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2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy book home•Chapter 1 of 4•18 verses

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2 Timothy 1 Overview

Paul writes to Timothy with deep affection, reminding him of sincere faith and urging him to stir up God’s gift rather than give way to fear. He tells Timothy not to be ashamed of Christ’s testimony or Paul’s imprisonment, but to share in gospel suffering by God’s power. Salvation is rooted in God’s purpose and grace given in Christ before the world began.

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Before you read 2 Timothy 1

Coming from

1 Timothy 6 closes with contentment, warnings about money, and Timothy’s charge to guard the deposit.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul tells Timothy to be strong in grace and commit truth to faithful men who can teach others. Using soldier, athlete, and farmer images, he calls for disciplined endurance. He emphasizes Jesus Christ raised from the dead, warns against word-strife and false resurrection teaching, and urges Timothy to flee youthful lusts, pursue godliness, avoid foolish disputes, and correct opponents with meekness.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Paul explicitly says God ‘hath saved us, and called us’ not according to our works but according to His purpose and grace.

Timothy’s timidity is addressed as a ministry issue, not evidence he lacks salvation.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Salvation is by grace, not works

God’s saving purpose precedes and grounds Christian calling.

Spiritual gifts should be actively used

Timothy must stir up what God has given.

Courage comes from God’s Spirit

Power, love, and a sound mind oppose fearful retreat.

The gospel is worth suffering for

Paul is not ashamed because he knows whom he has believed.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Ephesians 2:8–10

Salvation is by grace, not works, followed by service.

Romans 8:35–39

Paul’s confidence in Christ amid suffering parallels his certainty here.

1 Timothy 4:14

Timothy had earlier been told not to neglect the gift given him.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make Timothy’s fear proof he was unsaved

Paul treats him as a beloved believer needing courage.

Do not make suffering the cause of salvation

Verse 9 says salvation is not according to works.

Do not confuse guarding the gospel deposit with adding new revelation to it

Timothy is to keep what was committed to him.

Read 2 Timothy 1 watching for…

Paul’s faith memories.

The command to stir up the gift.

Power-love-sound-mind versus fear.

Verse 9’s grace-not-works statement.

Paul’s confidence and the entrusted deposit.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-7Paul greets Timothy, remembers his faith, and urges him to stir up his gift without fear 8-12Timothy must not be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul’s suffering but share in affliction 13-14Timothy is told to hold fast sound words and guard the good thing committed to him 15-18Paul contrasts those who turned away with Onesiphorus, who faithfully refreshed him

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

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2 Timothy 1:15

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