2 Timothy: Not Ashamed (III)

Be Strengthened By Grace (2:1-13)

Neal Pollard

Notice the endurance imagery that fills this section of the letter. Not only does Paul begin by exhorting him to be strong in Christ, but he uses a series of analogies speaking of its importance. Timothy is to be strong like a soldier (3-4), an athlete (5), and a hard-working farmer (6). He is to endure (9-13), to suffer (3,9), and even die with him if it comes to that (11). Paul is definitely not painting an unrealistically soft picture of discipleship. In the chapter, he gives three examples of righteous individuals who experience suffering–Christ (8), himself (9), and the faithful elect (10-13).

Try to imagine how Timothy must have felt. His mentor and teacher, whom he accompanied on his second and third missionary journeys (Acts 16-20), who sent him to Corinth (1 Cor. 4:17) and Thessalonica (1 Th. 3:2), who intended to send him to Philippi (Phil. 2:19), and with whom cowrote multiple of Paul’s epistles (2 Cor., Phil., Col., and 2 Th.), was now “in chains”–a less than veiled reference to a dungeon imprisonment (9; cf. 1:16). After addressing Timothy’s timidity in the first chapter, he exhorts him to be strong. How? Through divine resources. 

• Grace (1). 
• The entrusted word (2). 
• The fellowship of suffering (3). 
• Divine understanding (7).
• The memory of Jesus (8).
• The unchained word (9).
• Salvation (10).
• Eternal glory (10).
• Christ’s proven character (11-13). 

Paul makes the point that these resources are available and do good to those who make use of them. But even if one refuses to do so, it does not change the reality and power of them. However, if one rejects them, he is only hurting himself. “If we deny Him, He will deny us” (12). But, Paul urges his child in the faith with what is sometimes thought to be an early Christian hymn–the words contained in verses 11-13. It makes the list of “trustworthy sayings” passed along by Paul to Timothy in these two letters (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:9). If Timothy trusts Paul and those sayings, he would have access to the strength God and Paul want him to have. But can’t you imagine how difficult it was, under the circumstances? It would take Timothy “leaning on the everlasting arms!”