2 Timothy 1:1–18
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Introduction
Introduction
The year was AD 66. Not for the first time, I found myself in a Roman prison, but this time was very different to last time. Emperor Nero, not the most stable of leaders, wanted to expand his personal homestead, so he set fire to a large portion of Rome. Since the Roman government had lacked the foresight to build “fire pools,” the fire devastated the a quarter of the city. To deflect suspicion from himself, Nero blamed it on us, “the Christians.” We were convenient scapegoats—a small sect viewed with great suspicion and accused of being atheists because we rejected the Roman gods, cannibals because we partook of the Lord’s Supper, and haters of the human race because we called for holiness.
All children are at risk. Millions are at risk from poverty. Millions more are at risk from prosperity. They have everything to live with but nothing to live for.
Perhaps open with the bold declaration that you are dying and you are going to die.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy seems to open in a fairly ordinary way. We read:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
The year was AD 66. Not for the first time, I found myself in a Roman prison, but this time was very different to last time. Emperor Nero, not the most stable of leaders, wanted to expand his personal homestead, so he set fire to a large portion of Rome. Since the Roman government had lacked the foresight to build “fire pools,” the fire devastated the a quarter of the city. To deflect suspicion from himself, Nero blamed it on us, “the Christians.” We were convenient scapegoats—a small sect viewed with great suspicion and accused of being atheists because we rejected the Roman gods, cannibals because we partook of the Lord’s Supper, and haters of the human race because we called for holiness.
Emperor Nero, wishing to enlarge his personal homestead, had set fire to a large portion of Rome. Since the Roman government had lacked the foresight to build “fire pools,” the fire devastated the city. To deflect suspicion from himself, Nero blamed it on “the Christians”—a small sect viewed with great suspicion as atheists, cannibals, and haters of the human race. The first state sanctioned persecution of Christians resulted. Christians in Rome were arrested and many were brutally killed. Paul was amongst those arrested. His prospects of release were faint. He expected to be murdered.
As a result, the first state sanctioned persecution of Christians resulted. We had been persecuted before, but this was the first time the Empire attacked us. Our brothers and sisters in Rome were arrested and many were brutally killed, including the apostle Peter. I was amongst those arrested. My prospects of release were faint, but I didn’t know if it would be a few days or many months.
I was amongst those arrested. His prospects of release were faint. He expected to be murdered.
God undertook so that I was able to write a letter to Timothy, my dear son. He was my spiritual son, of course, having believed in Jesus when I preached in Lystra, but to me he was my dear son, the person I loved most in this world. My heart ached to see him one more time. I didn’t know if that prayer would be granted, but now at least I could write to my dear son. I needed to make the most of the opportunity, to make every word count and impress upon him the things that I hoped he would treasure long after I was not longer present to guide him.
Not knowing if he had hours, days, weeks, or months left, he wrote this final letter “To Timothy, my dear son.” Although it was common for rabbi’s and philosophers to call their disciples “sons,” Paul was not following convention. He loved Timothy has a real adopted son. Although he wanted to see other people, his desperate longing (expressed twice in 2 Timothy) was to see his beloved son Timothy one last time.
Let me ask you a question. If you were in prison waiting to be executed and your dear son was 2000 kilometres away, and you had a chance to write what might be your last words to him, what would be the all-consuming burden of your heart, the thing you desperately wanted impress upon him above all others?
Allow for responses from the audience; perhaps someone has done it or been on the receiving end of a parent doing it.
I had many pieces of advice I wanted to share with him, but ONE THING was uppermost in my thoughts; I had one all-consuming burden for Timothy—the gospel! No one knew the gospel better than Timothy. For 15 years he had heard me glory in the gospel, share the gospel, and suffer for it. But above all else, I wanted him to carry that same fire to his grave one day.
What was uppermost in Paul’s thoughts as he did this for his beloved son?
Transition to point 1.
He had ONE THING that was uppermost in his thoughts, one all-consuming burden for his son.
My son, remember the glory of the gospel.
My son, remember the glory of the gospel.
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
2 Timothy 1
My son, I thank God … for your sincere faith. I constantly remember you in my prayers, night and day, an each time I am reminded of your sincere faith.
Explain that the gospel had deeply impacted Timothy’s life. Paul knew it all too well. This is why chose the young man as his protege. It is why he spoke highly of Timothy to church and entrusted him with daunting ministry tasks.
Explain that although Tim knew the gospel, Paul never took it for granted that he would remain true to the gospel.
Although Paul’s opening salvos contain a number of exhortations, like the spokes on a bicycle wheel they all lead back to the same central hub. Everything Paul wants Timothy to do flows right out of the gospel. This means that everything else Paul says in this chapter revolves around verses 9–10.
My son, you know the gospel better than anyone, but I urge you to remember the glory of the gospel. There is nothing like in all the world; no treasure compares to it.
God saved us. We didn’t save ourselves; we were dead in our trespasses and sins, but he saved us, not because of anything we had done but because of his purpose and grace. His plan was to show his grace in Christ Jesus. Continue to paraphrase vv. 9-10.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Transition.
My son, share the hope of the gospel.
My son, share the hope of the gospel.
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. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
My son, suffer for mission of the gospel.
My son, suffer for mission of the gospel.
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
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. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
My son, safeguard the content of the gospel.
My son, safeguard the content of the gospel.
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Conclusion
Conclusion