2 Timothy Chapter 1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to further the promise of life in Christ Jesus, 

The Greek word for Paul is Παῦλος (paulos), meaning small. Paul was a little man, most likely blind, who brought down the Roman Empire.

The Greek word for "apostle" is ἀπόστολος (apostles), meaning one sent by God. Paul was sent as a messenger from God to the pagan Gentiles living in the Roman Empire.

The Greek word for "Christ" is Χριστός (christos), which comes from the Hebrew word מְשִׁיחַ (maschiach), meaning the annointed King predicted in the Old Testament.  Paul was a messenger of the Messianic King.

The Greek word for "will" is θέλημα (thelaima), meaning the preferred will of God, or the best offer of God. Paul was sent by God, because this was God's preferred will and the very best way to bring the message to the pagan Gentiles who were scattered all over the world throughout history.

God had made a promise to Abraham that all of the Gentiles would be blessed by his seed. Paul was fulfilling the promise of the Abrahamic Covenant by bringing the good news of the Messiah to Gentiles all over the world. His letters have reached Gentiles in all nations, all languages, and throughout all history. 

1:2 to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

The Greek word for Timothy is Τιμόθεος (timotheos), a Greek name, meaning to honor God. Timothy's father was a pagan Greek, but his mother was Jewish. The mother of Timothy was a godly woman who brought up Timothy by teaching him the Scriptures.

The Greek word for "beloved" is ἀγαπητός (agapaitos), meaning divine love. Only believers can possess divine love. Divine love comes from study and application of the Scriptures. Paul's Bible doctrine was so strong, that he was able to love Timothy with this divine love, which came from God.

The Greek word for "child" is τέκνον (teknon), meaning one who is living in full dependence of God the Father. Timothy was the agape spiritual son of Paul, as Paul had led him to Christ in Lystra. Timothy had traveled with Paul on several of his missionary journeys. Paul mentored him to become a pastor.

The Greek word for "grace" is χάρις (charis), meaning the kindness of God. Every person in all of history was born as a totally depraved and evil child, wanting to do nothing but human good works which build up the kingdom of Satan.

According to Romans 3:10-11,  no man would ever understand God or seek God. If God left him alone, every man would choose Satan over God and hell over heaven. Therefore, since no man would have to choose God, then God would have to choose man. By God's kindness, He chose some men before the foundations of the world were even created. He left others alone to make their own choices. χάρις (charis) is the typical Greek greeting.

The Greek word for "mercy" is ἔλεος (hellos), meaning covenant-love. God chose many Jews and Gentiles before the foundations of the world because of the covenant that God had made with Abraham. This was the only time that Paul used "mercy" is his greeting.

The Greek word for "peace" is εἰρήνη (eirainay), which comes from the Hebrew word שָׁלום (shalom), meaning peace with God. Man is the natural enemy of God. Man hates God and wants nothing to do with God. Man is a sinner. God hates sin. Man spends his time on earth doing human good works, which are dirty menstrual rags to God. The only way that man can have peace with God is by coming to God through His Son. Man must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. In this way, the sin of man is transferred to Jesus Christ. The righteousness of Christ is transferred to those who believe. When God sees the believer, He sees the righteousness of Christ. This was the typical Hebrew greeting. Paul used "grace and peace" in most of his letters. Grace must come before peace, because no one can make peace with God unless God shows him grace. God shows man grace by sending the Holy Spirit to change the personality of man. This change of personality is called the new birth. Then new birth comes from above.

Notice that the peace comes "from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord". The Greek word for "and" is καὶ (kai), which is the Greek equal sign, meaning that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are equal. They are both deity. Many cults and isms falsely teach that Jesus is less than God, such as maybe a created angel, a prophet, or a guru. This one little Greek word disproves that Jesus was less than God. This little Greek word proves that Jesus is God and equal to God the Father.

Thanksgiving and Charge to Timothy

1:3 I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day.

Paul was thankful for God who had enough grace, mercy, and peace to save Paul, who at one time in his past was an enemy of Christ and a persecutor of Christians. Paul had attacked the body of Christ. Paul had murdered God's own children. How did God respond? By His grace, He changed the personality of Paul from an enemy of Christ to a servant of Christ. Paul was thankful for this. All believers should be thankful as well, because they were just like Paul. Only the divine institution of human government keeps unbelievers from slaughtering every believer on this earth.

Paul had a clear conscience much like that of his ancient Jewish ancestors who served God. Paul was thankful for the work that Timothy was doing. Paul had a large prayer list, as Timothy was part of that list. All believers should pray for their pastor.

1:4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.

At the time of this writing, Paul was in prison awaiting execution. The Emperor Nero regarded the teaching of Christianity as a crime that deserved the death penalty. Paul was one of the greatest Bible teachers who ever lived, but the nation of Rome considered him as a criminal with a dangerous message that deserved death. Timothy loved Paul with a divine love and prayed tears for his situation. This letter was written around 67 A.D., three years before the Temple destruction in 70 A.D.

1:5 I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.

Timothy's mother and grandmother were Jewish Christians, so Timothy was brought up in the faith.

1:6 Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands.

When Paul laid hands upon Timothy, he did not transfer any supernatural power to Timothy, as many charismatics claim. Instead, the laying on of hands was a symbol that identified Paul and Timothy as partners in the gospel. Paul was close to death and he was grooming Timothy to carry on his mission.

The Greek word for "rekindle" is ἀναζωπυρέω (anazoporeow), a present active infinitive verb, meaning to continually stir up the fire. Paul told Timothy that he had a great gift for God and Timothy needed to keep stirring this gift and keep it burning hot, just as a person would keep stirring the fire to keep it burning.

Timothy was going to be the new pastor-teacher in Ephesus. Ephesus was a large mature church, but there were many satanic enemies in the city. Paul may have been concerned that Timothy may have compromised and taught less than the whole counsel of the Word of God.

1:7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.

The Greek word for "fear" is δειλία (deila), meaning timidity or cowardice. Timothy was not to be timid or cowardly when teaching the gospel. Many modern day pastor-teachers will not teach the entire counsel of the Word of God in their pulpits, because they may scare away their congregation. Therefore, they avoid such topics as eschatology, election, predestination, total depravity, and the exposure of evil. All of these topics are part of the entire counsel of the Word of God, but they divide congregations. When a congregation divides, then it loses money. Pastor-teachers who place their churches in debt to the lender will have to compromise the gospel message to keep the pews full. This is one of the dangers of buying a large building on credit. The pastor-teacher will have to compromise his message to keep the pews full and pay the creditor.

The Greek word for "power" is δύναμις (dynamos), meaning divine power. Timothy did not need to fear his enemies in Ephesus because he had divine power from the Holy Spirit in order to use his gift.

The Greek word for "love" is ἀγάπη (agape), meaning divine love. Only those who know Christ possess agape love. The only way to know Christ is through a deep study of the entire counsel of the Word of God. Timothy knew the Word of God, so he possessed agape love.

The Greek word for "self-control" is σωφρονισμός (supronismos), meaning to have the discipline to make safe and prudent choices. Timothy had the spiritual maturity to make divine viewpoint decisions. 

1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.

The Greek word for "ashamed" is ἐπαισχύνομαι (epasiskunomi), an aorist passive subjunctive verb, meaning to lose confidence or be disgraced because of lack of support. This verb is in the subjunctive mood, meaning that there was a strong possibly that Timothy would lose support, which would cause Timothy to lose confidence in his gift. Paul knew that the Ephesians would eventually lose their first love. Thirty years after this letter the Apostle John confirms in the Book of Revelation that this once Ephesian church of mature Christians had indeed lost their first love.

Paul was one of the greatest teachers of all time. He was so good, that the satanic world system condemned him to death. Paul was warning Timothy that his supernatural gift had so much divine power, that he was about to use it and suffer for it. If a believer uses his gifts that God gives him, then he will suffer. Many Christians decide not to use their gifts in order to avoid suffering. There are many believers who are missing in action when the church doors are opened. They have a gift that the body needs to battle in an angelic war, but they are not on the battle field. Satan will keep weak Christians out of Bible teaching churches that train their soldiers how to use their swords and shields.

1:9 He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

The Greek word for "saved" is σῴζω (sozow), an aorist active participle, meaning an individual who was saved from a dangerous position and moved to a safe position. The participle is aorist, meaning that this salvation was a onetime completed action of the past. This one little Greek tense disproves the false teaching of Arminianism. No one can lose their salvation. Nor does God look into the future and choose those who will choose them. The Greek does not allow either choice.

The Greek word for "called" is καλέω (kaleow), another aorist active participle, meaning that these two participles are connected as an unbroken chain. The call and the salvation of man was a completed action of the past. Since the verbs are completed action, they cannot be undone. One cannot lose their salvation because God has already completed the salvation process with an unmovable aorist period.

God chose those for salvation before anyone did anything good or bad. He made the choice before time existed. The choice was not made on how many good works a person would do or not do. The choice was made by God before time existed for God's own personal purpose.

1:10 but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!

Paul was in prison facing death by execution, yet he taught about the Lord Jesus Christ breaking the power of death. How could that be if Paul died after writing these words? The death that Paul is talking about is the second death, or spiritual death. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared on this earth to nullify the effects of the second death by replacing it with eternal life. This eternal life comes through the light of the gospel. Man is living in darkness and cannot even see the gospel, The Bible is a lights-out book that cannot be understood by the natural man. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must shine His light on the gospel and illuminate new life into the natural man so that the man in darkness can see it.

1:11 For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.

The Greek word for "appointed" is τίθημι (tithami), an aorist active indicative verb, meaning that Paul was established by God as a preacher, teacher and apostle. Paul was not appointed by men, nor did he choose his position or his gifts. 

The Greek word for "preacher" is κῆρυξ (karux), meaning a herald who blows his trumpet and gives a critical message from the king to his people. Paul was the herald of King Jesus. He was giving the critical message of salvation to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles.

The Greek word for "apostle" is ἀπόστολος (apostles), meaning one sent by God. Paul was sent as a messenger from God to the pagan Gentiles living in the Roman Empire.

The Greek word for "teacher" is διδάσκαλος (didaskalos), meaning one who has studied the Scriptures and is able to teach the divine truths so that people can understand it. If one has the gift of teaching, then he also has the tenacity to study.

Notice that Paul was given three gifts. Most believers have trouble just handling one spiritual gift. Many have a spiritual gift that they refuse to use. Those who do not exercise their spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ are out of fellowship with God. 

1:12 Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Paul was using all three of his gifts at a maximum capacity, because he had enough Bible doctrine in his soul to be filled, or controlled, by the Holy Spirit. Those who do not fill their souls with Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God will not be able to recognize or use their gift. They will be a casualty in the angelic warfare.

Since Paul was exercising all three of his gifts at maximum capacity, then he was able to make ripples in the satanic world system. This sent the enemy after him. Satan had to find a way to silence Paul. However, like Job, Satan could do nothing against Paul, unless God gave him permission to do so. Satan imprisoned Paul to silence him but Paul ended up writing at least five prison letters that have been read by millions all through history.

Paul was not ashamed of being placed in prison for teaching the gospel. This teaching of the gospel may cause his execution on this earth, but he was storing deposits in heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ was the banker, so Paul knew that he would be paid back in eternity with infinite interest dividends.

1:13 Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

The Greek for "sound words" is ὑγιαινόντων λόγων (huiainontown log own), meaning the thoughts of God that were health to the soul. Paul commanded Timothy to stand firm on the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. He was not to use music concerts, skits, plays, and entertainment to reach his congregation, as so many modern pastors do today. He was to teach the same thoughts that Paul had taught. He was to teach these words in Christ, meaning by the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads a gifted pastor-teacher to learn from other gifted pastor-teachers. Paul learned from Jesus and Timothy learned from Paul and the congregation was to learn from Timothy. This method of study was stabled by the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 4. Remember that the Ethiopian Eunuch poured over Isaiah 53, but he could not understand it until the Holy Spirit sent Philip to explain it to him. Then, the Ethiopian went to Africa and taught others who, in turn, taught others. This is the divine method of how God matures and sanctifies the believer.

1:14 Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

The truth of the Scriptures had been passed down to Timothy. Now, he was entrusted to pass this information on to others.  Again, one can see the maturation process at work in the believer that was mentioned in Ephesians 4.

1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

In 1 Timothy, Paul mentioned that some had fallen away. When things toughened up against Paul, everyone forsook him, even Phygelus and Hermogenes. Notice that Paul listed the names of those who deserted him. Seeker-friendly pastors would never bash a false teacher who is active in a modern local church, but Paul did. Paul was not a coward. He exposed evil.

1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.

Onesiphorous was a member of the Ephesus church where Timothy was the pastor. For some reason, he was in Rome during Paul's imprisonment. 

1:17 But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.

Onesiphorous was not too busy to drop in and visit his old teacher.

1:18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus. 

Onesiphorous exhibited the bold and courageous traits that Paul wanted to see in Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to serve the Lord with this kind of love and courage.