Two Timothy One

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

dearly beloved son. This epistle was Paul's last before his martyrdom, written from his prison cell in Rome, and it is appropriate that it was written to his faithful disciple, Timothy. In his first epistle to Timothy, Paul called him his own son in the faith; in this, he calls him simply “my dearly beloved son.” Paul had no real son of his own, and Timothy's father was not a Christian, so they had grown to love each other like father and son.

2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

2 Timothy 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

thy tears. Timothy evidently had wept when he heard of Paul's imprisonment (probably his second Roman imprisonment—see note on 1 Timothy 1:3) and coming execution. Paul himself was frequently moved to tears on behalf of those whom he was trying to help (e.g., Acts 20:31; Philippians 3:18). John also wept (Revelation 5:4), and so did Jesus (John 11:35; Luke 19:41). There is, indeed, “a time to weep” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

thy mother Eunice. Note 2 Timothy 3:15. There is great blessing in having a godly heritage, even when only one parent and one grandparent contribute to it. It will be a joy to meet Lois and Eunice in heaven in the age to come! Note also the testimony concerning the parents of John the Baptist. “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6).

2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

putting on of my hands. See note on 1 Timothy 4:14. Paul may have considered himself one of the presbytery (elders) who had special prayer for Timothy as he entered his ministry at Ephesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

spirit of fear. Under the severe persecution of Nero, with Paul in prison and condemned to death, it would be natural for Timothy and other believers to be afraid and to refrain from speaking out for Christ. The same tendency to fear affects believers today as well, often for much less reason. Paul would remind us that this fearful attitude is not from God. He has given us the Spirit of power (Acts 1:8), the Spirit of love (Galatians 5:22), and the Spirit of a sound (that is “sober”) mind, that is, the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

ashamed of the testimony. Paul was not ashamed, in spite of suffering in prison (1 Timothy 1:12) and Onesiphorous was not ashamed to minister to Paul in prison (1 Timothy 1:16). Therefore Paul encouraged Timothy not to be ashamed to give testimony to Christ (1 Timothy 1:8).

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

before the world began. This remarkable revelation is incomprehensible to finite minds. We who are “in Christ Jesus” were saved and called (note the past tense), not only before we consciously accepted Christ but even before we were born and before He created the world. See also Ephesians 1:4. While we cannot understand this with our minds, we can apprehend it with our hearts, and thank the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

appearing. Depending on context, the “appearing” (Greek epiphaneia) of Christ may refer either to His first coming, as here, or to His second coming (e.g., 1 Timothy 6:14).

immortality. See note on 1 Timothy 6:16. The Greek words are different in the two verses, but the sense is the same.

2 Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

know whom I have believed. One who thinks or hopes he or she is a Christian probably is not a real Christian. This greatest of all questions is one whose answer can and should be known! Such verses as xTerm 5:13 and John 10:27-28, among many others, make this clear. Also see footnotes on xTerm 2:3 and 5:13.

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

sound words. It is vital not only to guard the thoughts but also the very words of Scripture.

2 Timothy 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

2 Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

2 Timothy 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

2 Timothy 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.