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Faithfulness under Persecution
In this part of the letter, Paul encourages Timothy not to be ashamed. He connects Timothy’s sincere faith, God’s gift, and the good news about Christ Jesus with a call to endure hardship by God’s power.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are written as personal letter and teaching. Paul thanks God, remembers Timothy in prayer, recalls Timothy’s tears, and mentions the sincere faith in Timothy, his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice. He then urges Timothy to respond to God’s gift without fear and to stand firm in the good news.
2 Timothy 1:3–12Main takeaway
Endure hardship for the good news without shame, because God saved us, called us, and revealed life and immortality through Christ Jesus.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Thankfulness, prayer, and sincere faithPaul begins by thanking God and saying he remembers Timothy in his prayers night and day. He longs to see Timothy and remembers his tears.
Explanation
Paul begins by thanking God and saying he remembers Timothy in his prayers night and day. He longs to see Timothy and remembers his tears. Paul also says Timothy has sincere faith, and that this faith lived first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and is also in Timothy.
02Stir up God’s gift without fearBecause of this, Paul reminds Timothy to stir up the gift of God that is in him through the laying on of Paul’s hands.
Explanation
Because of this, Paul reminds Timothy to stir up the gift of God that is in him through the laying on of Paul’s hands. Paul then explains that God did not give a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. This points Timothy towards a brave and steady response.
03Do not be ashamed of the testimonyPaul gives a direct instruction. Timothy is not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, and not to be ashamed of Paul, his prisoner.
Explanation
Paul gives a direct instruction. Timothy is not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, and not to be ashamed of Paul, his prisoner. Instead, Timothy is to endure hardship for the good news according to the power of God. The strength for this comes from God’s power, not Timothy’s own.
04God’s grace revealed in Christ JesusPaul explains why this endurance matters. God saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace in Christ Jesus.
Explanation
Paul explains why this endurance matters. God saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace in Christ Jesus. This has now been revealed by the appearing of Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the good news.
05Paul’s example of unashamed sufferingPaul says he was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason he suffers, yet he is not ashamed.
Explanation
Paul says he was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason he suffers, yet he is not ashamed. His confidence rests in knowing whom he has believed and being persuaded that he is able to guard what Paul has committed to him against that day.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details show that Paul’s care for Timothy is personal as well as spiritual?
Look for Paul’s thanksgiving, constant prayers, longing to see Timothy, and memory of Timothy’s tears.
02According to this passage, what does God give instead of fear?
Answer using Paul’s exact contrast and consider how power, love, and self-control would shape Timothy’s response.
03How does Paul explain that Timothy can endure hardship for the good news without shame?
Trace the passage through God’s power, God’s saving call, Christ Jesus abolishing death, and Paul’s own confidence in the one he has believed.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Timothy 1:3–12
3I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day
4longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also.
6For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
8Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,
9who 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 times eternal,
10but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.
11For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.