2 Timothy 2:8-14

Paul Calls On Timothy To Keep His Eyes Firmly Fixed On Christ (2 Timothy 2:8-14 ).

In view of the urgency of the times and the dangers that loom ahead Paul tells Timothy (and us) to remember Jesus Christ as the Risen One and as the Davidic Messiah, Who is the essence of the Gospel that he proclaims, and through Whom those who are His chosen ones may obtain salvation and enjoy eternal glory. Nevertheless this hope makes demands on us and reminds us that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us, but if we deny Him, He will deny us (compare Matthew 10:32-33). It is incumbent therefore on Timothy to constantly remind all Christians of these things and not get involved in secondary arguments which are of no real profit to anyone.

Analysis.

a Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel (2 Timothy 2:8).

b In which I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound (2 Timothy 2:9).

c Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10).

d Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him (2 Timothy 2:11).

c If we endure, we shall also reign with him (2 Timothy 2:12).

b If we shall deny him, he also will deny us, if we are faithless, he abides faithful, for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

a Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they do not strive about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear (2 Timothy 2:14).

Note that in ‘a’ Timothy is to remember Jesus Christ and His resurrection and status and in the parallel the church is to be called on to remember the same. In ‘b’ Paul’s courageous confession of Christ is emphasised, and in the parallel the warning of the consequences of denying Christ is described. In ‘c’ Paul is enduring all things so that God’s elect may benefit eternally, and in the parallel endurance results in eternal benefit. Centrally in ‘d’ is the call for us to die with Christ and live with Him.