Day 197 – Thursday, October 2, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

2 Timothy 1

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Greeting

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

² To Timothy, a beloved son:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

(2 Timothy 1:1–2, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• In this letter, Paul offers his typical greeting. He does add to his rationale for his apostleship (by the will of God), the phrase “according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,” thus explaining why he goes.
• This is, like First Timothy, addressed to his son in the Lord, Timothy
• He offers a blessing of grace, mercy, and peace.

Timothy’s Faith and Heritage

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, ⁴ greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. ⁶ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

(2 Timothy 1:3–7, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• This passage is Paul’s thankfulness for Timothy, his prayer that Timothy would be comforted, and that he would continue to minister in the gift that was given to him.
• Timothy’s gift was in part due to the faith of his mother and grandmother, who passed that faith along by teaching and example. However, his ministry gift was bestowed on him by God and affirmed by the apostle through the laying on of hands. Paul anointed him with oil and a prayer, but God anointed him by the Holy Spirit.
• Paul reminded him to keep reviving that gift in prayer and study so that he could continue the ministry. He then told Timothy not to fear, for fear was not from God. On the contrary, God provided power, love, and a sound mind.
• We can boldly minister in the gifts God has given us, but it requires attention and intention to cultivate that gift and utilize it in faith, not fear.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has 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 time began, ¹⁰ but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For this reason 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 what I have committed to Him until that Day. 

(2 Timothy 1:8–12, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul told Timothy to never be ashamed of the gospel. The gospel, as Paul told us in Romans, is the power of God to save us. Through the Spirit we are called to declare the gospel and lead others to salvation.
• Suffering may come, but the work must continue. Paul told Timothy that he was not ashamed, and would continue the ministry, persuaded that God would keep him until the Day of His coming.

Be Loyal to the Faith

¹³ Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

¹⁵ This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; ¹⁷ but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. ¹⁸ The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. 

(2 Timothy 1:13–18, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Finally, Paul reminded Timothy again that he should keep his words in line with what he had been taught. This would be accomplished by allowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to keep us.
• Paul named some defectors from the faith, and talked about a falling away in Asia. He praised a friend who had been faithful to him, and even noted his visit to Rome to see Paul.
• Paul is encouraging and coaching his protege, and is bestowing a blessing of his ministry. Encourage those around you in the body of Christ and in the work of the ministry. We need each other!

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.