Catholic Commentary on 2 Timothy 1

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Paul's Last Letter

Second Timothy is almost certainly the last letter Paul wrote, composed from a Roman prison shortly before his execution. It breathes the atmosphere of a final testament: Paul knows his time is short, and he is concerned above all to ensure that the faith is passed on faithfully to the next generation through Timothy and through those Timothy will train. It is the most personal of all his letters, full of affection, urgency, and the hard-won wisdom of a life given entirely to the Gospel. He gives thanks for Timothy, for his sincere faith first present in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and for the gift of God that he is to fan into flame through the laying on of Paul's hands.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Timothy is to join Paul in suffering for the Gospel by the power of God, who saved them and called them to a holy life, not because of anything they had done but because of his own purpose and grace given to them in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. This grace has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Paul is not ashamed of suffering for this Gospel, knowing in whom he has believed and being convinced that God is able to guard what he has entrusted to him until that day.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the Spirit does not make us timid. Timidity in the face of opposition, reluctance to stand for the faith, the shrinking from witness that comes from fear of what others will think: none of these are from the Spirit. The Spirit gives power, love, and self-discipline. Fan the flame. The gift is already in you. What is dampening it? Name it, and ask the Spirit to clear it away.

Prayer

Lord God, you did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline. Fan into flame the gift you placed in us. We are not ashamed of the Gospel. We know in whom we have believed and are convinced you are able to guard what we have entrusted to you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2 Timothy
1
Paul’s Greeting to Timothy
(1 Timothy 1:1–2)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
 
2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
 
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Faithfulness under Persecution
(Matthew 10:16–25)
 
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
 
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
 
6 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. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear,* 1:7 Or timidity or cowardice but of power, love, and self-control.
 
8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.† 1:9 Literally before times eternal 10 And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
 
12 For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, 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 ‡ 1:12 Or what He has entrusted to me for that day.
Holding to Sound Teaching
 
13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching § 1:13 Literally sound words you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the treasure entrusted to you,* 1:14 Or the good deposit entrusted to you with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
 
15 You know that everyone in the Province of Asia † 1:15 Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey. has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
 
16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains. 17 Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
 
18 May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.

*1:7 1:7 Or timidity or cowardice

†1:9 1:9 Literally before times eternal

‡1:12 1:12 Or what He has entrusted to me

§1:13 1:13 Literally sound words

*1:14 1:14 Or the good deposit entrusted to you

†1:15 1:15 Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

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