2 Timothy 1:8. Be not thou therefore ashamed. The exhortation, grounded on the fact that the spiritual gifts which he had received should be allowed, as it were, free play, implies some fear that Timothy was acting as if ashamed of the testimony of Jesus.

Nor of me his prisoner. Something obviously had come to St. Paul's knowledge on this point, which had given him pain. Timothy had drawn back, as if ashamed of him, as well as of the Gospel. He adds the word ‘prisoner' as likely to appeal more strongly than aught else to Timothy's feelings.

Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. Better, ‘ Be thou a partaker in my sufferings for the gospel.'

According to the power of God, i.e. the power that comes from God, with special reference to the ‘spirit of power' of 2 Timothy 1:7.

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Old Testament