2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1, the opening chapter of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, written around AD 66–67 from Rome during his second imprisonment, serves as a heartfelt encouragement to Timothy to remain steadfast in ministry. Paul expresses gratitude for Timothy’s faith, urges him to boldly use his spiritual gift, and affirms the power of the gospel, reflecting on his own suffering and trust in God’s keeping as he nears martyrdom.
Key Sections
Greeting and Thanksgiving (1:1–5): Paul, an apostle by God’s will, greets Timothy, his beloved child, wishing grace, mercy, and peace. He thanks God, served with a clear conscience, for Timothy’s sincere faith, inherited from his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, constantly remembering him in prayers and longing to see him for joy.
Encouragement to Boldness (1:6–12): Paul urges Timothy to fan into flame his God-given gift, received through Paul’s laying on of hands, as God gave a spirit of power, love, and self-control, not fear. Timothy shouldn’t be ashamed of the gospel or Paul’s chains but share in suffering for it, empowered by God’s saving call, not based on works but His purpose and grace in Christ, who abolished death and brought life through the gospel. Paul, appointed preacher and apostle, suffers but trusts God, who guards his deposit until that day.
Call to Faithfulness (1:13–14): Timothy must hold to the sound words Paul taught, in faith and love, guarding the good deposit entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit dwelling within.
Personal Notes (1:15–18): Paul notes that Phygelus and Hermogenes deserted him in Asia, but Onesiphorus refreshed him, unashamed of his chains, seeking him in Rome and aiding him in Ephesus. Paul prays for mercy for Onesiphorus’s household.
Cross-References
Greeting and Faith: 
1 Timothy 1:1–2: Grace, mercy, peace.

Philippians 1:3–5: Thankful for faith.

Acts 16:1: Timothy’s mother Eunice.
Spiritual Gift: 
1 Timothy 4:14: Gift through prophecy.

Romans 12:6–8: Use gifts given.

Acts 6:6: Laying on of hands.
Not Ashamed of Gospel: 
Romans 1:16: Unashamed of gospel.

Philippians 1:12–14: Chains advance gospel.

Mark 8:38: Ashamed of Christ.
God’s Saving Purpose: 
Ephesians 2:8–9: Saved by grace.

Titus 1:2: Hope of eternal life.

Romans 8:30: Called, glorified.
Suffering for Faith: 
2 Corinthians 11:23–27: Paul’s trials.

1 Peter 4:12–13: Share Christ’s suffering.

Colossians 1:24: Suffer for church.
Guard the Deposit: 
1 Timothy 6:20: Guard entrusted truth.

Jude 1:3: Contend for faith.

Titus 1:9: Hold firm to word.
Onesiphorus’s Loyalty: 
Philemon 1:7: Refreshing saints.

Matthew 25:36: Visit prisoners.

Hebrews 6:10: God sees service.
Theological Meaning
Faith’s Legacy: Timothy’s faith, passed through family, shows God’s work across generations (1:5; Psalm 78:4–6).

Spirit’s Empowerment: God equips with power, love, and discipline, not fear, for bold ministry (1:7; Ephesians 6:10).

Gospel’s Power: Christ’s victory over death brings eternal life, calling believers to share it (1:10; Romans 1:16).

Suffering’s Purpose: Enduring for the gospel aligns with God’s plan, trusting His keeping (1:12; Philippians 1:29).

Sound Doctrine: Guarding apostolic teaching ensures the gospel’s purity (1:13–14; 2 Timothy 2:2).

Faithful Service: Onesiphorus’s loyalty contrasts deserters, modeling steadfast support (1:16–18; Galatians 6:2).
Questions and Answers
Why call Timothy his child (1:2)?
Reflects their close spiritual bond, as Paul mentored him in faith (1:2; Acts 16:1–3).

What is Timothy’s gift (1:6)?
Likely his ministry calling, affirmed by prophecy and ordination (1:6; 1 Timothy 4:14).

What is the “spirit not of fear” (1:7)?
God’s Spirit, empowering boldness, love, and self-control (1:7; Romans 8:15).

Why not be ashamed (1:8)?
The gospel’s power and Paul’s suffering for it are honorable (1:8; Romans 1:16).

What is Paul’s “deposit” (1:12)?
Likely his ministry or soul, entrusted to God for safekeeping (1:12; 2 Timothy 4:18).

Who is Onesiphorus (1:16)?
A loyal supporter who aided Paul in Rome and Ephesus, unlike deserters (1:16; 2 Timothy 4:19).

How does this apply today?
Be bold in faith, guard truth, endure trials, and support others (1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written during Paul’s second Roman imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:6), under Nero’s persecution, to Timothy in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). Ephesus’s false teachers (1 Timothy 4:1–3) and pagan culture (Acts 19:24–27) challenged Timothy’s ministry. Paul’s desertion (1:15) reflects Nero’s crackdown, isolating him (Acts 28:16–31).

Cultural Questions: “Apostle by God’s will” (1:1) asserts authority in Ephesus’s rival teachings (Galatians 1:1). “Clear conscience” (1:3) uses Jewish integrity language, vital in Ephesus’s synagogue (Acts 23:1). “Laying on of hands” (1:6) reflects Jewish ordination, practiced in Ephesus’s church (Numbers 27:18). “Abolished death” (1:10) counters Greco-Roman fatalism, bold in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15:55). “Deposit” (1:12) uses banking terms, resonant in Ephesus’s economy (1 Timothy 6:20). “Onesiphorus” (1:16) evokes Greco-Roman hospitality, rare under persecution (Hebrews 13:2).

Application: 2 Timothy 1 calls believers to bold faith, faithful teaching, and endurance in trials. It challenges fear, shame, and disloyalty, urging trust in God’s power and support for His servants in a hostile world (Romans 12:11; Hebrews 10:23).