Day 660: 2 Timothy 1- The Last Words Of Paul (1)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 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, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
 
Meditation
Last words can be significant. David’s last words to Solomon (1 Kings 2) echoed some of Moses last words to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” Paul’s last recorded words are in this epistle and begin from a pointed place: “share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (8).
 
Paul charges Timothy to “fan into flame his gifting” which he received during his ordination, the laying on of hands (6). The Spirit of God is the means of accomplishing the command, a Spirit “of power and love and self-control” (7). God’s Spirit fuels faithfulness and empowers endurance for God’s people during persecution.
 
Paul’s words compel us to see opposition as opportunity, to not be ashamed of the gospel but to fan the message into a flame. Jesus’ grace and salvation gave Timothy a holy calling of sharing in suffering through his work (9-12). This means Timothy, and other Christians reading this letter, are to follow the “pattern and sound words” heard in order to “guard the good deposit” (13-14). The Spirit gives strength to share in suffering without shame.
 
Persecution will push some Christians away while exposing the authentic faith of others. Paul wrote this epistle from prison, a stumbling block to some (15) but an invitation to others to show the sincerity of faith (16-18). The power of God through His Spirit is what Timothy, and all Christians, need to transform hostilities we face into gospel possibilities to extend God’s grace, even doing good to those who hate us.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Why is the focus of the beginning of Paul’s last words significant, namely compelling Timothy to endure persecution?

​-How are Timothy, and all Christians, compelled to do more than endure, to transform hostility into gospel opportunity?

​-How can you be more dependent on the power of God so that you see gospel opposition as an opportunity to love, doing good even to those who hate you?
 
Key Verse
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,