GUARD THE GOOD DEPOSIT

Passage: 2 Timothy 1:1-18

Key verse: 14

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. 8 So do not be ashamed(Q) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.(R) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,(S) by the power of God. 9 He has saved(T) us and called(U) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done(V) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed(W) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,(X) who has destroyed death(Y) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel(Z) I was appointed(AA) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.(AB) 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,(AC) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard(AD) what I have entrusted to him until that day.(AE)

13 What you heard from me,(AF) keep(AG) as the pattern(AH) of sound teaching,(AI) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.(AJ) 14 Guard(AK) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.(AL)

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia(AM) has deserted me,(AN) including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,(AO) because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed(AP) of my chains.(AQ) 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day!(AR) You know very well in how many ways he helped me(AS) in Ephesus.(AT)

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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.

8 Therefore (Q)do not be ashamed of (R)the testimony about our Lord, nor of (S)me his prisoner, but (T)share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 (U)who saved us and (V)called us to[a] a holy calling, (W)not because of our works but because of (X)his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus (Y)before the ages began,[b] 10 and which now has (Z)been manifested through (AA)the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, (AB)who abolished death and (AC)brought life and (AD)immortality to light through the gospel, 11 (AE)for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 (AF)which is why I suffer as I do. But (AG)I am not ashamed, for (AH)I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until (AI)that day (AJ)what has been entrusted to me.[c] 13 (AK)Follow (AL)the pattern of (AM)the sound[d] words (AN)that you have heard from me, in (AO)the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit (AP)who dwells within us, guard (AQ)the good deposit entrusted to you.

15 You are aware that (AR)all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to (AS)the household of Onesiphorus, for he often (AT)refreshed me and was not ashamed of (AU)my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome (AV)he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on (AW)that day!—and you well know all the service he (AX)rendered at Ephesus.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Timothy 1:9 Or with
  2. 2 Timothy 1:9 Greek before times eternal
  3. 2 Timothy 1:12 Or what I have entrusted to him; Greek my deposit
  4. 2 Timothy 1:13 Or healthy
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

Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome for a second time when he wrote this letter to Timothy. Paul’s circumstances were bleak and he was cold and lonely. Many of his coworkers had deserted him while others were off in the mission field. Paul knew that the end of his life was near. He was not ashamed of his chains, though, for his suffering had been for the sake of the gospel. He had faithfully served the gospel of Jesus Christ with all of his heart and soul. Paul could honestly say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul’s thoughts and prayers were not focused on his own situation, but on Timothy. Paul referred to him as “my dear son” and urged him to come as quickly as he could so Paul could see him one last time. Soon, Timothy would lead the ministry and Paul wished to encourage him in person.

Given this context, we are not surprised to find that this wonderful and personal letter is filled with love, encouragement, and important charges for Timothy. Paul’s commands range from “Guard the good deposit” to “Preach the word”. He appeals to Timothy to be strong in grace and join him in his sufferings in Christ. Paul sought to give him the strength to overcome the challenges brought by false teachers and other godless people.

The bold appeals Paul made to Timothy are for our benefit as well. May God bless you as you meditate on this book! May your gifts for the ministry be fanned to flame like Timothy’s as you guard the good deposit the Lord has placed in you.

 

A wealth of wonderful, godly treasures had been entrusted to Timothy. He possessed a sincere faith like his mother and grandmother. His relationship with Paul was deep and tender as Paul referred to him as his dear son and prayed for him night and day. Timothy possessed gifts for ministry and was indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He was saved and called by God himself and received life and immortality through faith Christ Jesus. In fact, his salvation and ministry had been ordained by God before the beginning of creation. These are samples of how the gospel had been deposited in his life and entrusted to him. We have been entrusted with this wonderful deposit as well.

Fear and shame rob the gospel of its power in our lives and hinder our ministry. This shouldn’t be the case with us. The Holy Spirit gives us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline that overcomes our fear and gives us the strength to suffer for the gospel. Many had deserted Paul, and Timothy could have been ashamed over his mentor being in chains. However, there was no reason to be ashamed of the gospel or God’s servant. Paul had obeyed God’s calling to be a herald, apostle, and teacher. Timothy was to guard the good deposit by obeying the Lord’s calling in his own life.

Prayer: Father, grant us your Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel without any fear or shame.

One Word: Guard the deposit God has given you