Bible Commentaries
2 Timothy 1

Verses 1-18

The second letter to Timothy was written from prison. Paul, conscious of the evil existing in the Church, forecast the terrible days that were coming. He was conscious also of the grave responsibility resting on Timothy. He introduced his letter by a revelation of his affection for Timothy, and his thankfulness for him.

His first appeal had to do with Timothy himself. He charged him to "stir up the gift'' he had already received, and not to be "ashamed . . . of the testimony." The qualities of the gift were described as consisting in capacity for oversight, and government in the Church. This must not be exercised in a spirit of cowardice. The kindling to a flame of such a gift would not make the pathway easy. A twofold incentive was revealed in the greatness of the Gospel committed to him as a deposit, and his own experience and convictions.

In this paragraph we have five main assertions, "I was appointed," "I suffered," "I am not ashamed," "I know Him," "I am persuaded." There is yet another, which is subsidiary in the sense of being resultant, "I have believed." Looking back, he wrote, "I was appointed." Thinking of the present, he declared, 'I suffered," ''I am not ashamed," "I know Him." Looking to the future, he said, "I am persuaded."