Paul writes from prison to his beloved child Timothy. Many in Asia have turned away. Paul is not ashamed. He knows the One he has believed and is persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted until that day. Timothy is charged to stir up the gift, not to be ashamed of the testimony or of Paul’s chains, and to hold the pattern of sound words in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day 4 longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also.
6 For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 8 Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News. 11 For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.
13 Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15 This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, 17 but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me 18 (the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.
Source: ebible.org
Paul is an apostle according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus. The sincere faith in Timothy first lived in Lois and Eunice. The continuity of faith across generations is already present. Paul’s longing and prayers are personal and unceasing.
The gift is already in Timothy through the laying on of hands. God has not given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control. Therefore Timothy is not to be ashamed of the testimony or of Paul the prisoner. The salvation and holy calling are not according to works but according to purpose and grace given before times eternal and now revealed by the appearing of the Savior. Death has been abolished. Life and immortality have been brought to light. Paul suffers, yet is not ashamed, because he knows the One he has believed and is persuaded that He will guard the deposit until that day.
The pattern of sound words has already been heard. Timothy is to hold it in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The good thing committed to him is to be guarded through the Holy Spirit who already dwells in them. The deposit is not awaiting future delivery; it is present and to be protected.
All in Asia turned away, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. Onesiphorus stands in contrast: he was not ashamed of the chain, sought Paul diligently in Rome, and refreshed him. Paul prays that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day. The contrast is deliberate and pastoral.
The grace was given before times eternal. The appearing has revealed it. Death has been abolished. Life and immortality are brought to light. The Spirit dwells in us. We guard the deposit that has already been committed, without shame, in the power, love, and self-control already given.
Where is the Spirit calling you to stir up what has already been given, rather than waiting for something new?