2 Timothy 1:6-11

PART ONE

Exhortations 1:6-2:26

1.

DO NOT BE ASHAMED 2 Timothy 1:6-18

a.

Timothy 2 Timothy 1:6-11

Text 1:6-11

6 For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. 8 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God; 9 who 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 us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, 10 but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.

Thought Questions 1:6-11

15.

What cause does Paul have in mind in 2 Timothy 1:6 a?

16.

Had Timothy forgotten he had agift from God? Why the use of the term, remembrance?

17.

What was the gift of God possessed by Timothy?

18.

What would Timothy need to do in order to stir into a flame the gift of God?

19.

When and where did Paul give Timothy this gift? Is there a discrepancy when we compare 1 Timothy 4:14 with 2 Timothy 1:6?

20.

Was Timothy fearful, as indicated in 2 Timothy 1:8?

21.

In what realm of life is the power of God to be exercised?

22.

What is the meaning and application of the word, discipline?

23.

What is, the testimony of our Lord?

24.

In what regard would Timothy be tempted to be ashamed of Paul?

25.

Paul was a prisoner, but he felt he was not held first by Rome, but by whom?

26.

Paul suffered hardship with the gospel according to the power of God. Specify at least two instances of such.

27.

In what sense are we to understand the phrase, who saved us? Are we saved, or in the process of being saved? Explain.

28.

What is the holy calling by which we have been called?

29.

What works are before the mind of the apostle, as in 2 Timothy 1:9 b?

30.

There is some distinction between purpose and gracewhat is it? In whom do we have our purpose and grace?

31.

Explain in context the phrase, before times eternal (2 Timothy 1:9 b).

32.

What has now been manifested? How?

33.

In what sense did Christ abolish death?

34.

Give your own explanation as to just how Christ brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. I thought we were, by nature, immortal beings.

35.

To what was Paul appointed as a preacher, and an apostle. and a teacher?

Paraphrase 1:6-11

6 Because I believe thy faith to be unfeigned, I put thee in mind to stir up the spiritual gift of God which thou possessest through the imposition of my hands: Improve thy gift, by boldly exercising it in preaching and defending the doctrines of the gospel against all false teachers.
7 For God hath not infused into us a spirit of cowardice which shrinks at danger, but of courage, such as becometh those who possess the gifts of inspiration and miracles, and of benevolence, which disposes us to communicate the Gospel to all mankind, and of self-government, to behave with prudence on every occasion.
8 Wherefore, be not thou, like many in this city, ashamed of testifying the things which concern our Lord Jesus, neither be thou ashamed of me who am a prisoner on his account: But do thou come and jointly suffer evil with me for the gospel which I preach to the Gentiles, according to the power of God bestowed on thee;
9 Who hath resolved to save us, and for that purpose hath called us into his kingdom with an holy calling; a calling whose object is to make us holy; and hath thus called us, not on account of our works as meriting it, but in accomplishment of his own purpose and gift, which was given us through Christ Jesus in the covenant made with mankind at the fall, long before the times of the Mosaic dispensation.
10 And this gift of salvation is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ in the flesh, who, through His own death and resurrection, hath indeed made death ineffectual, and hath made an immortal life after death, and the nature of that life, clear through the gospel, which assures us that we shall live forever in the body, after the resurrection.
11 For proclaiming which good news I am appointed an herald. and an apostle, and furnished with spiritual gifts to make me a successful teacher of the Gentiles.

Comment 1:6-11

2 Timothy 1:6. Paul says, in essence: Because of your unhypocritical faith, you should be able to stir unto a flame the gift of God within you. This gift was supernatural in nature. It was given by the instrumentality of Paul's hands.

We believe Timothy was the possessor of two gifts: (1) The gift given by the hands of the elders, i.e., the office of the evangelist (Cf. 1 Timothy 4:14); (2) The gift of supernatural ability given by Paul, as stated in this verse. Both gifts could have been bestowed at the same time. In such a case, Paul would have been present at Timothy's ordination to grant, along with the gift of the office of evangelist by the elders, the divine equipment for the office.

The exercise of such supernatural ability was not without the faith and surrender of the possessor. Peter and John healed a lame man by the power of God, but it was not without the exercise of faith on their part (Cf. Acts 3:16), There were many factors present in Ephesus to quench the faith of Timothy. In the face of such difficulties, Timothy is to reassert his confidence in the power of God. Evidently there were conditions present that would cause Timothy to actually question the outcome. Paul's request was to believe in God's power for every problem.

2 Timothy 1:7. Verse seven is a description of the results of exercising the gift of God. When we are strengthened by His Spirit in the inward man, we are able to face all the changing circumstances of life without fear, full of power and love. Such inward assistance creates a mastery of self.

Whereas we do not have the supernatural powers from the hands of the Apostle, yet the disposition just described as relating to Timothy and the Apostles does also apply to us. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. God has given to us the same attitude toward life.

2 Timothy 1:8. A word concerning the mode of expression in the phrase, stir up; it needs to be said here, as the same thought relates to be not ashamed. The words of Homer Kent are very helpful just here: This present infinitive emphasizes the continual stirring up into a flame which is necessary. There is no intimation here that Timothy has been failing, Rather, he is told to continue doing what he has been doing. (Ibid, p. 258), Once again, on the present phrase, The mode of expression in the phrase, -be not ashamed-' (Aorist Subjunctive), offers clear evidence that Timothy was not at fault along this line (Ibid. p. 259).

Timothy had not been ashamed, and he was encouraged not to start it,
In July of 64 A.D., Nero set Rome on fire! By October of the same year he had succeeded in transferring the blame to the Christians. A most terrible persecution began against all followers of The Way. Christianity became an illegal religion. Under such conditions, there would be some temptations to be quiet about the testimony of the Lord, or any relationship to one of the Apostles of this illegal faith.
The testimony of (or for) our Lord has reference to the good news as outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. What a beautiful play on words and circumstances to say that he was not a prisoner of Nero, but rather, of Christ. Nero could not imprison Paul's spirit, but Jesus could and did, Paul had been apprehended by Christ and now was His willing prisoner,

When the time and occasion comesas it most assuredly willtake your share of the persecution for your preaching of the good tidings. You will not be able to stand up to such persecution by your own strength. You will be enabled by Him who is able. Indeed, He is able to do far abundantly above anything that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.

2 Timothy 1:9. Someone has called 2 Timothy 1:9 through 11, Paul's beautiful digression; we feel this is very apt. 2 Timothy 1:8 ends with the word, God; thus introducing a description of God. Note please:

I.

He saved us and called us.

1.

This salvation and calling was not according to our works.

2.

This salvation and calling was according to His own purpose and grace.

a.

This purpose and grace was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal.

b.

This purpose and grace hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus.

1)

Christ Jesus abolished death.

2)

Christ Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

a)

Unto the Gospel, Paul was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.

Please notice the structure of these verses: We are saved and called, this is modified with two thoughts. The second of these thoughts is modified with two thoughts. The second of these thoughts is modified with two thoughts, etc.
Who is saved and called? We take this to refer to Timothy, Paul and all Christians. In what sense, saved? God has provided the salvation through His Son. It is up to man to appropriate what God has so graciously provided. In this context, it is looking back to the time when Paul, Timothy, and the saints in Ephesus had appropriated such salvation. Is the calling subsequent to salvation? If so, then we would connect this with Paul's call to service on the road to Damascus; in Paul's case, his salvation and calling were almost simultaneous.

The thought that we did not merit or earn such salvation and calling is typically Pauline. He emphasizes this point again and again (Cf. Ephesians 2:8-9).

It is glorious to know God has a purpose in His grace, and indeed, grace in His purpose.
God's whole purpose for man is to bring man to His Son. When once we are in Christ Jesus, we are completeHe is our life. In Him we are full. In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. God has no other purpose; to look elsewhere is vain. This has been God's purpose from eternity to eternity!

2 Timothy 1:10. Something of the completeness of God's purpose in Christ can be seen in what Christ provides for man. Death is abolished! Life and immortality are brought to light! This is all accomplished when the good news is preached and believed.

The word abolished, does not mean to make nonexistent, but rather, to render ineffective or impotent. By Christ's death and resurrection, He has removed the sting from death. Death becomes but a gateway to life. Oh, glorious victory! Let us not imagine that life and immortality were created by Christ's death and resurrection. One cannot bring into the light that which did not already exist.

Christ brought life eternal and the incorruptable body out into the full view of man. This He did by His own resurrection.
Man's eternal life and immortal body are now visible to all. Before Christ came, eternal life and the incorruptible body were present, but they were hidden by the shadows of man's understanding, Now they are distinctly seen and understood,
This glorious knowledge is made known when we announce it through the good news. What a priceless privilegeto be a preacher!

2 Timothy 1:11. Paul has but one task, and that is, to preach The Word, But in this task, or office, he thinks of himself in relation to his message and he says, I am a heraldone who announces, as a king's messenger, the king's message. He thinks of himself in relation to his preparation for the office and he says, I am one sent. I am doing this because Christ has commissioned me. Finally, he thinks of himself in relation to those with whom he must work and he says, I am a teacher. The persons with whom I labor do not know; they must be informed, and it is my blessed privilege to instruct them.

Fact Questions 1:6-11

14.

What is the cause of 2 Timothy 1:6?

15.

Please explain just how the gift of God can be stirred up,

16.

What was the gift of God given to Timothy?

17.

Compare 2 Timothy 1:6 with 1 Timothy 4:14 and explain,

18.

How is the word, spirit, used in 2 Timothy 1:7? Explain this word in relationship to the gift of God.

19.

Why would Timothy be tempted to be ashamed?

20.

How does the power of God enable us to suffer hardships?

21.

Show the connection of 2 Timothy 1:9-11 with 2 Timothy 1:6-8.

22.

Who is the us of 2 Timothy 1:9?

23.

What is meant by a holy calling?

24.

What is God's purpose and grace?

25.

When and where did God manifest His purpose and grace?

26.

What is the meaning of the expression, abolished death?

27.

In what sense are we to understand that Christ brought life and immortality to light?

28.

Give your own exegesis of 2 Timothy 1:11.