Pastorals: ...

Pastoral Epistles: Message 24

2 Timothy 1:6-12

ETS: Paul encouraged Timothy to passionately serve Christ and suffer for the Gospel.

ESS: When we serve Christ passionately, we should delightfully suffer for the Gospel.

OSS: [MO: Supportive] {SO: I want the hearers to find support in their suffering for the Gospel}

PQ: Why does Paul encourage Timothy with these exhortations?

UW: Reasons

Intro.:

TS: Let us examine together the reasons for Paul’s encouragement now.

The gifting of God is a fire within believers. (vv. 6-7)

Paul wrote that he was reminding Timothy to “rekindle” or to “fan into flame” the gift of God- referring to the gifts for ministry given to Timothy. The word rekindle or fan into flame imply that the gifting of God should be a fire within us, burning ever so passionately. We ought to serve God with our gifts, using them for His glory, thus daily rekindling the flame and fanning it into flame.

“Spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” is a verse often taken out of context. However, J. H. Bernard commented wisely to clarify the significance of this triad: “power to fulfill his arduous tasks, love to suffer gladly all opposition…discipline, to correct and warn the wayward and careless.” (Lee, 189; Bernard 109).

Suffering is a part of the passionate believer’s life. (vv. 8-12)

The subjunctive Μὴ οὖν ἐπαισχυνθῇς is an aorist subjunctive which prohibits action and shows results of the previous verse. Thus, it should be read and understood as, “so, in light of the passion you have and the power, love, and discipline God has given you, do not begin to be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner...”

Instead, share in suffering for the sake of the Gospel- a joint matter, an invitation for Timothy to join alongside Paul in his suffering for the Gospel. Notice v. 8b- Paul’s strength comes from relying on God.

The reason for suffering delightfully is because God has provided salvation, which was at one time only a promise, but now has been brought to light through Jesus, defeating the effects of death on the believer (oh death, where is your sting? 1 Cor. 15:55) (vv. 9-10)

Paul, a herald (boldness in evangelism), an apostle (specially commissioned by God with authority), and a teacher (a man trusted to explain with clarity the Gospel) [Lea, 193].

Paul suffered delightfully because of the salvation God had given Him and because of His decision to trust in Christ (perfect tense implying a past decision which is still effective presently) to protect Paul and his ministry (or trusted in the Spirit’s power and ability to guard the Gospel entrusted to Paul).

CONCLUSION:

Perhaps Timothy was facing a time in his ministry where it would be easy to be discouraged, turn back from his faith, and abandon his calling. Knowing the difficulty of the ministry at Ephesus, Paul wrote Timothy to encourage him to fan the flame (the flame of the Gospel in his life) in his life by using his gifts daily. Furthermore, he encouraged him to not grow ashamed of Jesus nor the testimony of Jesus and His followers (Paul) because of the great salvation offered to them. For us, our tasks are difficult. We must use our gifts daily evidencing a passionate desire to serve Christ understanding that suffering is a part of the believer’s life and thus suffering delightfully with a trust in God.