AM Bible Study Group; October 8, 2014
2 Timothy 1:8-12
Theme: Paul calls Timothy to join him in suffering for a gospel that is well-worth suffering for.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
In the introduction to our study of 2 Timothy, we suggested that the first chapter is summarized as Paul’s call to Timothy to be accepting of suffering for the sake of the gospel of Jesus. (That’s a pretty relevant message!–especially in a day when people typically think of avoiding suffering at all cost; and even, if needs be, at the cost of the truth itself!) And that message is made very clear in this morning’s passage. Paul’s message of accepting suffering for Christ is not one of surrender to defeat. Rather, it is a bold expression of ultimate victory that puts into practice what Paul expressed in Romans 8:18; “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Jesus Himself has promised that we will suffer the hostility of this world because our faith in Him (see John 15:18-25). The Bible tells us that we should not be surprised by it; but that, instead, we should “rejoice to the extent” that we “partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed”, we may also “be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13). Note how Paul encourages Timothy to “partake of Christ’s sufferings” by telling him . . .
I. “DO NOT BE ASHAMED” (v. 8a).
A. After having reminded Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear, “but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (v. 7), he then urges him, “Therefore do not be ashamed . . .” (v. 8a). The sense of the original language in which Paul urged Timothy not to be ashamed does not suggest to us that Timothy was ashamed. Rather, it’s that Paul urged him not to even start to be ashamed!
B. Note what it was that he was not to even begin to be ashamed of:
1. He is not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . .” The testimony of the Lord is, of course, the gospel message that the apostles preached, and that Paul had handed on to Timothy as a sacred trust (1 Timothy 6:20). Many today are ashamed of it. They are embarrassed by the message of forgiveness of sin, or of repentance, or of faith in the saving grace of God. But Paul once wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).
2. After saying this, Paul adds, “nor of me His prisoner . . .” It might have been tempting for Timothy to be embarrassed about his mentor—who was constantly in jail; and who sometimes suffered astonishing trials of suffering and persecution (2 Corinthians 11:23-29), and was even then facing execution as a criminal. What kind of endorsement is it, after all, when the chief proponent for your cause is constantly suffering for proclaiming it? But even then, Paul urges Timothy not to be ashamed.
II. “JOIN IN THE SUFFERING” (vv. 8b-10).
A. Far from being ashamed, he urges Timothy, “but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God . . . (v. 8b). Paul once boasted that he bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus (Galatians 6:16); and even said that he “filled up” in his flesh “what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24; that is, not in the sense of an atoning sacrifice, but that there was more of Christ’s sufferings to be fulfilled in the suffering His people would endure for Him). And now, he urges Timothy to join him in that suffering—not by the power of Timothy’s own flesh, but by the power that God Himself would supply for strength and endurance and faithfulness.
B. No one would ordinarily want to “join in” in suffering! But note the reasons Paul gives for why this particular suffering would be a worthy thing for Timothy to participate in:
1. Because of God’s saving grace to us. Paul speaks of God the Father as He “who has saved us . . .” (v. 9). We have already been fully saved by God through Christ. And if that’s the case, we can ultimately suffer no permanent, eternal loss. We can safely allow ourselves to be hated by all for Jesus’ name’s sake; because, as He promised, “not a hair of your head shall be lost” (Luke 21:18).
2. Because of God’s call on our lives. We can suffer for Christ, because God has saved us “and called us with a holy calling . . .” (v. 9). Whatever the world may say of us or do to us, we are—and ever shall be—only destined for what God Himself has called us to be. Let the unbelieving world say what it will about us, if it is God who has called us to holiness! And in a temporal sense, as Peter said about our suffering with Christ, “for to this you were called” (1 Peter 2:21).
3. Because of God’s eternal purpose. We can suffer for the sake of the gospel because God has called us to this 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 . . .” (v. 9). We have an eternal perspective in our suffering. We see that we are “kept by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”; and that we rejoice in this, “though now, for a little while, if need be”, we are grieved by various trials (1 Peter 1:5-6). In spite of what those in this world, who are hostile to the message of Christ, may do to us, God’s eternal purpose is, nevertheless, fulfilled.
4. Because of God’s revelation. We can rejoice to suffer for Christ because that eternal purpose had been kept in the secret plan of God; “but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ . . .” (v. 10). We are a part of God’s disclosure to this world of His saving grace; and what God reveals, man cannot conceal! What an honorable thing to suffer for!
5. Because of God’s assured outcome. This message, for which we suffer, brings about the greatest end imaginable. It is the message of Christ, “who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel . . .” (v. 10). People are often eager to give themselves to suffering for far lesser causes. What a privilege to suffer for that which ends death and brings life!
III. “CONSIDER MY CONFIDENCE” (vv. 11-12).
A. Paul told Timothy of his personal connection to this gospel. He said that it is that “to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” (v. 11). In the best texts of the original Greek, the phrase “of the Gentiles” is not present. But it certainly was to the Gentiles that Paul was sent. And he suffered greatly for it. Back at the beginning of his call, the Lord let it be known that Paul would suffer much for His name’s sake (Acts 9:16). And indeed he did. He was hated greatly by the Jews for bringing the message to the Gentiles; and he was hated by many of the Gentiles as well for his preaching and teaching. But he wrote, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed . . .” (v. 12a). For Paul to sit in a prison cell—awaiting execution—was a sign that he had been doing what God had called him to do.
B. Paul, however, was not ashamed. He didn’t see his life as a waste. In fact, he didn’t even see his life as in his own possession. He wrote, “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” (v. 12b). That thing that he entrusted to Christ for safe-keeping was his own life. In Colossians 3:3-4, he affirmed that, as believers, we have ‘died’, and our life is hidden with Christ in God. “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” And we can see in this secret to his confidence. He didn’t say, “I know what I have believed”; but rather who. Jesus said, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Paul, therefore, presented his own confidence to Timothy as an example to be followed.
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We can follow his example of confidence as well. This world needs for us to proclaim the life-transforming gospel of Jesus. May we never be ashamed of it, or of Him! May we never be ashamed of those who suffer for it. And may we ourselves never be ashamed to join in that suffering!