2 Timothy 1: God Did Not Give You A Spirit Of Fear

2 Timothy 1 starts out with Paul reminding Timothy of his family, and who first came to Jesus. He then explains to him that while he’s in chains, he’s still going to rejoice.

Pretty much the entire chapter of 2 Timothy 1 is a reminder of our duties as Christians. It’s a reminder of the great commission, and what Jesus has called us to do.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul does say one sentence that has a massive meaning. He states that God has not given Timothy a spirit of fear. In fact, fear does NOT come from God. Fear comes from hell, and our distrust of God gets us through a situation.

That’s good to remember as we live life, we must trust in God, and push forward into what God has called us to do.

We are children from the kingdom of heaven first, and not citizens of this world. This message can’t be told enough for those of us here in America. While I’m a patriot, and I love my country, I must keep in mind that God comes first.

What good is it to win the world making it a complete and free republic when everyone who dies goes to hell? True freedom, only comes through freedom in Jesus. Everything else is slavery.

2 Timothy 1: Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.

² I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

2 Timothy 1:1-2

2 Timothy 1 Paul Gives His Greetings

Honestly, I’m somewhat jealous of Timothy. Paul called him his son. This gives their relationship a level of closeness and a bond that I wish I had.

The life Jesus promised can be found described in John 10:10. In this verse he says we can an abundant life. And I don’t think he means later on after we die. I believe he means here on this earth.

We can only receive this life by giving up our own, and by surrendering our life, he gives us abundant life.

I sound like I’m talking in circles, but here’s my view of abundant life. It’s a life with a total connection to God. He’s the one who created the universe, every galaxy, planet, and star is his design. And every mountain, valley, and ocean too.

If God can create such beautiful landscapes here on earth, what can we find in the other parts of the galaxy? I want to find out; it’ll be even better because God is going with me.

2 Timothy 1 Paul Encourages Us All To Stay Faithful

³ Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴ I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

⁵ I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. ⁶ This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 2:3-7

2 Timothy 2:7 Fear is NOT from God

Verse 7 is one of the verses that many people quote when they’re afraid. it should also be remembered that fear doesn’t come from God.

In fact, when you fear, you’re taking God out of the equation and sitting in one spot (figuratively) completely paralyzed. It goes without saying that we need to remember that fear does NOT come from God.

Fear comes from Satan and his demons, it also can be brought on by a distrust of God, and the situation we are in. Whatever the fear, you need to trust in Jesus. He’s the only way out. And the only one in this situation who loved you enough to die for you.

The beauty of being in ministry with people who truly love Jesus comes in the goodbyes and reunions. When I run into someone I’ve done ministry with it becomes a moment of Joy. It’s great to spend a few minutes catching up, and seeing where God is leading them.

However the goodbyes are always bittersweet, you know they’re headed to a place God has called them. but the place is somewhere far from where you are. This leaves gaps in your heart, along with pain, and sorrow.

The sweetness comes from knowing it isn’t the last time you’ll be with that person. Both of you are doing God’s work and you know that you’ll see each other again. Whether it’s in this life or the next.

I have a few brothers and sisters in the lord who have passed on, and I know they’re with God right now. Someday I hope to meet them again, and I’ll be able to rejoice at what God did in their lives and mine.

2 Timothy 1 Don’t Be Ashamed To Share The Gospel

⁸ So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. ⁹ For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 

¹⁰ And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. ¹¹ And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

¹² That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him^[a] until the day of his return.

2 Timothy 1:8-12

2 Timothy 1: We Can’t Be Ashamed of the gospel. Instead, We Should Share it More.

Paul suffered in prison because he wasn’t shamed. He spoke the gospel with boldness to people who wanted to kill him. Yet he was persistent and kept speaking the truth.

There are countless other Christians who’ve done the same, these saints kept speaking the truth without fear, and won many to Christ. Some of them lost their lives or have been maimed, and yet they kept speaking and encouraged others to speak.

I feel ashamed that I don’t have this boldness, but I’m praying for it to come upon me and you who are reading this. The boldness of 2 Timothy 1 is similar to what the disciples received in the book of Acts.

What we need is a transformation of heart, and a desire to spread the kingdom of heaven.

2 Timothy 1: Hold On, And Encourage Those Around You

¹³ Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth entrusted to you.

¹⁵ As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶ May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. ¹⁷ When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.

2 Timothy 1:13-18

2 Timothy 1: Paul Is Telling Us To Become Encouragers

There are two things in 2 Timothy 1:16-18 that stand out to me. In addition to that, they also hit me where I live right now. I’ve been stressed, exhausted, and ready to give up on many things.

But Paul reminds us to hold on, he states that we should keep going and keep encouraging those around us. In some ways that’s an extension of the gospel. We are to love God first, and the neighbors around us. After all, he loved us first and sent his only son Jesus to die for us.

We love others, and in many ways, we love them first. All because God sent Jesus.

In this day and age, fear is prevalent, and wisdom and courage are rare commodities. We must cling to Jesus, and encourage those around us to do the same

2 Timothy 1 is also a reminder that our time is short, and we need to use every avenue, and minute of the day to share the gospel.

I don’t mean do nothing else, instead, I mean our lives should be testaments to Jesus and his love for us.

I hope you enjoyed my latest post on 2 Timothy 1.

Let Me Know Your Thoughts Below In The Comments.