2 Timothy 1:1-18

Written ~ 10-29-2024

Read 2 Timothy Chapter One

2 Timothy 1

Before we begin our study in the first chapter of 2 Timothy, I want to take the time to share with you what the Life Application Study Bible has to say about the second letter written to Timothy. The background given to us by this bit of commentary will help us know exactly where Paul’s heart is coming from, it explains the emotion and urgency of his words when writing to his “son” Timothy…

  • “Famous last words” is more than an expression. When notable men and women of influence are about to die, the world wants to know their final words of insight and wisdom. Sometimes those quotes are repeated worldwide. This is also true with loved ones who are dying. Gathered at such a person’s side, his or her family strains to hear every whispered syllable of blessing, encouragement, and advice, knowing this will be the final message.
  • One of the most knowledgeable, influential, and beloved men of history is the Apostle Paul. And we have his famous last words.
  • Paul was facing death. He was not dying of a disease in a sterile hospital or in his home with loved ones gathered nearby. He was very much alive, but his condition was terminal. Convicted as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, Paul sat in a cold Roman prison, cut off from the world, with just a visitor or two and his writing materials. Paul knew that he would soon be executed, so he wrote his final thoughts to his “son” Timothy, passing him the torch of leadership, reminding him of what was truly important, and encouraging him in the faith. Imagine how Timothy must have read and reread every word; this was the last message from his beloved mentor, Paul. Because of the situation and the recipient, this is the most intimate and moving of Paul’s letters – and his last.

So let’s begin this last letter written by the Apostle Paul and let’s remember when reading these words that they are the final words written by Paul before his execution, maybe by knowing that detail we will pay attention just a little more to hear what he has to say…

Let’s read the first chapter together…

2 Timothy 1:1-18…

1 “This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life He has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

3 Timothy, I thank God for you – the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for Him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time – to show us His grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now He has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.

13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me – a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

15 As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. 17 When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. 18 May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.”

Wow… when reading this chapter did it bring on a different set of emotions knowing these were the last words Paul wrote before his death? It did me… I read it as though I was Timothy… I read this chapter as though it was the first time I had ever read it. I read these words with tears streaming down my face. I felt as though I was stepping into a private moment with Timothy as he was reading his letter from his beloved mentor and spiritual father.

In this opening chapter, Paul gives Timothy encouragement that he must have held dear to his heart. Now, even though this letter is addressed to Timothy, it is addressed to us as well. So, let’s look at the things Paul is encouraging all believers to maintain in their walks with the Lord.

When our faith in the Lord is genuine, it is that faith that will carry us through any circumstance. When we put our full trust in the Lord, it is through Him that we gain courage and strength. Let’s look a little closer to a couple of the reminders Paul gives us in verses 1:6-7…

2 Timothy 1:6-7…

6 “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

“…fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…” When we give our hearts to the Lord, we have received the GIFT of Salvation. It is God’s Will, and it is God’s Plan that everyone receives this gift. When we believed in Jesus, called upon His name and received the gift of Salvation, a new flame was introduced into our hearts. What used to burn within us (immoral pleasures, sinful behavior) has now been replaced with the flame of the Holy Spirit. So, in verse 1:6 Paul reminds us to “fan into flames” the gifts God has given us, “fan into flames” the power the Holy Spirit has given us, “fan into flames” Christ’s love and compassion for humanity. If we allow that initial flame of Salvation to only flicker, even die out and be extinguished that means we have allowed the world and its standards to be the flame we are fanning. We need to be reminded, sometimes over and over again until we really get it… we must “fan into flames the spiritual gift God has given to us!”

Here’s a wonderful visual…

When I go camping with my husband, sometimes we have a campfire. When we want to get a fire going, we can’t just simply put some wood in a pile and throw an unlit match on top and hope for the best. No, we stuff paper or anything else that’s super flammable around the wood, we light the match and watch intentionally to see if the wood is ignited. It might take a little bit of time to get the fire going, but soon enough, with the right materials and the right tending it becomes a huge bonfire. But if we don’t tend to it, if we don’t add more wood, if we don’t stir it around a little bit… the fire will go out. If the fire goes out all we’re left with is an irritating, choking smoke. Have you ever seen the bright red and orange glow of burning embers? You don’t see any flames, but the fire is still hot, at this point one of two things can happen, the fire can either be left unattended and burn out or you can fan the embers. When you throw some more wood on the pile, add accelerant, stir the embers around and fan the flameless embers, what happens? Those embers catch fire again and the flames come alive!

So, when we “fan into flames the gifts God has given to us” and allow them to burn as a bonfire within our hearts, we will grow in confidence, boldness and unwavering faith.

Why is it important to fan the flames of our Salvation?

Verse 1:7…

7 “…God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

If we don’t tend to our Salvation and we don’t allow the flames of strength and courage to burn brightly within us, then we can allow fear and timidity to take over. If that happens, we will lack the confidence to spread the Gospel message and let others know about the gifts God has given us. Fear and timidity are not attributes given to us by the Lord!  Let’s look at some of the synonyms the dictionary gives us for the words fear and timidity and let’s further grasp the types of attributes that God did NOT give us… when you look over this list, see if you are harboring any of these attributes within yourself! Maybe it’s time to release those burdens to the Lord and begin fanning the flames of strength, confidence and courage…

Fear and Timidity:

  • Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Worry
  • Alarm
  • Concern
  • Dread
  • Nervousness
  • Phobias
  • Shyness
  • Indecisiveness
  • Embarrassment
  • Apprehension
  • Cowardliness

Do you see where those attributes, if fanned into flames, would cause us to lose the confidence we have in our Salvation? What does Paul say we have instead?

  • Power
  • Love
  • Self-discipline

What wonderful advice we are given by Paul, isn’t it? “Fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave to us…” Fear and timidity are not given to us by the Lord, we are to fan into flames the gifts God gives us, we are to fan into flames the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to fan into flames the light of Jesus who lives within us. The consuming fire of the Holy Spirit will burn away all fear, all shame, all timidity.

So, in this courage and strength and power, we are not to live in shame of spreading the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Instead, we are to proclaim that message with our whole beings! So, depending on what you are fanning into flames in your life will be evident in what you are proclaiming.

Verses 1:13-14…

13 “Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me – a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”

Do not allow a forest fire of the world’s standards or a sinful, evil worldly advice engulf the bonfire that burns within you for the Lord…

“Carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”

~AMEN~