Bible part New Testament Category Pauline epistles | Order in the Bible part 16 | |
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Book Second Epistle to Timothy | ||
2 Timothy 1 is the first chapter of the Second Epistle to Timothy in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle and addressed to Saint Timothy.
Contents
Text
Structure
This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible):
Verse 1
New King James Version
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,Verse 2
New King James Version
To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.In 1 Timothy 1:2, and Titus 1:4, written at an earlier period than this Epistle, the expression used is in the Greek, "my genuine son" (Greek: γνησίῳ τέκνῳ, gnēsiō teknō). Alford sees in the change of expression an intimation of an altered tone as to Timothy, more of mere love, and less of confidence, as though Paul saw m him a want of firmness, whence arose the need of his stirring up afresh the faith and grace in Him (2 Timothy 1:6). But this seems to me not justified by the Greek word "agapetos", which implies the attachment of reasoning and choice, on the ground of merit in the one "beloved," not of merely instinctive love.
This varies from the blessing at the beginning of the Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, by the addition of the word "mercy," as in 1 Timothy 1:2 and Titus 1:4, and also in 2 John 1:3 and Jude 1:2.
Verse 5
New King James Version
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.Verse 9
New King James Version
He 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,Verse 10
New King James Version
but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.The grace according to which the elect of God are saved and called; though it was given to them in Christ, before the world was, yet lay hid in the heart of God; in his thoughts, council and covenant; and in Jesus Christ; and in the types, shadows, sacrifices, prophecies, and promises of the Old Testament; but is now made manifest in the clearness, freeness, and abundance of it by the appearance of Christ, as a Saviour in human nature; who is come full of grace and truth, and through whom there is a plentiful exhibition of it to the sons of men:
the law of sin and death, which is the cause of death; and has destroyed him which has the power of it, the devil; he has abolished corporeal death with regard to his people, as a penal evil, he has took away its sting, and removed its curse, and made it a blessing to them; and he has utterly, with respect to them, abolished the second death, so as that it shall have no power over them, or they ever be hurt by it; all which he did by dying, and rising again: for though he died, yet he continued not under the power of death; but rose again and triumphed over it, as having got the victory of it; and the keys of it are in his hand:
Christ was the first that rose again from the dead to an immortal life; the path of life was first shown to him, and brought to light by him; and though the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was known by the Old Testament saints, yet not so clearly as it is now revealed in the Gospel; and in which is so fully attested the resurrection of Christ, and of many of the saints with him, as well as the general resurrection at the last day: and besides, eternal life, which is the free gift of God, lay hid in his purpose, promise, and covenant, and in his Son Jesus Christ, into whose hands it was put; and which he has brought to light in a more clear manner than ever it was before; by his appearance in human nature, by his personal ministry, by his death and resurrection from the dead, and through the Gospel, as preached by his ministers; which gives an account of the nature of it, shows the way unto it, and points out and describes the persons that shall enjoy it.
Verses 16-18
New King James Version
The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.Paul greets "the household of Onesiphorus" (as Paul did again in 2 Timothy 4:19, without referring to the man himself) and mentions the loyal services he had done, after that Paul seems to say a prayer for him (verse 18a). Catholics consider these verses as an implication that Onesiphorus was already dead, since it is "the easiest and most natural hypothesis".