the promised life, which we have in union with Christ Jesus.”
The danger of straying away from the mission is so real today that many ministers of the gospel must be reminded of their mission! The mission is never “self-made”. The “I want” statement from the lips of the minister is a constant reminder of this danger.
This letter is personal and reveals the human side of Paul. You can tell the great apostle is winding down – looking back at his ministry and at the same, time looking to the future. A future without him in the picture.
He has served the LORD as his ancestors did. He has the 3 patriarchs, an entire host of prophets, godly priests, and great leaders – the servants of the LORD, to refer to as his ancestors who faithfully served the LORD. Timothy has his own tree of godliness – the mother Eunice and the grandmother Lois. What a special blessing to have it this way!
There existed numerous counterfeits in Paul’s day. We still have them today. But Paul hopes Timothy would look to him as one of the godly “ancestors”, an example to be proud of. He has fought a good fight…
The Christian walk shouldn’t be a source of shame. The ways of the LORD don’t have to make you ashamed. It is a moment of pride! Serious saints want to join in! Verse 8. The Christian walk is immortality by itself! Why should the saint be ashamed of this greatness? And if you know whom you have believed in, you are fully persuaded that He is able to bring to fruition His promises!
Persecution is a refinery. Gold is separated from mud! Phygelus and Hermogenes have shown their true colors. Onesiphorus has also shown his true color! Hard times for the church work as a sieve. How else do you separate the useless from the useful? Of course, it isn’t a separation technique for the strong from the weak. No. Rather, it is a process that separates the Spirit-dependent individuals from those who feel they can make it by their own strength. Eventually, the self-willed and the self-powered individuals fall off.
Onesiphorus is a good example. He can walk the talk in desperate times because of the Holy Spirit. There is no other way to God!
The closing verses (inadvertently) reveal Paul’s location. He is in Rome, under detention. Onesiphorus is an all-weather friend. He helped Paul under “normal” circumstances in Ephesus and hard times in Rome. Christianity can not have two faces depending on circumstance. The rules remain the same, regardless. Love must always flow!
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