Second Timothy Chapter 1:9-18/Commentary

Second Timothy Chapter 1:9-18 2 Timothy 1:9-18 “who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 13Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 15You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains; 17but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me, and found me-- 18the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day-- and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus�

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1:9 “In this and the following phrases, so that Timothy will never have any reason to feel ashamed of the Gospel, Paul enumerates some of the salient facts of the Gospel, and thus reminds Timothy of some of the ways in which the power of God has been displayed” (Reese pp. 440-441).

1:9 “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling”: Once Jesus died on the cross the next step was to offer all men an invitation to participate in that salvation. God’s invitation is found in the gospel message (2 Thessalonians 2:14; Mark 16:15). “God’s call is intended to lead us to live a holy life” (Reese p. 441).

1:9 “Not according to our works”: God did not offer us salvation because we deserved it, rather while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:6ff). Observe the term “our”. It was not because our deeds were so wonderful that He called us. In fact, the “works” that we were performing were evil and not good (Colossians 1:21). Compare with Ephesians 2:9; Titus 3:5. God called men in spite of their works and not because of them.

Reese makes a good point when he notes that the term “works” here refers to religious actions devised by men, rather than those commanded by God (Titus 3:5). We are not saved by our own humanly devised religious actions, but in order to be saved we must obey God’s conditions, repentance, confession and baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10), for salvation.

1:9 “But according to His own purpose”: The term “purpose” means “plan, will, resolve” (Arndt p. 706). The plan to offer salvation to mankind was entirely and wholly from God (John 3:16). This plan went all the way back into eternity (Ephesians 1:4). This was God’s plan and no one else’s. “’His own’ is emphatic. He was self-moved, impelled by motives, not from without, but from within Himself” (Hiebert p. 39).

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1:9 “And grace”: “If our salvation depended on our own deserving, we might well despair, but it has its ground in God’s eternal and unshakable purpose. And that purpose expressed itself in ‘grace’, the unmerited favor of God toward us guilty sinners” (p. 39). Compare with Titus 3:5. “Grace” contains the idea of kindness that bestows upon one what he has not deserved.

1:9 “Which was granted us in Christ Jesus”: God’s grace allowed Jesus to die upon the cross for sinners and such grace is only available for the person who comes to Christ for salvation. “If the man of his own volition chooses to surrender his life to Christ, then God’s grace is available to that man” (Reese p. 442). Compare with Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:3-9; 2:7. The way to get “into” Christ is through faith and baptism (Galatians 3:26-27).

1:9 “From all eternity”: “Before time began” (Arndt p. 28). God formulated His plan to save man prior to the Creation (Ephesians 1:4-10; 3:10-11; 1 Peter 1:20). This means that before God created mankind, God already knew what He would do if or when man sinned. God already looked with favor or grace upon mankind even before He created him. This does not mean that God selected specifically whom He would save (predestination), but that God determined to offer salvation to all men.

1:10 “But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus”: “Over against the purpose of God from all eternity he sets the historical manifestation of His grace in the appearing of Christ Jesus in human history” (Hiebert p. 40). God’s eternal purpose and grace is what was clearly revealed and seen when Jesus came to this earth. “In Old Testament ages they were somewhat hidden from men, but since Calvary they are clearly revealed” (Reese p. 442). “Appearing”: This refers not to Jesus’ 3

Second Coming but to His first coming. His whole mission, including His birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection. The Greek word here translated “appearing” is epiphaneia from where we derive the English word “epiphany”, which means literally a shining forth. By the Greeks this term was used for the appearing of a god. Compare the above with Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:5-6,9.

1:10 “Who abolished death”: The term “abolish” means to “put out of commission, render inoperative” (Reese p. 443). “To render idle, unemployed, inactive, to deprive of its strength” (Thayer p.

336). ”To break the power of death” (Arndt p. 417). Remember the Hebrew writer noted that Jesus rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil (Hebrews 2:14).

Even after Jesus was resurrected, Christians still die and unbelievers still die in their sins and end up lost, so the verse is not teaching that Jesus removed all death from the world. The meaning of the above verse is that all forms of death, physical, spiritual, and eternal have been rendered inactive for the Christian. We do not have to fear physical death, because our bodies will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:26,54; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 1:18). We have been forgiven, so we are spiritually alive and we have been delivered from the prospect of eternal death. Compare with John 8:51; 11:25. “Death has not been abolished, but for the believer death has been deprived of its power and terror by the removal of its sting. It has now become the gateway into the presence of God for the believer. The ultimate destruction of death is still future (1 Corinthians 15:26)” (Hiebert pp. 40-41).

1:10 “Brought life”: “Life”, the abundant life, true life in its highest and completest sense. Life as God would have it (John 3:36; 4

Romans 6:23). “And immortality”: The word immortality means “incorruption, perpetuity” and is a word applied to the human body (1 Corinthians 15:42; Romans 2:7). This “life” is characterized by incorruption and imperishability. “The thought is that this life, in its full scope, applies also to our bodies, for corruption and decay pertain to our mortal bodies” (Hiebert p.

41). Eternal life includes the resurrection of our bodies (Romans 8:23).

1:10 “To light”: “Lighted up, illuminated as the blazing light of the noonday sun” (Hiebert p. 41). To make clear, reveal, “to make all men see” (Romans 3:9).

1:10 “Through the gospel”: “The hope of immortality was in the world before but He brought it into a certainty through His teaching” (Hiebert p. 41). “As Christians gain a clearer understanding of all that God has done for sinners, no sacrifice of ours can compare with His” (Kent p. 260). The gospel message clearly reveals what Christ has done for us and what the faithful can expect in eternity. Observe that Paul knew that the gospel is a message that brings things to light, it is not a message that confuses and keeps a person in darkness and ignorance (Ephesians 3:3-5; 5:17).

1:11 “For which”: Here is Paul’s relation to the gospel. “I was appointed”: Jesus had personally appointed Paul for the purpose of spreading the gospel (1 Timothy 1:12; 2:7; Acts 9:15; 22:14; 26:16).

1:11 “A preacher”: A herald, messenger (1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Peter 2:5). “One who proclaims” (Arndt p. 430).

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1:11 “An apostle”: Literally, one sent forth (Acts 26:17). The authorized messenger of the King.

1:11 “And a teacher”: The term “preacher” denotes the public proclamation of the message, “apostle” points to the authority of the messenger, and “teacher” has reference to the method of imparting the message. “The first term views his office in relation to his message, the second in relation to his credentials, the third in relation to those to whom he ministers” (Hiebert p. 42).

1:12 “For this reason”: Because he had been appointed preacher, apostle, and teacher of the gospel.

1:12 “I also suffer these things”: “He does not enumerate ‘these things’, the harsh imprisonment as a malefactor, the abandonment, the unjust doom, the awful loneliness. They were well known to Timothy, hence need not be restated further to wrench the heart of Timothy” (Hiebert p. 42). For a detailed list of what Paul had suffered to preach the apostle see 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 6:4-10; 11:23-33; Philippians 3:8). Remember, Jesus had said of Paul, “I will show him how many things he must suffer” (Acts 9:16).

1:12 “But I am not ashamed”: Here is Paul’s attitude toward his suffering. Though Paul suffered much for spreading the gospel, there is no sense of regret or repining. “What he was asking Timothy to do (1:8) was something he was actually doing himself, without any wavering or hesitation or misgiving as to the result” (Reese p. 445).

1:12 “For I know whom I have believed”: “It is his abiding knowledge of this Person that removes all sense of shame. The world may regard his faith in a crucified Jesus a thing of folly and a 6

just cause of shame, but his personal relations with this Person prevent any such feeling. This Person will never put him to shame.

He has permanently put his trust and confidence in Him (perfect tense), has been trusting Him all along, and is trusting Him now in the face of impending death” (Hiebert p. 42). The Jesus that Paul knew was no imposter, but the Son of God and therefore suffering for Him was a cause of pride and joy (Acts 5:41). Jesus had appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:5; 22:8; 26:15; 1 Corinthians 15:8), Paul knows this Jesus personally!

1:12 “And I am convinced”: The term “convinced” is a perfect tense verb. This is something Paul has been convinced of for a long time. Paul has been sure and remains certain of this fact.

1:12 “That He is able”: Let us always remember that we have trusted a God who is “able”! “To guard what I have entrusted to Him”: The term “entrusted” means a “deposit” or a trust or thing consigned to one’s faithful keeping. “Property entrusted to another” (Arndt p. 616). “The deposit is Paul’s entire life and soul, his entire eternal well-being” (Lipscomb p. 205). Compare with 1 Timothy 6:19; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 6:20; 1 Peter 2:6; 4:19.

“God is pictured as the Trustee with whom he has deposited for safekeeping his temporal and eternal welfare. This truth provides wondrous comfort to the tried and tested servant of the Lord” (Hiebert p. 43).

1:12 “Until that day”: The Romans may execute Paul, but Jesus still cares for him and will reward him at the last day. Jesus will care for Paul up to and including the time of the final judgment.

Call to Spiritual Loyalty 1:13 “Retain”: To hold fast, keep, preserve (1 Timothy 1:19; 3:9) 7

1:13 “The standard”: The pattern, example, thus the “standard” (1 Timothy 1:16). Timothy is to preserve the same exact teaching that he has heard from Paul. “None can be too careful in stating the truths of the Scriptures in the language of the inspired writers.

When men cannot convey their thoughts in the words of Scripture, it is generally because they do not hold sound doctrine” (Lipscomb p. 205). Compare with 1 Peter 4:11.

1:13 “Sound words”: That is healthy standing in sharp contrast to the sickly, disease-producing teaching of the false teachers. The world tries to convince us that its opinions are healthy but God disagrees. Sound doctrine, the teaching revealed by the apostles, is the truly healthy doctrine and view of life. The New Testament stresses the importance of sound teaching (1 Timothy 1:10; 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1-2; 1:13).

1:13 “Which you have heard from me”: The apostles were the source of sound doctrine (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Peter 3:1ff).

1:13 “In the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”: Timothy must not only hold to the true doctrine, he must hold it in the sphere of faith and love. The attitude in which the doctrine is held and taught is very important as well (Ephesians 4:15). “The truth must be one who is being faithful to Jesus, and who loves men like Jesus loved them” (Reese p. 448). “True love will not be indifferent to the promulgation of doctrine which is unhealthy and death-producing” (Hiebert p. 45).

1:14 “Guard”: “To keep from being snatched away, preserve safe” (Thayer p. 659). “What has been entrusted so that it is not lost or damaged” (Arndt p. 868). The same gospel that had been 8

entrusted to him needed to be guarded against those who will attempt to corrupt it. Yes, God will preserve His word (Matthew 24:35), but this does not mean that we are relieved from our responsibility to guard it was well.

1:14 “Through the Holy Spirit who dwells in you”: This may be a reference to the spiritual gift that Timothy had (1:5). Through a gift such as the ability to speak by inspiration, Timothy could guard the gospel. In like manner, through diligent study of the revealed word, we can guard it as well (2:15).

1:14 “The treasure”: Do we view the truth as a treasure to be carefully guarded? The term here “treasure” means a deposit, property entrusted to another. This is the faith once for all delivered to the saints (1 Timothy 6:20).

1:14 “Which has been entrusted to you”: Let us remember that we have been entrusted with the truth and such is a great responsibility (2 Timothy 2:2).

Deserters and Loyal Friends: 1:15-18 1:15 “You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me”: “Asia” in this verse refers to the Roman governmental province of Asia, this included the city of Ephesus where Timothy was at this time (1 Timothy 1:3). Timothy knew the facts of this case and it may have greatly discouraged him. The expression “turned away” may imply doctrinal defection or they stood aloof from Paul fearing that they might be persecuted for helping him. The term means “to reject or repudiate”. Paul may have appealed to some of his own friends in Asia to come to his defense and testify on his behalf, but that this appeal went

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unheeded. Compare with 2 Timothy 4:16 “at my first defense no one took my part, but all forsook me”.

1:15 “Among whom are Phygelus”: (FIGH juh luhs). “And Hermogenes”: (hur MAH jih neez). “It is solemn to contemplate how their timidity and selfish fears have branded their names with an unsavory immortality. ‘It has been their destiny to be handed down to posterity as men who acted an unworthy part toward the most noble man of all time in his extremity’ (Lipscomb)” (Hiebert p. 47).

1:16 “The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus”: (on ee SIF oh rus). Unable to repay this man for his mercy, Paul prays that he will find mercy from the Lord on the last day (1:18). His name means “profitable” and he had lived up to that name. “Thus to render his services to Paul the prisoner entailed expense, effort, and personal risk, and the entire family of Onesiphorus shared the cost” (Hiebert p. 48). Observe that Paul in this verse does not greet Onesiphorus personally, but rather speaks of his household, many believe that this implies that Onesiphorus has died when this letter is written.

1:16 “For he often refreshed me”: The term “refreshed” means to give someone a breathing space, to revive by fresh air. Compare with Colossians 4:11. “Not only did he minister to the apostle’s bodily needs (food and clothing) while he was in prison, the word ‘refreshing’ would include cheer and sympathy that a visit would bring to someone lonely in prison. What a blessing, that Onesiphorus’ visits to Paul were frequent!” (Reese p. 451). Let us not underestimate the power of a visit, phone call or helping someone.

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1:16 “And was not ashamed of my chain”: Which implies that the men mentioned in 1:15 were ashamed of Paul and did not stand by him because they were afraid. This also implies that there was some personal danger to Onesiphorus as he came to visit and assist Paul. “Such open friendship with a prisoner charged, as Paul was, with treason, was an invitation to similar suffering” (Reese p.

451). The term “chain” may indicate that Paul was constantly chained while in prison. This example serves as motivation for Timothy to do likewise. “Paul needs him to do as Onesiphorus has done, and before this letter is finished he will beg Timothy to come to Rome” (Reese p. 451).

1:17 “But when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me”: The words selected in the above verse reveal that it took work and effort to find Paul. The search was earnest, diligent, and zealous. Clearly this is a different imprisonment than the one mentioned in Acts 28:30-31 where Paul received many visitors and where people could easily find him. “We seem to catch glimpses of one purposeful face in a drifting crowd, and follow with quickening interest this stranger from the far coasts of the Aegean, as he threads the maze of unfamiliar streets, knocking at many doors, following up every lead, warned of the risks he is taking but not to be turned from his quest” (Barclay pp. 178-179).

1:18 “The Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day”: Paul can say this because Onesiphorus was a faithful man.

We cannot ask mercy upon those who have been rebellious for that is not the Lord’s will (1 John 5:14; Matthew 7:21-23). Please note, this is not a prayer for the dead, that is a prayer to pray the dead out of purgatory. Onesiphorus was a faithful Christian!

Catholic theologians have argued that this verse supports the practice of praying for the dead to get them out of purgatory.

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Remember, we are rewarded for the deeds done in the body (Matthew 25:34-40; Romans 2:7; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

1:18 “And you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus”: Literally, Timothy knew better than Paul the details about this man’s faithful service for the congregation in Ephesus.

Could this be said of each one of us?

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