2 Timothy 2:1-13 Grace and Perseverance (Hebrews 12:1–3)
1 You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
Chained to an armed guard in Rome and forced to pray in that position, Paul continues to do everything he can to encourage Timothy and others like him. It’s quite possible that Timothy shares these letters from Paul with others heading local churches, for all of them are facing the same struggles. Paul knows that passing on the teachings of faith is critical, for if a church leader tries to keep everything to himself, the day that man dies, those teachings die with him.
In an earlier age, there were men who draped instruments all over themselves and then strolled around heavily populated areas, entertaining people by playing as many of the instruments at the same time as possible. Such entertainers were referred to as “one-man bands,” and were quite popular. From such performers came the concept of the one-man band, an individual so skilled that he/she didn’t require any help from anyone else. But what might work well for a street busker is anything but healthy for an organization or a facility. What happens the day the one-man band person gets sick or dies? It’s precisely this kind of problem that Paul is trying to avoid by encouraging Timothy to develop as many competent Gospel teachers as possible.
Reading these two verses, I find myself asking, “But what about faithful women?” This is no idle question, for many times, it is women who have carried the Gospel. While men have been persecuted for their faith, in some cultures, women count for so little that their importance has been ignored. In China, Hudson Taylor and others made very effective use of Bible women who could travel from village to village while remaining unnoticed by civil authorities. And it was Timothy’s own mother who taught him about Jesus, for his father was a pagan Greek. But Paul is a product of his culture and is concerned about developing church leadership which will certainly be handled by men.
3 Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him. 5 Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.
As Paul was writing these words, he was probably glancing at the soldier to whom he was chained. Being chained to a prisoner would be no easy task, for the soldier would be stuck in the prison with the prisoner until his shift was over. And what if the soldier needed to defecate or urinate? But such trials were minor compared to the duties of many soldiers. Roman soldiers were used to marching long distances each day, camping in places where there was no shelter, carrying their rations on themselves, and doing all this with no regard for bad weather. The Roman Empire stretched over large portions of Europe, Great Britain, and the Middle East, so blizzards, sand storms, and torrential rains were all likely. Faithful soldiers might eventually retire; however, those who deserted their posts might be killed.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel, 9 for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained! 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
Paul writes, knowing that he might eventually die at the hands of the Romans. These verses encapsulate Paul’s legacy, not only to Timothy, but to all believers for all time. Today, let us meditate on these verses. Do we truly believe that Jesus has died and has risen from the dead? Do we truly believe that salvation from sin comes through Jesus Christ? And are we willing to endure all things so that others might also hear the glorious Gospel and believe?
May God help us, so that we will endure, persisting in witnessing to Christ Jesus, remaining faithful, and eventually reigning with Him!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be faithful and true, sharing the Gospel with all we meet. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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