2 Timothy Chapter 1

2 Timothy

Chapter 1

B1 ...serve from my forefathers with pure conscience...v3

C1 This is by man's standards—what his peers would decide looking at his life. The Old Testament is God’s standard for the nation Israel, though much can be applied to all humanity, for example the 10 Commandments. The Jews of Jesus’s day had corrupted the law by making their interpretation of higher authority than Scripture. Mark 7:6-13. Paul, by the standards of the Pharisees was pure.

C2 By God's standards, Paul considered himself to be the greatest sinner: 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief.

C3 What about our conscience? Is it pure in man's sight only or in God's, too? Read the 10 Commandments and decide.

B2 ...unfeigned faith...v5

C1 Unfeigned = sincere, not fake, not an outward show. It is a faith lived even when no one is around.

C2 Faith = believing God—what He says, what He does, what He wants, etc. Interpreting the Bible in its plain, normal sense is another way.

B3 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

C1 What He has NOT given.

D1 Spirit of fear: timidity

E1 Webster: want of courage or boldness to face danger; timorousness; habitual cowardice. Timidity in one person may be a good trait of character, while in another it is a deep reproach.

E2 Bravery is NOT an absence of fear; it IS, in the face of fear, doing what is right and needful.

D2 Paul was urging Timothy to not necessarily rekindle but to keep on stirring up his faith. There was a slow drift towards letting fear cloud Timothy’s witness. Don’t most of us do so? Some others that had natural timidity: Moses (Exodus 3:11-14), Gideon (Judges 6:14-15), Saul (1 Samuel 9:21), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6). Note Paul’s use of the word us; He too had times of timidity.

C2 What He is doing

D1 Power = ability to do His will, to overcome temptation, to survive troubles, to live through persecution

D2 Love = the love of choice, to love what God loves.

D3 Sound mind = a disciplined, self-controlled mind, thoughts, actions.

C3 The Holy Spirit does this, not we, ourselves. John 15:5 GNB I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.

B4 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

C1 Saved: He did the saving; we did the believing. God initiates salvation because we cannot and do not seek God (Romans 3:9-20). When initiating salvation, God opens our minds and hearts to the truth. He also has freed the will to resist or not resist.

C2 Called: He invited us and called us not according to our efforts. We cannot and do not seek God. He has a purpose and gives us the grace to believe. To Jesus Christ be all the glory for salvation. We are called for holiness, not selfishness. It is not me first but God first. It wasn't what we have done, but we believed. This was His purpose and grace.

B5 2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

C1 The Gospel was not completely, purely understood until the Lord Jesus came. He is

D1 Savior—the only one who can us from God’s wrath that we fully deserve.

D2 Who abolished death—this death is spiritual, eternal death

D3 Who brought life—this life is eternal life that starts in the new heart at the time of belief. It is a new creation accomplished by God (2 Corinthians 5:17).

D4 Who brought immortality—this immortality is life doesn't end at physical death.

B6 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

C1 Doctrine is important. Doctrine is our beliefs, our rules of living, our lifestyle, and our worldview.

C2 We are to believe and teach the same doctrine—no change.

B7 2 Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

C1 Turned away = apostatizes

C2 We are told to “hold fast”, then Paul mentions these: Phygellus and Hermogenes, who did not “hold fast”.