2 Tim 2:6-15

January 8, 2009
    

2 Timothy 2:6-15

6 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

1.       Stir up: Greek: anazapureo: to re-enkindle

2.       Gift: Greek: charisma: a gratuity, free gift

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

1.       Power: Gr. Dunamis, Love; Gr. Agape; self discipline: a sound mind; Gr. sophronismos

8 Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.

1.       Sufferings: to suffer hardship in company with.

2.       No parent could love a child better than Paul loved Timothy; Paul could wish him nothing but what was great, honorable, and good, wishes him to be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel! Because, to suffer for Christ, and suffer with Christ, was the highest glory to which any human being in this state could arrive.

9[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

1.       Saved: Sozo: To save, deliver or protect

2.       Grace: Charis: benefit, gratitude, gift.

10[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.

1.       By death here, we are not to understand merely natural death, but that corruption and decomposition which take place in consequence of it; and which would be naturally endless, but for the work and energy of Christ. By him alone, comes the resurrection of the body; and through him eternal life and glory are given to the souls of believers.

2.       Life eternal, or the doctrine of life eternal, even implying the resurrection of the body, was not unknown among the Jews. They expected this, for they found it in their prophets.

3.       Jesus Christ died, he arose again from the dead, and thus illustrated the doctrine of the resurrection: he took the same human body up into heaven, in the sight of his disciples; and ever appears in the presence of God for us; and thus, has illustrated the doctrine of incorruption. In his death, resurrection, and ascension, the doctrine the resurrection of the human body, and its final incorruptibility, are fully illustrated by example, and established by fact.

11 For [the proclaiming of] this [Gospel] I was appointed a herald (preacher) and an apostle (special messenger) and a teacher of the Gentiles. 

12 And this is why I am suffering as I do. Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed [to Him] until that day.

1.       KJ: I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able, to keep that which I ‘ve committed unto him against that day.

2.       This is variously understood:

a.        Some think he means his life, which he had put, as it were, into the hands of Christ, in order that he might receive it again, in the resurrection, at the great day. Others think he means his soul.

b.      This he had also given into the hands of his faithful Creator, knowing that although wicked men might be permitted to take away his life, yet they could not destroy his soul, nor disturb its peace.

c.       Others think that he is speaking of the Gospel, which he knows will be carefully preserved by the great Head of the church; for, though he shall be soon called to seal the truth with his blood, yet he knows that God will take care that the same truth shall be proclaimed to the world by others, whom God shall raise up for that very purpose.

13 Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from me, in [all] the faith and love which are [for us] in Christ Jesus.

1.       Faith credits the divine doctrines. Love reduces them all to practice. Faith lays hold on Jesus Christ, and obtains that love by which every precept is cheerfully and effectually obeyed.

14 Guard and keep [with the greatest care] the precious and excellently adapted [Truth] which has been entrusted [to you], by the [help of the] Holy Spirit Who makes His home in us.

1.       Without the continual spiritual energy of the Holy Spirit, man can’t do anything.

15 You already know that all who are in Asia turned away and forsook me, Phygelus and Hermogenes among them.

1.        It seems as if the apostle must refer to the Asiatic Christians which were then at Rome, or had been lately there.

a.       Finding the apostle in disgrace, and thinking it dangerous to own him or his cause, they neither visited him, nor confessed Christianity.

b.      He cannot be speaking of any general defection of the Asiatic churches, but of those Asiatics who had professed a particular friendship for him.

c.       [Phygellus and Hermogenes.] These were two of the persons of whom he complains; but who they were, or what office they held, or whether they were anything but private Christians who had for a time ministered to Paul in prison, and, when they found the state determined to destroy him, ceased to acknowledge him, we cannot tell.