2Ti 1:3 | KingComments | STEP | . Paul doesn’t give thanks to God because of the special ministry he was given and which he had now almost accomplished. No, he gives thanks to God because of Whom God is. Could the reason be that he had experienced much of the grace and mercy of God and that with the peace of God in his heart he was able to go through all hardships? Of course he has known God for a long time now. He served God with a clear conscience the way his forefathers did. In their footsteps he has been serving God. They enabled him to serve God. He doesn’t make any judgment about their inward condition, he only writes down what characterized them. He acknowledges what was in them for God. With gratefulness he looks back at his relationship with his parents and forefathers at the end of his life. Those relationships are not nullified when we come to conversion. Also now it is of great importance that the Lord is being served in the families and generations. Paul already knew and served God before he converted. He did that to the best of his knowledge and with a clear conscience. That doesn’t mean that his service had the consent or blessing of God. It only means that what he did, he did in ignorance ( ). He was sincerely convinced that with everything he was doing he was serving God (cf. ). That’s why his conscience did not accuse him for anything he did. His conscience remained clean; he never fought against his conscience. Herein also lies an exhortation for Timothy to keep a clean conscience. He always remembers Timothy in his prayers. Timothy may know that and that must have encouraged him. How nice it is if others tell you that they pray for you. It is also nice if you can tell others that you pray for them. Through prayer the remembrance you have of others for whom you pray, remains vivid. In that way you still feel the connection between you and them. As a result, they and you do not stand alone. . That doesn’t mean they don’t need to see one another. Paul has a strong desire to see Timothy. He needs company, especially that of Timothy (cf. ). He certainly has the company of the Lord ( ), but that doesn’t mean that he despises the relationships given by God. On the contrary, he, the great apostle, needs them. He is being encouraged by them ( ; ). It is not a proof of a spiritual mind if believers experience their faith individually. That’s not according to the purpose of the Lord. The tears of Timothy have moved the apostle. These are tears of sadness he saw when Timothy said goodbye to him, his older friend. The tears are the proof of true friendship. That is precisely what makes it so precious for Paul if Timothy would come to him. The joy that it would give him will be a full joy, probably again with tears, but then of joy. The tears of Timothy remain, as it were, fresh in his memory. He always remembers them. . And there is something else that Paul calls to remembrance and that is the sincere faith of his young friend. The word ‘sincere’ or ‘unfeigned’ comes from the Greek word ‘hypocrite’. A Greek actor was called ‘hypocritis’. An actor always plays the role of another person. He is not himself, but he pretends to be someone else (cf. ). Timothy certainly doesn’t pretend, he is not characterized by counterfeit, but he is true. That’s also the reason why Paul wants to see him. You also love to be accompanied by sincere believers, by people who truly live with the Lord, don’t you? The faith dwells in him, it has its home there. Faith is not a side matter to him, something for special occasions. Besides, he has had good examples of faith. Paul reminds him of his grandmother and mother. This is an example of the working grace of God in the generations. There are many changes, the apostasy is continuing, but there are also things that remain. There are always people who have a sincere faith in Him. Paul doesn’t remind him of heroes of faith from a far past, of long-ago-days but of very close examples, his mother and grandmother. That should mean to you: Look around and you will surely find examples in your neighborhood in whom the faith dwells. The touch stone is faithfulness and obedience to God’s Word. . If a sincere faith dwells in you, then there is a reason to remind you that you have received a “gift of God” and which you therefore ought to use. Things may probably be quite difficult in the church, but that should be a challenge to your faith. Timothy has to be reminded of it. That may be the case with you. We all tend to avoid difficulties, don’t we? Paul gives Timothy an extra stimulus “to kindle afresh” his gift. He reminds him of the way he received the gift. That is through the laying on of Paul’s hands. In his first letter to him Paul also encouraged him in his ministry. That encouragement is the reminder that others already had announced that there was a ministry ready for him ( ). Then the elders also laid their hands on him ( ) and in that way they made themselves one with him in his ministry. If in a weak moment he thinks he just imagines all this, he can recall this again. And now he adds a third remembrance in order to encourage Timothy. Paul personally has granted him that gift. Timothy will undoubtedly remember that event. . After all Paul has not acted at his own discretion, but by God’s commission. Each gift comes from God; it is ‘the gift of God’. What is said here to Timothy is therefore an encouragement for you too. Like Timothy you may know what God has given to you. If you focus on the circumstances you might become afraid. All kinds of arguments may arise in you that can cause you not to use the gift given to you. You could probably think that it all makes no sense after all or you may fear for the adversary that your performance may stir up. This timidity, or cowardice, is a kind of fear of loss of face or to be ridiculed. Paul points out that this “spirit of timidity” is not from God (cf. ; ). What certainly is from God is His Holy Spirit, Who wants to prove Himself in you as a Spirit “of power and love and discipline”. 1. You may know that God with the gift He makes sure that for the exercise of it He gives through His Holy Spirit the necessary power and ability. 2. The exercise of a gift also demands self-sacrifice, for the gift is not meant to edify yourself but to serve others with it. Therefore the Holy Spirit will give you love as the true motive to serve. 3. Finally, it is also important that in the exercise of your gift you act with discipline or self-control. This happens if your spirit acts in harmony with the Holy Spirit, so that you know that He is guiding you and that you do not act from uncontrolled impulsiveness (cf. ). The Holy Spirit leads you to well-balanced actions and thoughtful words. It doesn’t show a work of the Spirit when a person says: ‘I couldn’t help, it was the Spirit Who urged me to.’ Still a remark about the order of these three aspects in which the work of the Holy Spirit can be recognized. ‘Love’ stands between ‘power’ and ‘discipline’. Love is in the center. It is about love. Love is the oil between power and discipline, through which both aspects ‘run’ well. You see that also in 1 Corinthians 12-14. Chapter 12 summarizes the gifts and in chapter 14 it is about the exercise of it. The chapter in between, chapter 13, is about love. The gifts of chapter 12 can only be exercised as they are described in chapter 14, if the motive for the exercise is the love that is described in chapter 13. . God has given us His Spirit to testify through the Spirit boldly of the Lord Jesus. Like Peter who was first ashamed for his Lord and denied Him ( ), but witnessed through the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost with great boldness of his Lord ( ). The power of the Holy Spirit has been given to us to testify of our Lord and not to perform all kinds of spectacular signs and works of power in order to stir up people’s attention. That is precisely what happens if spectacular things happen and not if someone in all simplicity gives a clear testimony about the Lord Jesus. We all need these words so that we will not be discouraged. Unfortunately it happens often that we as Christians testify in a way we should be ashamed of. If believers become lukewarm and worldly minded and if committed witnesses are being silenced, it requires a lot of courage to persevere. Paul connects himself to the testimony of the Lord Jesus. That is not boasting, but reality. After all, he is imprisoned because of the testimony he gave of his Lord. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t see himself as a prisoner of Nero, but of his Lord. His testimony has caused him tribulation. Timothy is, and you are too, called to consciously accept the tribulation that goes together with the gospel and not to avoid it. Preaching the gospel and tribulation go together. But it is the power of God that enables you to go through that tribulation, not as a fate, but as a privilege ( ). Now read 2 Timothy 1:3-8 again. Reflection: In what way could you stir up your gift?

‏ 2 Timothy 1:3

Thanks, Power, Love and Discipline

2Tim 1:3. Paul doesn’t give thanks to God because of the special ministry he was given and which he had now almost accomplished. No, he gives thanks to God because of Whom God is. Could the reason be that he had experienced much of the grace and mercy of God and that with the peace of God in his heart he was able to go through all hardships?

Of course he has known God for a long time now. He served God with a clear conscience the way his forefathers did. In their footsteps he has been serving God. They enabled him to serve God. He doesn’t make any judgment about their inward condition, he only writes down what characterized them. He acknowledges what was in them for God. With gratefulness he looks back at his relationship with his parents and forefathers at the end of his life. Those relationships are not nullified when we come to conversion. Also now it is of great importance that the Lord is being served in the families and generations.

Paul already knew and served God before he converted. He did that to the best of his knowledge and with a clear conscience. That doesn’t mean that his service had the consent or blessing of God. It only means that what he did, he did in ignorance (1Tim 1:12-14). He was sincerely convinced that with everything he was doing he was serving God (cf. Jn 16:2-3). That’s why his conscience did not accuse him for anything he did. His conscience remained clean; he never fought against his conscience. Herein also lies an exhortation for Timothy to keep a clean conscience.

He always remembers Timothy in his prayers. Timothy may know that and that must have encouraged him. How nice it is if others tell you that they pray for you. It is also nice if you can tell others that you pray for them. Through prayer the remembrance you have of others for whom you pray, remains vivid. In that way you still feel the connection between you and them. As a result, they and you do not stand alone.

2Tim 1:4. That doesn’t mean they don’t need to see one another. Paul has a strong desire to see Timothy. He needs company, especially that of Timothy (cf. 2Tim 4:9). He certainly has the company of the Lord (2Tim 4:17), but that doesn’t mean that he despises the relationships given by God. On the contrary, he, the great apostle, needs them. He is being encouraged by them (Acts 28:15; 1Thes 2:17 ; 1Thes 3:10). It is not a proof of a spiritual mind if believers experience their faith individually. That’s not according to the purpose of the Lord.

The tears of Timothy have moved the apostle. These are tears of sadness he saw when Timothy said goodbye to him, his older friend. The tears are the proof of true friendship. That is precisely what makes it so precious for Paul if Timothy would come to him. The joy that it would give him will be a full joy, probably again with tears, but then of joy. The tears of Timothy remain, as it were, fresh in his memory. He always remembers them.

2Tim 1:5. And there is something else that Paul calls to remembrance and that is the sincere faith of his young friend. The word ‘sincere’ or ‘unfeigned’ comes from the Greek word ‘hypocrite’. A Greek actor was called ‘hypocritis’. An actor always plays the role of another person. He is not himself, but he pretends to be someone else (cf. 2Sam 14:2). Timothy certainly doesn’t pretend, he is not characterized by counterfeit, but he is true. That’s also the reason why Paul wants to see him. You also love to be accompanied by sincere believers, by people who truly live with the Lord, don’t you?

The faith dwells in him, it has its home there. Faith is not a side matter to him, something for special occasions. Besides, he has had good examples of faith. Paul reminds him of his grandmother and mother. This is an example of the working grace of God in the generations. There are many changes, the apostasy is continuing, but there are also things that remain. There are always people who have a sincere faith in Him.

Paul doesn’t remind him of heroes of faith from a far past, of long-ago-days but of very close examples, his mother and grandmother. That should mean to you: Look around and you will surely find examples in your neighborhood in whom the faith dwells. The touch stone is faithfulness and obedience to God’s Word.

2Tim 1:6. If a sincere faith dwells in you, then there is a reason to remind you that you have received a “gift of God” and which you therefore ought to use. Things may probably be quite difficult in the church, but that should be a challenge to your faith. Timothy has to be reminded of it. That may be the case with you. We all tend to avoid difficulties, don’t we?

Paul gives Timothy an extra stimulus “to kindle afresh” his gift. He reminds him of the way he received the gift. That is through the laying on of Paul’s hands. In his first letter to him Paul also encouraged him in his ministry. That encouragement is the reminder that others already had announced that there was a ministry ready for him (1Tim 1:18). Then the elders also laid their hands on him (1Tim 4:14) and in that way they made themselves one with him in his ministry. If in a weak moment he thinks he just imagines all this, he can recall this again. And now he adds a third remembrance in order to encourage Timothy. Paul personally has granted him that gift. Timothy will undoubtedly remember that event.

2Tim 1:7. After all Paul has not acted at his own discretion, but by God’s commission. Each gift comes from God; it is ‘the gift of God’. What is said here to Timothy is therefore an encouragement for you too. Like Timothy you may know what God has given to you.

If you focus on the circumstances you might become afraid. All kinds of arguments may arise in you that can cause you not to use the gift given to you. You could probably think that it all makes no sense after all or you may fear for the adversary that your performance may stir up. This timidity, or cowardice, is a kind of fear of loss of face or to be ridiculed. Paul points out that this “spirit of timidity” is not from God (cf. Jn 14:27; 1Jn 4:18).

What certainly is from God is His Holy Spirit, Who wants to prove Himself in you as a Spirit “of power and love and discipline”.

1. You may know that God with the gift He makes sure that for the exercise of it He gives through His Holy Spirit the necessary power and ability.

2. The exercise of a gift also demands self-sacrifice, for the gift is not meant to edify yourself but to serve others with it. Therefore the Holy Spirit will give you love as the true motive to serve.

3. Finally, it is also important that in the exercise of your gift you act with discipline or self-control. This happens if your spirit acts in harmony with the Holy Spirit, so that you know that He is guiding you and that you do not act from uncontrolled impulsiveness (cf. 1Cor 14:32). The Holy Spirit leads you to well-balanced actions and thoughtful words. It doesn’t show a work of the Spirit when a person says: ‘I couldn’t help, it was the Spirit Who urged me to.’

Still a remark about the order of these three aspects in which the work of the Holy Spirit can be recognized. ‘Love’ stands between ‘power’ and ‘discipline’. Love is in the center. It is about love. Love is the oil between power and discipline, through which both aspects ‘run’ well.

You see that also in 1 Corinthians 12-14. Chapter 12 summarizes the gifts and in chapter 14 it is about the exercise of it. The chapter in between, chapter 13, is about love. The gifts of chapter 12 can only be exercised as they are described in chapter 14, if the motive for the exercise is the love that is described in chapter 13.

2Tim 1:8. God has given us His Spirit to testify through the Spirit boldly of the Lord Jesus. Like Peter who was first ashamed for his Lord and denied Him (Mk 14:66-72), but witnessed through the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost with great boldness of his Lord (Acts 2:14 ; 36). The power of the Holy Spirit has been given to us to testify of our Lord and not to perform all kinds of spectacular signs and works of power in order to stir up people’s attention. That is precisely what happens if spectacular things happen and not if someone in all simplicity gives a clear testimony about the Lord Jesus.

We all need these words so that we will not be discouraged. Unfortunately it happens often that we as Christians testify in a way we should be ashamed of. If believers become lukewarm and worldly minded and if committed witnesses are being silenced, it requires a lot of courage to persevere.

Paul connects himself to the testimony of the Lord Jesus. That is not boasting, but reality. After all, he is imprisoned because of the testimony he gave of his Lord. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t see himself as a prisoner of Nero, but of his Lord. His testimony has caused him tribulation.

Timothy is, and you are too, called to consciously accept the tribulation that goes together with the gospel and not to avoid it. Preaching the gospel and tribulation go together. But it is the power of God that enables you to go through that tribulation, not as a fate, but as a privilege (Acts 5:41).

Now read 2 Timothy 1:3-8 again.

Reflection: In what way could you stir up your gift?