2 Timothy 1 – Monday, July 28, 2008
Saint Timothy
2 Timothy 1
2 – Grace, Mercy, & Peace
2To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Notes: “Grace” – probably meaning a fresh discovery of the love and free favor of God. And an increase of grace and the gifts of the Spirit in Timothy’s life.
“Mercy” – probably meaning a fresh application of the pardoning mercy of God through his son Jesus Christ. Mercy was given prayerfully from Paul so that the Lord might assist and give success to Timothy and his work as a minister. Also, given prayerfully that the Lord might help and support Timothy under every trial he might face in life.
“Peace” – peace of conscience through the blood of Christ bringing prosperity that is temporal, spiritual, and eternal.
6-7 – The Gift Of God / Spirit Of Power, Love, & Self Discipline
6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Notes: “the gift of God” – meaning his ministerial gift. This gift does not come through anything natural in us and we can’t acquire it by our own will. It is given to us by our Lord.
“laying on of my hands” – It seems that it was only through the laying on of the hands of the apostles that the Holy Ghost was given. Here is an explanation from Matthew Henry: Whether the gift of God in Timothy was ordinary or extraordinary (though I incline to the latter), he must stir it up, otherwise it would decay. Further, you see that this gift was in him by the putting on of the apostle’s hands, which I take to be distinct from his ordination, for that was performed by the hands of the presbytery, 1 Tim. 4:14.
“self-discipline” – KJV says “of a sound mind” – A mind to follow the principles and doctrines of the gospel, which is shown by prudent conduct and behavior. We should always be sober, moderate, temperate, pure, and honest.
9 – Called To A Holy Life / Grace Before Beginning Of Time
9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
Notes: We are called to holiness and because of grace we should be influenced to live holy lives and carry on holy conversations.
“and called us” – The Lord predestined who He will calls. There is no one called, but those whom God purposed to call. No other reason can be assigned to our calling other than the sovereign will of God. There is no other reason why others are not called because the time of our calling is fixed in the decrees of God.
13-14 – Guard The Gift’s And Calling The Lord Gives To Us
13What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Notes: We should think, act, say, and teach the principles of the Lord without our own adulterations and mixtures. These teachings and our thoughts, words, and actions should be kept pure and incorrupt. The Holy Spirit will help us do this by directing, instructing, supporting, and upholding us.
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