Suffering for the Gospel

2 Timothy 1:1-18

Key Verse 1:8

This passage shows us the blessedness of the life that suffers for the sake of the gospel. Many endure pains and sufferings for the sake of making a lot of money, building a good career, or to please ones’ parents or oneself. But, Paul says that suffering for the gospel is truly worthwhile for it results in not only one’s own salvation but also the salvation of all who hear the gospel. 

Read verses 1-2. What does “the promise of life” refer to? How is the promise of life related to the “grace, mercy, and peace” which is mentioned in verse 2?

** It refers to eternal life in the eternal presence of God. Jesus described it in two steps: the saved life while in a physical body in the present age and the life which is to the full as it is lived in a resurrected body in a world which has been perfected by the Lord. Read John 5:25; 10:10; 14:19; Matthew 22:29-32; Rev 21:5.

Notice that this is a promise which means that on our part we need to meet a certain condition [that is to have faith in the Lord], whereupon Jesus will do his part, that is, delivery of the result, that is [eternal] life. This is why Paul says that this promise is found “in” the Lord.   

** It is related in that: 

A man is saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus; 

not because of our own merit but out of God’s mercy; 

so that for all who believe in Jesus God forgives them of their sins that they can enjoy a peaceful relationship with God the Father without being condemned. This peace (that comes from God through Jesus is the key to maintaining a joyful life.) 

Read verses 3-5. What does “lived” or “lives” (in you) indicate about the work of faith (in Christ Jesus)?

** Faith makes a difference to a man’s life. It is just like a man punching into an ATM machine his personal identification number to secure cash. Faith itself is not a living entity like a person or an animal or any animated beings, and yet Paul uses the word “lived” or “lives” to indicate that faith has the power to “work” causing a certain result. So as long as one has faith inside of him, this faith keeps working, bringing about the results desired by God. Speaking of the same effect of faith, Martin Luther says in his preface to Romans, “Faith is a work of God in us, which changes us and brings us to birth anew from God (cf. John 1). It kills the old Adam, makes us completely different people in heart, mind, senses, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it. What a living, creative, active powerful thing is faith! It is impossible that faith ever stops doing good. Faith doesn't ask whether good works are to be done, but, before it is asked, it has them done…”

Functionally speaking it is God who works in a man for faith is faith in God who keeps his promise with all who put trust in Jesus. 

Read verses 6-7. The phrase “For this reason” suggests that there is a connection between the [sincere] “faith” [described in the previous passage] and the “gift” [of God] mentioned in verses 6-7. How are the two related? What does the expression “fan into flame” indicate about the gift that is already in a believer? 

** Faith in Jesus Christ results in Jesus becoming the Lord and Savior in the life of a man who believes in Jesus. Then as Jesus resides in a man, so does the Holy Spirit because for those who repent and turn the Lord through faith in Him, Jesus gives him the gift that is the Holy Spirit. 

** It is possible that like all other good things (like a knife or computer or any piece of knowledge) this gift (of the Spirit of love and power) can also go idling, making that person largely unfruitful. 

The practical results of a man not using the gift positively include such symptoms as timidity, nervous breakdown, insomnia, etc.  

Read verses 8-12. The gospel offers the promise of life that is in the Lord. Yet why would anyone be ashamed to testify about the Lord? Yet why should we not be ashamed of the gospel or be afraid of suffering for it?

** Reasons may vary. Mainly however it is due to man loving the world and people of this world more than the truth of God. It is more a love problem than a character flaw or the problem of intellect. Read 1Jo 2:15; Matthew 6:21

 

Read verse 13. What is a “doctrine”? Why is it important to keep sound doctrine “with faith and love in Christ Jesus”?

** Doctrine – from Latin ‘doctrina’, means a code of beliefs, a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge.

** Doctrine is a set of knowledge on Jesus. Knowing the doctrine and teaching it without personal faith and knowledge of Jesus is like a man who asks people to buy a product which he himself is not willing to buy. 

 Read verse 14. What should one “guard” the good deposit? Who is helping us to guard it? 

** Two things: first, it makes you to be a good Bible teacher, just as Jesus mentions in Matthew 13:52. Secondly, one must guard it for like anything that is valuable like a diamond there are many thieves out there and even robbers who are looking for the opportunity to take it away, so he would lose the good deposit. Practically the enemy the devil raises a lot of false prophets and false messiahs and false teachers making people confused. In addition, you may be enticed by the people or things or UnBiblical ideas or philosophies.  Then, as the love of the world gets inside, you will end up believing in what is evil, so you may throw away the good deposit while retaining an evil deposit. 

Note: good deposit refers to what Timothy might have heard from Paul. It is a collective term of all the good teachings we find in the Bible like the ones we see in Paul’s epistles. There are many evil false teachers teaching something strange like those who teach Judaism. 

Read verses 15-18. What does this passage tell us about practical meaning of joining [with others such as the Apostle Paul] in the suffering for the gospel? 

** One bad example – desertion; in a military campaign, nothing is more disheartening than a solider who is deserting fellow soldiers. Another bad example is to say or do what discourages fellow soldiers. Remember what happened to the spies who made a bad report in Num 13:33-14:4. 

Good example – a servant like the household of Onesiphoros. They did not do much for Paul, but they became a great source of encouragement for Paul. 

The end