Bible Commentaries
2 Timothy 1

Verses 1-5

2 Timothy 1:1-5 . Introductory— Salutation ( 2 Timothy 1:1 f.) and Thanksgiving ( 2 Timothy 1:3-5 ).— For the official form of salutation cf. 1 Timothy 1:1 f.*

Moved by affectionate remembrance, Paul, thanks God for some recent reminder of Timothy’ s faith, a faith witnessed earlier in his mother and grandmother.

2 Timothy 1:2 . mercy: 1 Timothy 1:2 *.

2 Timothy 1:3 . The ground of thanksgiving is 2 Timothy 1:5 (contrast AV and RV), and the true rendering: “ I thank God . . . since my remembrance . . . is unceasing . . . that I have been reminded.”

2 Timothy 1:4 . tears at their last separation.— faith: not Jewish (Zahn), but as the sequence of thought demands, Christian.— Eunice: Acts 16:1.

Verses 6-11

2 Timothy 1:6 to 2 Timothy 2:13 . Appeal to Timothy for Courage in Face of Difficulties.

( a) 2 Timothy 1:6-11 . Direct Appeal, based on Timothy’ s Ordination Gift.— The false teachers have created a situation demanding courageous treatment. Timothy has not failed (the Greek tense in 2 Timothy 1:8 implies “ do not begin to be ashamed” ), but he plainly needs enheartening. Paul appeals for strong action on three grounds. The first is the character implied in Timothy’ s ordination gift. The spirit of power, love, and self-discipline therein conveyed should suffice ( a) to save him from becoming ashamed of his testimony, and ( b) to enable him to take his share in suffering hardships for the gospel’ s sake, with a strength of which God’ s power is the measure. This power, guaranteed to Timothy in his ordination, is no less than that which wrought for our salvation and high calling. It depends, moreover, not upon our own deeds but upon God’ s eternal purpose, and its magnitude is witnessed in the Incarnation and the Resurrection.

2 Timothy 1:6 . the gift, etc.: 1 Timothy 4:14 *.

2 Timothy 1:9 . who saved: 1 Timothy 1:1 *.— not . . . works: a characteristically Pauline passage ( cf. Titus 3:5).

2 Timothy 1:10 . abolished: rather, “ brought to naught.”

Verses 12-14

( b) 2 Timothy 1:12-14 . An Appeal to Paul’ s own Example.— The second ground of Paul’ s appeal is his own example. He too, being an apostle, suffers hardship. But he is not ashamed ( cf. 2 Timothy 1:8). For the safeguarding of the truth committed to him he relies on God’ s power. Timothy must do the same. He has in Paul’ s own words a pattern of sound teaching. Let him guard his trust, relying, like Paul, not on his own strength, but on the indwelling spirit.

2 Timothy 1:12 . that which, etc.: rather as mg.— i.e. the true doctrine ( 1 Timothy 1:10 *), the antidote to error.

2 Timothy 1:13. sound: 1 Timothy 1:10 *.

Verses 15-18

( c) 2 Timothy 1:15-18 . A Personal Appeal.— The apostle’ s earlier disappointments form the third ground of appeal. All his Asian friends— perhaps by withholding help in his captivity— had proved disloyal. Timothy must not add further sorrow by failing him now. A parenthesis ( 2 Timothy 1:16-18) recognises one honourable exception in Asia. Onesiphorus, according to tradition Paul’ s host at Iconium, had visited his Roman prison and repeated well-known earlier kindnesses. For his household now, and for Onesiphorus (who was perhaps dead) at the last, Paul craves God’ s mercy.

2 Timothy 1:15 . Phygelus, Hermogenes: of these men nothing certain is recorded.