2 Timothy: “Not Ashamed” (I)

Introduction

Neal Pollard

It is remarkable how similar these two letters begin in the first two verses of both. Arichea and Hatton lay out this comparison:

1 Timothy	2 Timothy
Paul	Paul
an apostle of Christ Jesus	an apostle of Christ Jesus
by command of God our Savior	by the will of God
and of Christ our hope	according to the promise of
	the life which is in Christ Jesus
To Timothy	To Timothy
my true child in the faith	my beloved child
grace, mercy, and peace	Grace, mercy, and peace
from God the Father	from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord	and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul seems to write this letter with no hope of emancipation but rather an anticipation of an imminent departure (2 Tim. 4:6-8). While his view of death was no doubt unchanged from his oft-quoted words in Philippians 1:21-24, we still get a glimpse of his humanity as he considers those who had harmed him (4:14), who had abandoned him (1:15; 4:10), who were disappointing him (1:8), and who had come through for him (1:16-18; 4:11). At some point in his intensifying trials, he had stood totally alone (4:16). 

So, this letter is contemplative but also urgent. As a man who seems to know his days are numbered and short, Paul wants Timothy to stand in the gap (cf. Ezek. 22:30). He is a prisoner of the Lord and he’s suffering (1:8). In fact, the compound imperative, συγκακοπαθέω (sugkakopatheo) means to “suffer together with someone” (BDAG, 951). 

Unlike 1 Timothy, full of instructions on how the church should be organized and how Timothy should serve in preaching, this letter is much more personal. Lenski astutely observes, “It is Paul’s last will and testament for Timothy, his great legacy for the rest of Timothy’s life. In the shadow of death Paul lays the work into Timothy’s hands so that he might carry it forward as his worthy successor in the field where God shall place this beloved assistant of his” (739). 

Be on the lookout for the following key words: (1) a heavy emphasis on on the members of the Godhead, (2) faith (14 times), (3) know (10 times), (4) teach (8 times), (5) work (8 times), (6) love (7 times), (7) truth (6 times), and (8) suffer (6 times). He wants his spiritual son to be solid in doctrine, strong in belief, morality, and practice, and stedfast to the end. As we study together, we will see his specific words that benefit not only the young preacher at Ephesus but anyone trying to live a faithful Christian life.