Mother's Day 2nd Timothy 1

Faith with a Mother’s Touch

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of the noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Paul had a close fatherly affinity with Timothy. Yes, Paul loved this boy like his own child.

Paul expresses himself to Timothy in a single involved Greek sentence. It is a sentence that takes up 3 verses from 3 to 5.

It is a sentence which expresses Paul’s thanksgiving or gratitude.

Paul’s Prayer of Gratitude and Expectant Joy Verses 3-4

Paul prayed for Timothy night at day. Paul was chained in a Roman prison so he had little to do but pray. This Mother’s Day I have a question for the mom’s and then a question for everyone else. How many of you mother have prayed for you kids in the middle of the night? How many of you have prayed for your mother when you wake up in the middle of the night.?

Paul was chained in a Roman prison so you would think that He had little to be thankful for but his prayers made him thankful and hopeful.

Paul remembered Timothy’s tears when they last said good bye (possibly in Acts 20:37). He is reminded of how much he loves him. Paul also longs to see Timothy again and misses joy of being with him. Even the great apostle at times became lonely, discouraged, and in need of support from fellow Christians. When you are lonely pray for your friends think about your friends. Write your friends a letter and let them know how much they mean to you.

Pray is the rich soil that thankfulness is cultivated in and the soil in which hope, joy, and faith grow. Paul did not say I constantly remember you when I read my bible day and night or when I read my devotions I think of you.

Have you ever been discouraged? I know that COVID-19 can leave people feeling kind of melancholy. God’s remedy for you as seen here in this passage is to thank Him. Not reading scripture or doing devotionals. Paul does not say I give thanks as I read my bible and think of you. I was feeling pretty low these last 2 weeks. I listening to the psalms on my phone trying to go to sleep. I was listening to my J Verneen McGee Sermons on YouTube and it was helping a little. But I really turned a corner when I started praying and giving thanks for everything I could think of.

Litfin, A. D. (1985). 2 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 750). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

A Mother’s Faith Verse 5.

Maybe when Paul refers to his ancestors so he can point out Timothy’s own ancestors as well. mother and grandmothers.

This word “Sincere” Paul uses here to describe Timothy’s faith is(anypokritos), adj. without hypocrisy; genuine. Timothy’s Faith was a genuine faith.

It don’t get much more genuine than a Mother or a Grandmother! This is faith with a mother’s touch. Timothy’s mom passed on a genuine faith to her son this great man timothy.

Paul could have boasted that he by his apostolic authority converted Timothy and gave him his sincere faith. This is Paul who brags about being superior to the super apostles in 2 Corinthians 11:5

in that same chapter Paul lists all his credentials of apostleship and it is quite an impressive list.

But he Paul gives the credit to the women in Timothy’s life. His mother and Grandmother.

In our evangelical culture we are always focused on the Dad. We have all heard the statistics about if a dad is a believer then the kids are more likely to be believers. But it should not be lost on us today that Paul only notes the women in Timothy’s life. All other clues point to the possibility that timothy’s Dad was a unbeliever. Look at Acts 16:1. The point is this Ladies you can have an impact on a young man’s life.

Genuineness is hard to come by. Have you even had a friend you knew you could trust no matter what?

So many, it seems, had opposed or deserted Paul (cf. 1:15; 3:1–9, 13; 4:10–21) that Timothy’s sincere (anypokritou, “unhypocritical”; cf. 1 Tim. 1:5) faith stood out in bold relief. Isn’t it of comfort to be around people of sincere faith? Does it not lift you up and make your faith stronger?

Phil 2:19–24 Paul had no one like Timothy. Thank God for the Timothy’s in your life. Find a Christian who you can say I have no one like them. They are sincere and love me in a Jesus kind of a way.

Paul is certain of Timothy’s faith. He is convinced. Timothy's mother and grandmother were such godly people that it left no doubt in Paul’s mind that Timothy was godly too! Which reminds us… one of the true marks of godliness is that you pass it on to others. A true faith is a multiplying faith. Christians should be reproducing their faith in others like field mice in a catless, Missouri corn crib in the winter. Our faith should be prolific.

Litfin, A. D. (1985). 2 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 750). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Big Idea

If you are not thankful to God for your own mother. You can at least thank God for someone else’s mother.

Paul was thankful for Timothy’s mother.

Thank God with a run-on sentence because He is still writing new chapters in your story.

Recap

1, 2 Timothy, Titus II. The Gratitude of Paul (1:3–5)

Paul expressed his constant gratitude (v. 3), anticipated a joyful reunion with Timothy (v. 4), and recalled Timothy’s genuine faith (v. 5).

Bow you heads with me Thank God your someone who is important to your walk with God. Remember a time that you spent with them. Maybe it was a time of laughter maybe it was a time of tears. Ask God to fill you with Joy when you seen them again. Maybe you will see them again on this earth maybe it is someone who you will see again in glory but think of the joy you will have to be with them!!!!

Now finally think about someone with a sincere faith or a genuine faith maybe it was your own mother like Timothy or maybe it was a Grandmother. Thank God for how they have passed that faith on to you. Thank him for putting them in your life.