II Timothy

By Joyce Webb 2024

Chapter 1 Verses 1-18

Introduction: This is probably the last letter Paul wrote.

It is a personal letter to Timothy. Timothy was a young man who became a believer. His father was Greek, and his mother was Jewish.

Timothy was with Paul in some of his ministry. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to help with the new believers there. He was to continue to teach them and guide them in the things of the Lord.

Paul thought of Timothy as a “spiritual” son. He loved him deeply.

Paul feels his life is about to end—that the Romans will kill him.

So these are his last words to his beloved Timothy.

Chapter 1 Verse 1-2

Paul sends greeting to Timothy.

Verse 3 Paul tells Timothy that he thanks God for Timothy.

Paul said that he has served God with a clear conscience.

Meaning —that Paul felt he had done all that God asked him to do and that he did it the best that he could do.

He tells Timothy that “Night and day –I pray for you.”

“I want very much to see you again.”

Paul said–I remember your tears when we said “good-bye” to each other. Paul said that he will feel joy when he sees Timothy again.

(It does not seem that Paul was able to see Timothy again.)

Paul said: “I know you truly trust the Lord. You have the same faith as your mother, Eunice, and your grandmother, Lois had.”

“This is why a remind you to ‘stir up’ the gift of God in you.”

“This ‘gift’ was given to you when I laid hands on you and prayed for you.”

Verse 7 “God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us the spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind (good thinking, healthy).

Verse 8 “Do not be ashamed (embarrassed) of the testimony of our Lord.” (Do not be ashamed that you are a Christian.)

“Do not be ashamed that I, (Paul) am a prisoner. (For my preaching about Christ.”
“(You) may have to suffer for bad things for your faith in Christ.

Be ready to suffer —if it comes to you.”

Verse 9 “The One (Jesus) who saved us, and called us, gave us a holy calling.

It was not because of our own works (our own goodness). He chose us because of His own purpose. He gave us grace.

His purpose for us was made before the world began.

Verse 10 We understand this now—since Jesus Christ has come, and he won over death, and he had given eternal life, and light through the gospel.

Verse 11 To this truth, I have been chosen to preach, to be an apostle, and a teacher to the Gentiles.

Verse 12 That is the reason I have suffer all these things that have happened to me.

Yet—I am not ashamed of the gospel. For I know in Whom I have believed.

I am persuaded (pulled to believe, feel sure) that He is able to keep all that I have committed (given) to Him —until that day.

(Meaning–All the things that have happened to Paul, all the things that Paul hopes will happen, all the things Paul has prayed for,—–Paul has given to the Lord—to work them out, to take care of them—until heaven.)

Verse 13 Paul tells Timothy—”Hold fast—Hold on tight—carefully keep—the words that have been given to you by me.“ “I gave them to you in faith and love which come from Christ Jesus.”

Verse 14 “It is a good thing–that has been given to you —keep it by the Holy Spirit that lives (dwells) in us.”

Verse 15 You know that the believers in Asia, not come to visit me—or helped me. Phygellus and Hermogenes also. (Paul seems to be talking about them not coming to see him in prison.)

Verse 16 May the Lord give mercy to the home of Onesiphorus, for he came and helped me. (Brought things to comfort Paul.)

He was not ashamed of my “chains”.

When he was in Rome, he looked for me until he found where I was.

Verse 18 May the Lord give to him mercy and reward him in heaven some day.

In Ephesus, he ministered to me and helped me. You remember this.

(In those days, a prisoner was fed very little—maybe a kind of soup that was mostly water.
Family and friends had to come and bring other food, or a coat, or blankets, etc. Prison was a very hard place long ago.)