You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he com

May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. (verses 16-18) - Paul wants Timothy to be strong and steadfast as he engages in the ministry of the gospel. He’s urged Timothy to follow his own e

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (verses 11-14) -

… (God) 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, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (verses 9-10) - I can’t quite pinpoint the moment when I came to faith in Jesus. Mom and Dad were true belie

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (verses 6-7) - For the past several years we’ve been in a new house with no fireplace. We miss it. Each of our previous homes had one and we’d regularly stoke it, getting a good blaze going. We actually had a huge supply of firewood just around the side of the hou

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus … (verse 1) - Once again Paul starts another letter. Once again, he gives his credentials. Once again, they are rooted not in him, but in the Lord. “Apostle of Christ Jesus” gives us, in a phrase, Paul’s primary calling in life. It takes us back to the scene on the Damascus Road when he was arrested by the Resurrected One – undeniably stopped in his tracks – and con

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God … I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ … (verses 11-14) - I am struck by the title Paul gives to Timothy in this closin

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (verses 6-8) - I preached on these verses about 20 years ago in the midst of a major life decision. I sensed the Lord calling me to “leave home,” to move on from the church where I’d grown-up, in which I’d served on staff for nearly 25 years. My livelihood was at stake. It was going to be a major tr

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are fellow believers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them. - Once again we find spirituality in the ordi

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism. (verse 21) - “I charge you.” This is no throw-away line. It’s not an off-hand remark, nor is it simply a piece of warm-hearted advice. This is weighty instruction, indeed compelling command. It calls Timothy to understand that he is standing under open heavens, in the full view of the Father and the Son and all the angel

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. (verse 4) - Once again I’m reminded of the ordinariness of spiritual life. I return to Paul’s ongoing image for discipleship: “walk.” Such activity is completely down to earth, feet on the ground, one step after another, moving forward. It’s not about hero

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For … godliness has value for all things. (verses 6-8) - This is a message for our times. Conspiracy theories are the godless myths and old wives tales of our day, so easily circulating even amo

Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (verse 16) - Paul has been reminding Timothy of his task in the church at Ephesus, namely to “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer” (1 Timothy 1:3). He has then addressed issues of appropriate conduct in worship and standards for church le

(Deacons) must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. (verse 9) - “Keep hold.” What an evocative phrase, conjuring up images of hands on rope, hanging on for dear life, or arms embracing a young child, keeping them safe from harm, or treasured possessions locked safely in a secure place. The word Paul uses is actually quite basic, simply meaning “to have, hold, possess,” but the images capture some of the implied intensity. Paul is giving particul

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (verses 11-15) - What a difficult passage! I have heard people claim it’s not difficult at all, that it

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness … I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. (verses 1-2, 8 ) - I wonder how much our current church culture (at least here in North America) aligns with this passage. It seems that over the last generation Christians have d

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might di

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work – which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the la

To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (verse 2) - I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Paul’s young friend, Timothy. The reason is obvious – he’s my namesake. But he also needed encouragement from Paul, again and again, because of his youth. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,” Paul tells him (4:12). I, too, started ministry young – I’m not so much anymore, but the connectio

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you … The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. (verses 16, 18) - “Grace and peace to you.” Each of Paul’s New Testament letters begins with this very phrase, or some slight variation, but always including these two powerfully loaded words: Grace and Peace. “Grace” is the outpoured, undeserved, unearned, all-encompassing, powerful love of Almighty God, which has