2 Timothy 1:1-10 – Fan the Flame
From time to time, we lose our zeal; or at least the fire grows cold. We need to, periodically, fan that flame back into a fire. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul tells Timothy to “kindle afresh” the gift of God that he had (1:6). 2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter he wrote and it is among his most personal.
The theme of 2 Timothy is the very brief command in 4:5: “do the work of an evangelist.” Everything will submit to that command. In this letter of four chapters, Paul gives 33 imperatives.
THE GOSPEL IS BASED IN CHRIST’S AUTHORITY – 1:1-2:
Paul begins by referring to himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus.
Paul is saying that with eternal life being found in Christ Jesus, it was God’s will that Paul be chosen as an apostle to teach and preach that message.
THE GOSPEL IS CONTINUOUS WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT – 1:3-5:
Paul served God with a clear conscience “the way my forefathers did.” Paul saw the New Testament faith as continuous with the Old Testament faith just as a rose is continuous with its seed. It is an outgrowth, a maturing, a development from one to the other.
Paul never disparages the Law of Moses. Jews were saved, in a sense, under the Law of Moses in the same way that mankind is saved today under the Law of Christ: Faith that obeys the Laws of God given by His grace.
THE GOSPEL IS A CALL TO ACTION – 1:6-8:
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The reason Timothy is to “kindle afresh” this gift is because God has not given us a spirit of timidity but the spirit of power, love, and discipline. You could imagine what impact it would have on Timothy for his beloved mentor, Paul, to call on Timothy to be just as active and courageous!
It is the message of the Spirit, the “promise of life,” that gives us courage. That’s what gives us the power to move ahead, to stay faithful, to endure, to love, and to control our own thinking, or “sound judgment” (NASV marg.).
“Therefore,” Paul draws a conclusion… “Because you have a living faith and have a gift within you that gives you power, love, and self-discipline,” Paul tells Timothy (his first imperative): “Join in suffering with me.”
Paul wants Timothy to agonize with him in prayer, in sharing the Gospel with others, in being willing to be persecuted, even martyred for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Endure the pain, too,” Paul says.
The power of God will conquer. It will not break Paul out of prison, but who cares? It will break the chains that Satan holds around the hearts of the centurions who are guarding Paul (cf. Phil. 1:13). When Paul tells the Christians in Rome in Romans 16:20: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet,” he meant that through the power of the Gospel, evil doers will be converted. The tide will turn. That’s why we should never be ashamed of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16) and why we should never change the Gospel. You cannot improve on God’s power. If you add your thoughts to God’s power, it only dilutes it.
THE GOSPEL FOR WHICH WE SUFFER – 1:9-10:
That Gospel is discussed in various ways in verses 9 & 10…
The plan of salvation is not based on any works that we have done. But it is in agreement with His own plan, His own purpose, and His own grace. God planned throughout eternity that Jesus would be the sacrifice for sin and that those who obeyed God would be forgiven of those sins and would be added to His spiritual body, the Church.
Do the work of an evangelist and spread the Gospel message.
–Paul Holland
