2 Timothy

1Chapter

Greeting

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus:
2To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanksgiving

3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
6Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

8So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9He has 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 to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Be Loyal to the Faith

13Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 15You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. 18May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.
2Chapter

Be Strong in Grace

1You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. 5Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. 7Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, 9for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. 10This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

An Approved Worker

14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. 15Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. 16Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness, 17and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them. 18They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
3Chapter

Difficult Times Ahead

1But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.
6For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, 7always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith. 9But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.

Struggles in the Christian Life

10But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
4Chapter

Fulfill Your Ministry

1I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: 2Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.

Final Instructions

9Make every effort to come to me soon, 10because Demas has deserted me, since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. 12I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. 14Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. 15Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.
16At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. 17But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Benediction

19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. 21Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Study
Chapter 1
CSB

CHALLENGE AND TACTICS

CHALLENGE: “You’re a Christian because you grew up in a Christian home or nation.”

TACTIC EMPLOYED: Genetic Fallacy

This challenge says your religious views are an accident of birth and therefore are not objectively, universally true. However, the conclusion that religion cannot be true does not follow from the fact that you are likely to adopt the religion of your surrounding culture. Religions make claims about history and the world. To judge whether these claims are true, we examine history and the world. The question of where a religion arose has no bearing on whether or not it corresponds to reality. So when someone challenges your beliefs in this way, explain that they are making the genetic fallacy. What counts is evidence, not place of origin.

ESV

Exhortation to Endurance for the Gospel. Paul’s thanksgiving (1:3–5) leads directly into strong exhortations to Timothy (1:6–14; 2:1–13) with an intervening paragraph that provides positive and negative examples of his exhortation (1:15–18). In light of his imminent death, Paul urges Timothy to continue in faithfulness for the sake of the gospel in spite of hardship.

ESV

Opening. Paul opens this letter in the standard way. But as he awaits death, he reminds Timothy that the purpose of his apostleship has been to proclaim the gospel, the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus.

ESV

Thanksgiving for Timothy’s Sincere Faith. In typical Pauline fashion, this letter opens with thanksgiving to God for the recipient. Paul notes that both he (“my ancestors”) and Timothy (“your grandmother … your mother”) have a heritage of faith.

ESV

constantly in my prayers night and day. Timothy is on Paul’s mind and in his prayers throughout the day, every day (see 1 Thess. 5:17 and note).

ESV

A Call to Bold Endurance in Ministry, Part 1. Verse 6 marks a shift from the opening thanksgiving to Paul’s first exhortation to Timothy, a passionate challenge to continue following in Paul’s footsteps (cf. 3:10–11). There is a clear connection between the call for Timothy to “not be ashamed … but share in suffering for the gospel” (1:8) and Paul’s statement that for the gospel “I suffer. … But I am not ashamed” (v. 12). The call for Timothy to follow Paul’s example is central in this letter (see 3:10–11).

ESV

fan into flame the gift of God. Paul does not explain what this gift is (see note on 1 Tim. 4:14), which allows the principle here to be seen as applicable to all kinds of spiritual gifts. Such gifts tend to fade in strength when they are not used and encouraged. The laying on of my hands may refer to Timothy’s ordination. This passage focuses on Paul’s part in that event, whereas 1 Tim. 4:14 mentions the involvement of “the council of elders.”

CSB

Paul encouraged strength and confidence in God, since cowardice before nonbelievers might thwart gospel witness. His words do not contradict the familiar imperative to “fear” the Lord (Lv 25:17; Dt 6:2,13; Mt 10:28; Lk 12:5; 1Pt 1:17).

ESV

spirit. Probably the Holy Spirit. fear. The Greek (deilia) in extrabiblical literature refers to one who flees from battle, and has a strong pejorative sense referring to cowardice. Boldness, not cowardice, is a mark of the Spirit (see Prov. 28:1; Acts 4:31).

ESV

These verses summarize the gospel for which God’s servants suffer. They are a reminder of the power of God on whom Christians rely. Paul’s exalted language suggests he is also arguing that such a glorious message is worthy of their suffering. Paul contrasts works, which do not save, with God’s purpose and grace, which brings life. God, who saved us … our Savior Christ Jesus. In the Pastoral Epistles, Paul often describes both God the Father and God the Son as Saviors of their people (cf. 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Titus 1:3–4; 2:10; 2:13 [and note]; 3:4, 6).

ESV

Paul suffers (as I do) because of his current imprisonment and impending death. Guard … what has been entrusted to me (Gk. tēn parathēkēn mou, “my deposit”) means either that God will guard the gospel, which has been entrusted to Paul, or that God will guard Paul’s life (“what I have entrusted to him,” see esv footnote). Either way, it is this confidence in God that prevents Paul from being ashamed. Cf. note on v. 14. His boldness arises not from self-confidence but from God-confidence (cf. 2 Cor. 3:5). until that Day. See 1 Cor. 3:13; 2 Tim. 1:18; 4:8; Heb. 10:25; and notes on Amos 5:18–20; 1 Thess. 5:2–3.

ESV

sound words. See note on 1 Tim. 6:3.

ESV

the good deposit entrusted to you. The gospel in the fullest sense, the entire content of the Christian faith. Cf. note on v. 12.

ESV

Examples, Positive and Negative. Paul supports his exhortation of vv. 6–14 with concrete examples of some who have endured well and others who have not—a common technique in both ancient and modern exhortation.

ESV

Asia was the Roman province in which Ephesus, Timothy’s current place of service, was located. all … turned away from me. Key people who could have supported Paul, perhaps in his arrest and imprisonment, failed to do so, and so it appeared as if “all” had deserted him (cf. 4:16, a reference to a more specific event). There is no further information about Phygelus and Hermogenes. These details highlight the low situation in which Paul found himself and probably help explain why Timothy, the faithful one, was such a source of joy for Paul (see 1:3–5).

ESV

Onesiphorus is an example of faithfulness, in contrast to those who abandoned Paul. Paul prays, therefore, that the Lord will grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, and that Onesiphorus himself will find mercy on that Day (see note on v. 12).