2 Timothy 1:9-18

Rachel Workman: 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.

These verses are very moving. God's plan was for us to live holy lives. How? Through the selfless act of Christ. Not one of us will ever be good enough to deserve what Christ has already done for us. If that doesn't humble you I don't know what will.

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 until the day of his return.

I love how he states for I know the one in whom I trust. To know Christ is life changing. I am sorry for those who do not. It hurts my heart to know they are in this world alone separated from God's love.

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 that has been 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.

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John Burnett:  1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus ^[a]by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, my beloved ^[b]son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience ^[c]the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my ^[d]prayers night and day, ⁴ longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. ^5 [e]For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh 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 ^[f]timidity, but of power and love and ^[g]discipline.

⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,  We will suffer for the sake of the gospel if we are living out our faith the way the Bible says to. ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, ¹⁰ but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² For this reason I also suffer these things, but 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 ^[h]until that day. ^13 [i]Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the ^[j]treasure which has been entrusted to you.  We are all entrusted with the with the treasure of the gospel.  We are called to maintain the sound words of gospel of repentance and faith.  

¹⁵ You are aware of the fact that all who are in ^[k]Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my ^[l]chains; ¹⁷ but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— ¹⁸ the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus. 

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Allen Michaels:  ⁹ 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, Paul is giving a brief summary of the gospel. God loves us, called us, and sent Christ to die for us. We can have eternal life through faith in Him, because He broke the power of death with His resurrection. We do not deserve to be saved, but God offers us salvation anyway. What we must do is believe in Him and accept His offer. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. Paul had lost all his material possessions, but he would never lose his faith. He trusted God to use him regardless of his circumstances. When our situation looks bleak, we must give our concerns to Christ. He will guard our faith and safely guard all we have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.

Even in prison, Paul knew that God was still in control. No matter what setbacks or problems we face, we can trust fully in God.

¹³ What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. When you are facing difficult transitions, it is good to follow Paul’s advice to Timothy and look back at your experience. Who is the foundation of your faith? How can you build on that foundation? What gifts has the Holy Spirit given you? Use the gifts you have already been given.

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

¹⁵ You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. These men serve as warning that even leaders can fall.

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. ¹⁷ On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.