2 Timothy 1

This is the first chapter of 2 Timothy. It contains the greeting and opening exhortations of the letter that Paul, bound in chains, sent to Timothy. Paul's imprisonment (vv. 8, 16) forms the backdrop of the entire letter. It is read together with 1 Timothy as one of the letters addressed to church leaders.

Outline

• Verses 1–2: Paul wishes grace, mercy, and peace to Timothy, his "dearly beloved son."
• Verses 3–5: Paul thanks God as he remembers Timothy night and day. Recalling Timothy's tears, he longs to see him. He is persuaded that the unfeigned faith that dwelt in Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice dwells in Timothy as well.
• Verses 6–7: Paul urges Timothy to stir up the gift of God that he received through the laying on of Paul's hands. He states that God has given not a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind (that is, self-control).
• Verses 8–12: Paul urges Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord or of Paul the prisoner, but to share in suffering for the gospel. He explains that salvation and calling are not according to human works but according to the grace given in Christ before the world began. Paul is confident that the One in whom he has believed is able to keep what has been committed to Him until that day.
• Verses 13–14: Paul tells Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words he heard from Paul and to guard, by the Holy Spirit, the good thing committed to him.
• Verses 15–18: All who are in Asia have turned away from Paul, among them Phygelus and Hermogenes. By contrast, Onesiphorus diligently sought Paul out in Rome and had also served him in Ephesus. Paul asks the Lord's mercy upon his household.

Key Verses

• 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." This is the chapter's central word of encouragement to a timid, discouraged minister.
• 2 Timothy 1:9 "Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace." This verse succinctly summarizes salvation and calling by grace.
• 2 Timothy 1:12 "For I know whom I have believed." This is a confession of assurance that emerges in the midst of suffering.

People and Places

• Paul: the author of the letter.
• Timothy: the recipient of the letter.
• Lois and Eunice: Timothy's grandmother and mother, who came to faith before he did.
• Phygelus and Hermogenes: men in Asia who turned away from Paul. Little is known of them beyond this passage.
• Onesiphorus: a man who sought out and refreshed Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome. His household also receives greetings in 2 Timothy 4:19.
• Asia: the Roman province of Asia, corresponding to present-day western Turkey.
• Ephesus: the place where Onesiphorus served Paul.
• Rome: the place where Paul was imprisoned.

Points for Reflection

• Authorship and date: Traditionally, the letter is regarded as Paul's last, written in Rome before his martyrdom. Since the rise of modern scholarship, some scholars have argued on the basis of vocabulary, church order, and other features that it was written by Paul's disciples after his time. Evangelical scholars generally maintain Pauline authorship.
• "Before the world began" in verse 9: Presbyterians in the Reformed tradition frequently cite this verse in support of the doctrine of predestination. Methodists and Holiness churches that follow Wesleyan theology read it as referring to the plan of grace prepared beforehand in Christ, without narrowing it to the unconditional election of individuals. For a fuller discussion, see the article Predestination and Free Will.
• "That which I have committed" in verse 12: There are two interpretations. One takes it as Paul's own life and salvation, which he has entrusted to God. The other takes it as the gospel, which God has entrusted to Paul, citing in support the use of the same word for "that good thing which was committed" in verse 14.
• Verses 16–18: One view holds that Onesiphorus had already died and reads verse 18 as a prayer for the dead. Catholic writers sometimes cite this passage. Protestants generally reject this interpretation, holding that the text does not indicate whether he was living or dead.
• The laying on of hands in verse 6: Together with the laying on of hands by the presbytery in 1 Timothy 4:14, this verse is cited in discussions of the laying on of hands and ordination.

In the Korean Church

Verse 7 is often quoted to encourage adolescents and young adults facing examinations or decisions about their future, and it is also commonly used as a Scripture memorization verse. Verse 5 is frequently cited, for example in sermons during Family Month, as an example of faith passed down through three generations.