A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE
Key verse: 7
NIV
1 Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,(C)
2 To Timothy,(D) my dear son:(E)
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God,(G) whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience,(H) as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.(I) 4 Recalling your tears,(J) I long to see you,(K) so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith,(L) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice(M) and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.(N) 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,(O) but gives us power,(P) love and self-discipline.
Cross references
- 2 Timothy 1:1 : S 1Co 1:1
- 2 Timothy 1:1 : S 2Co 1:1
- 2 Timothy 1:1 : Eph 3:6; Tit 1:2; 1Ti 6:19
- 2 Timothy 1:2 : S Ac 16:1
- 2 Timothy 1:2 : S 1Ti 1:2
- 2 Timothy 1:2 : S Ro 1:7
- 2 Timothy 1:3 : S Ro 1:8
- 2 Timothy 1:3 : S Ac 23:1
- 2 Timothy 1:3 : S Ro 1:10
- 2 Timothy 1:4 : Ac 20:37
- 2 Timothy 1:4 : 2Ti 4:9
- 2 Timothy 1:5 : 1Ti 1:5
- 2 Timothy 1:5 : Ac 16:1; 2Ti 3:15
- 2 Timothy 1:6 : S Ac 6:6; 1Ti 4:14
- 2 Timothy 1:7 : Jer 42:11; Ro 8:15; 1Co 16:10, 11; 1Ti 4:12; Heb 2:15
- 2 Timothy 1:7 : Isa 11:2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Christ Jesus (B)by the will of God according to (C)the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, (D)my beloved child:
(E)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You
3 (F)I thank God (G)whom I serve, as did my ancestors, (H)with a clear conscience, as I remember you (I)constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 (J)As I remember your tears, (K)I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of (L)your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and (M)your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you (N)to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us (O)a spirit not of fear but (P)of power and love and self-control.
Read full chapterCross references
- 2 Timothy 1:1 : See 2 Cor. 1:1
- 2 Timothy 1:1 : See 1 Cor. 1:1
- 2 Timothy 1:1 : Titus 1:2; Heb. 9:15
- 2 Timothy 1:2 : 1 Cor. 4:17; [ch. 2:1]; See 3 John 4
- 2 Timothy 1:2 : See 1 Tim. 1:2
- 2 Timothy 1:3 : See Rom. 1:8
- 2 Timothy 1:3 : See Acts 22:3; 24:14
- 2 Timothy 1:3 : 1 Tim. 3:9; See Acts 23:1
- 2 Timothy 1:3 : Rom. 1:9
- 2 Timothy 1:4 : [Acts 20:37]
- 2 Timothy 1:4 : Phil. 1:8; [ch. 4:9, 21]
- 2 Timothy 1:5 : Rom. 12:9; 1 Tim. 1:5
- 2 Timothy 1:5 : Acts 16:1; [ch. 3:15; Ps. 86:16; 116:16]
- 2 Timothy 1:6 : 1 Tim. 4:14; [1 Thess. 5:19]
- 2 Timothy 1:7 : Rom. 8:15; [John 14:27; Rev. 21:8]
- 2 Timothy 1:7 : Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY
This second letter to Timothy is probably Paul's last letter. He wrote in 4:7, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.' He was looking forward to the crown of righteousness which the Lord himself would give him. Paul was living on death row in a Roman dungeon. Most likely, Paul was in prison in Rome two times. The first time is recorded in Acts 28. At that time, he was under house arrest and he could teach the Bible one-to-one freely. After his release from prison, he evidently made a missionary journey which is not recorded in Acts. He may have gone to Spain (Ro 15), visited Crete (Tit 1:5), visited Philemon in Colosse (Phm 22), and spent some time in Philippi (Php 2:23-24; 1Ti 1:3). He returned to Rome. He was evidently alone when he was arrested and arraigned (4:16). As always, he found his trial an opportunity to preach the timeless Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now he was chained like a common criminal (2:9;1:16) in a cold dungeon. Tradition says that he was martyred under Emperor Nero in A.D. 66 or 67.
Paul addresses Timothy as 'my dear son.' He longs to see him and asks him to come 'before winter.' Timothy is the pastor of the church in Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter to warn him of the dangers and temptations that would assail him, and to encourage him to be faithful to Jesus and to his ministry, no matter what. Paul's own life backed up his words.
1. I remember and thank God (1-5)
Paul was in prison. He would soon be killed- martyred for his faith. He knew God's grace. He was assured of God's mercy and he had God's peace in his heart. He had no regrets, for he served God with a clear conscience. He was where God wanted him to be, and he had the promise of life in Christ Jesus in his heart. He thanked God for Timothy, whom he loved like a son. He remembered the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother, as well as Timothy's own sincere faith, and he continued to pray for him.
2. Fan into flame the gift of God (6-7)
Timothy had been entrusted with the task of caring for God's flock in Ephesus. Paul laid hands on him to commission and equip him. The Holy Spirit whom God gives to all who repent, believe and accept his mission does not make us timid and fearful; he gives us the spirit of power, love and self-discipline.
Prayer: Lord, fan into flame the gift you have given me so that I may not be fearful, but have a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.
One Word: Fan God's gift into flame
