It is generally felt this letter was written about five years after 1 Timothy.  Paul had used the time after his first imprisonment very productively. It is thought he ministered through the eastern and western parts of the Empire, probably reaching Spain. Some think he reached even to Britain. But in any case he was rearrested during the infamous Nero persecutions.  

The tone of this letter is gloomy and Paul is obviously lonely. Tradition explains this by telling us Paul was in the Mamertime Dungeon, which was a below ground cell with the only light available from an open hole in the roof. It was located beside a river and so the cell reached by going down many steps, was cold, dark and uncomfortable.

These were dark and lonely days but note that Paul was calm, confident and full of assurance. May we learn from this lesson that we who are in Christ should have the same witness as the Apostle Paul.

Apostles were pre-eminent (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 2:20, 4:11) and their ministry was not only prophetic but was to illuminate Christ and his gospel.  The Holy Spirit had inspired them to understand all the mysteries of the gospel and therefore they could both write and speak about its revelation definitively, (Ephesians 3:1-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Romans 16:25-26). 

Paul made it clear that he knew the same body of truth that the other Apostles knew, for he was a chosen vessel of the Lord.  It is through Jesus Christ that he had received his Apostleship, because Jesus had called him to be on Apostle, separated him to bring about the gospel of God and to bring the faith among the Gentiles. (Romans 1:1-5, 11:13, Galatians 1:1) 

He was who he was according to will of God, God’s good pleasure and his grace, and thus his position would in no sense be regarded as due to his worthiness.  God’s will controlled all that he did and obviously, since God was completely trustworthy by his nature what he did and said could be relied on. 

Paul described his gospel as “the promise of life in Jesus Christ”, for the gospel when accepted and persevered in, preserved by God, led to life.  Christ was the only way and hence this promise of life was to be found only in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:20 also makes this clear. 

Why did Paul describe the gospel in this way?  It is because the gospel delivers people from bondage, heals people and changes them, giving them the power to be what God wants them to be.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 we are called “earthen vessels”, weak and in ourselves without value but God has placed in these ‘earthen vessels’ a treasure that is incomparable.  So we are taught in Colossians 1:27, Christ is in us, the hope of glory. 

It should be clearly understood that the believer has a quality of life now that is infinitely grand.  We have an amazing quality of life right now, though life might seem to be falling apart and we are encompassed by terrible circumstances. 

This life which begins when we truly believe, does not end when we die, but expands into an incomparable life with Jesus.  This is the certain hope of the gospel. 

In verse 2 Paul affectionately reminded the sensitive and sometimes fearful Timothy that God's grace gave us full blessings. We do not deserve any forgivingness of sins and the removal of guilt that we bear.  Neither do we deserve God’s welcoming and his care and concern for us.  We definitely do not deserve the strengthening and power that God gives us to obey him.  But Paul reminds Timothy of all these things by using the one word “grace”. 

Then, he used a different word to describe the blessing of God, reminding Timothy of God's mercy, “mercy” being God withholding from us what we do deserve. 

Actually, Jeremiah told us the plain truth when he said in Lamentations 3:22-24, “It is of Lord’s mercies that are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”          

Christians fail to understand that in this world of sin, the only thing that we should really expect is chaos, disaster, violence, hardship, hatred, terror and fighting every moment of the day. This is what would happen if God allowed Satan to totally have his way. There would be no sunshine, no long life, no healing and no joy. 

It is because of God's mercies, that we only experience hardships and trials on the infrequent occasions when we experience problems. Life could really be infinitely bitter for that is what sinners deserve. But God's ‘mercies’ allow some trials and difficulties to get through to us, his ‘hedge’ around us preserves us, bringing us joy and blessings. 

Then Paul reminded Timothy of God ‘peace’, which gives us an inner sense of well-being and stability during the trials that make life look dark and dreary.  It is wonderful to know that God is in control at all times.

Verse 3.  Remember that at this time Paul was in a dark, lonely dungeon and he had to rely on a daily supply of grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus his Lord. 

Despite his circumstances, given the honor God had placed on him by appointing him an Apostle, Paul was comforted by the fact that like his godly forefathers, he had served God with a conscience cleansed by God himself.  He did not serve God from a position of self- righteousness.  He had learned from his Jewish ancestors that when he did something wrong and there was guilt, a sacrifice had to be brought to cleanse the conscience. 

He was in God’s house, cleansed by the sacrifice of Jesus and so his conscience was pure with no dead works and offences for which he had not repented.  He had obviously kept the faith and practiced love to the brethren. 

The point was that Timothy too must know that he could pray with confidence, something only possible when one had a clear conscience.  When he knew that Jesus had cleansed his sins by his sacrifice he would be on firm ground. 

Inner purity was most important for Paul.  So too was physical purity, for the physical purity was necessary as the believer's body belonged to the Lord, and was the Temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:13-19, Romans 13:13-14. 

Defilement was a terrible thing.  So too was being guilty of the blood of others, Acts 18:6, 20:26.  Moral purity was most important for impurity in one member could contaminate the body of believers,

1 Corinthians 5:6-13. 

Paul was always praying for Timothy, for he never forgot his friends and those he loved.  Clearly, Paul's ministry to people did not stop once they had accepted the faith.  He felt it was his duty to teach, warn, exhort, encourage and bring them to maturity.  He had devoted his life to presenting them as ‘chaste virgins’  to Christ,

 (2 Corinthians 11:2). 

Praying was an essential part of his ministry and Paul always spoke about praying for those who had been converted through preaching, as well as all other believers.

Verse 4.  Paul was mindful of Timothy’s great affection for him. He could not forget Timothy’s tears made on his behalf. We do not know the occasions, but it might have occurred during Paul arrest, at some of his beatings or at some of the times when Paul was attacked by heretics. 

Paul would not forget Timothy's anguish, or it showed that Timothy loved him dearly and so he longed to see him again. The pain that Paul must have felt when he knew that he would not see his beloved friend was certainly heart rending.

Verse 5.  Paul also could not forget Timothy’s sincere faith.  This was honest genuine faith, with no hypocrisy. This same faith, the unswerving attention to the things of God, had marked out this devout Jewish mother and grandmother.   

Timothy's mother had married a Greek but from a child, both mother and grandmother brought him up to know the Scriptures and to hope for and expect the Messiah. 

When they heard the message of Christ they responded to the call.  This is a case of excellent parental example. Godly upbringing in the influence of the family bore fruit. 

We ought to hear the message that the family must teach the children to obey and love God.

Verse 6-7.  Paul encouraged Timothy to do his duty, for he remembered that Timothy had a spiritual gift, a supernaturally given gift that enabled him to do the work of God. 

Note that though he had been given the gift from God he had to exercise it, stir up the gift he had been given and use it so that it would not deteriorate. 

Paul had recognized that Timothy had this gift from God and had ‘laid hands’ on him in his authority as an Apostle, so that Timothy would not have any doubt that he had the power of God behind him. 

We learn from this that it is a tragedy if believers do not use the spiritual gifts they have. We are reminded that that which has been given to us by the Holy Spirit must be used. 

Note clearly that fear is a great hindrance to believers using and increasing their spiritual gifts. Christians therefore are forbidden to fear.   

We are given relevant, practical advice and instruction as Paul stated that the Spirit which dwells in us is not be spirit of fear, See John 14:1 and verse 27.

 When believers are attacked and oppressed by fear which translate into anxiety, worry, trembling and a sense of foreboding, we must believe the word of God. God had said, that what we are experiencing, this spirit of fear, does not come from Him. 

Rather, the spirit which comes from God is one of power, a spirit of power. 

The scriptures teach us that the power of Satan has been broken. God has now given us the spirit of power, so that we can refuse to do what is wrong and can obey what is right.  It is not a question of feeling but a question of knowledge.

God has even granted us the power to walk step-by-step and day by day with full knowledge that he will see us through all that we encounter. So even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil, for God is with us. 

We must learn not to listen to the lies of Satan, for he is the father of lies, and is a deceiver.  He will never tell the full truth, for he does not want us to understand the power that we already have. 

Moreover, God has also given us a spirit of love. We can pay attention not only to our own problems but to the problems of others; remembering that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against the demonic hosts.  We can love even unlovable men. 

In addition we have been given the spirit of sound judgment, that is soberness.  We do not have to spend all our time worrying about ghosts and demons.  We do not have to spend all or time depending on special revelations and ecstatic experiences, but we can make sensible, realistic analyses of situations. We can depend on the leading of the Spirit, make great decisions on what we should do and then carry them out. 

Note then that Paul is encouraging Timothy to approach God with confidence, to live in faith that God is present and with him in power.  He was encouraged that he had the gift of the Spirit which he could use to help others.  He was told that he had the spirit of power and love and self-control and that God would help him through all things.

Verse 8.  As a result of all this, there was no need for timidity, or fearfulness about using his gift or gifts. 

There is a dynamic aspect to God’s nature but somehow we do not often keep this in focus. We become ashamed of the Lord because of what we have to go through.  We do not see Jesus in his full splendour, for he is not visible physically and so when the world attacks our testimony, we tend to pull away and make the gospel palatable to the world. 

The gospel is the testimony of Jesus, and it tells us about him.  We are called to witness that the Creator of the universe, is the only true source of power and life. 

Timothy was tempted to be ashamed of the gospel because of the ridicule and satanic induced mocking of the world. We are also tempted to be ashamed. This gospel of Christ is offensive to men. They feel insulted and helpless when they are told they are sinners.  They generally react negatively to the gospel.  As a matter-of-fact, many of us have personally heard professing believers sneer at preachers on radio, who while they are speaking some truth are not very fluent and are not able to speak in an acceptable or attractive tone of voice.  These same believers will applaud other media preachers, who, while skilful and fluent in their presentation, are speaking much more significant amount of error than the not so fluent preachers mentioned above. 

Timothy was tempted to be ashamed of Paul who was a prisoner of Rome, for Paul was regarded as an enemy of the state and a man who wanted to destroy society. For most people then living in the Roman empire, Paul’s behaviour was disgraceful. 

So Paul had to encourage Timothy to realize that the gospel which had brought affliction to the servants of God was one of power.  To men the gospel looked as something that was weak, but in fact it is the only source of power that could bring the miracle of the new birth and transform men.

Verse 9.   Paul linked the persecutions aimed at gospel bearers and the afflictions that servants of the gospel inevitably suffer as things that would bring strength and power from God, so that they could be borne. 

The servants of the gospel might seem to be weak, but they have in them the working of the power of God, which can take wild, rebellious, God hating, tough, miserable, antisocial, proud, self-righteous men and women and turn them into delightful, sensible, soft, loving, good natured men and women.

That is power. 

God's power has saved us. Then this powerful holy calling regenerates, reforms, transforms us and takes us along the path that God had determined we should follow, before the world began. This referred to the effect to Paul and to the elect, for the all-powerful God had designed things, so that through Jesus Christ he would work out his purposes. 

Our purpose and life therefore is to follow Jesus.  That is what God wanted before he created the world and that is what he would ensure through his strange miraculous working.

Verse 10.  With the coming of Jesus the Savior, the purposes of God determined before the foundation of the world, had now been made clear. 

He has appeared, lived, died and nullified the power of.  So Paul could say in 1 Cor.15:55 “Grave, where is thy victory? Death, where is thy sting?” 

When death occurs, believers are ushered into paradise to be with Christ and it becomes a door for a life to be enjoyed, for it is as it were, a gate to the world of immortality.  Jesus’ coming and his gospel has made that clear.  This is a glorious expectation.

Verse 11-12.  Paul told Timothy that his call to Apostleship meant that he had been appointed to proclaim this good news, to explain all the details of the truth of Jesus and to teach all aspects of the gospel.  He was appointed to teach Gentiles and this was a most worthy cause and by sharing in this ministry, Timothy was doing a great work for God. 

Because he had done his work of carrying the gospel of life and immortality to the Gentiles, showing then that the philosophy of the world, their practices and their belief structures would only lead to death, he had been opposed, ostracized, persecuted and now faced death. 

His success had brought suffering but because he had been appointed by God and had trusted God, he stood on firm ground.  He knew that God was right and that he was right in what he was revealing to men.  So he was not ashamed. There was no doubt that God was able to keep him and preserve him, no matter what the circumstances and that God would make his gospel reach men.  God was adequate.  He could not lose the fight, for death would only usher him into true life and immortality. 

He had committed his soul to God.  He had been obedient to the faith, his conscience had been cleansed and God would keep him so that on the day of judgment God would welcome him.

Verse 13.  So Paul advised Timothy, that since God was perfectly able to save and to keep, he should never deviate from the standards of God, but to follow the words of Scripture which are healthy, wholesome and right. These sound words would always lead into the life which was to be found in Jesus Christ. 

The words of Scripture are non-negotiable. The body of truth must be maintained, held fast, adhered to and never corrupted, for they are holy and divinely inspired. The truth must be maintained and true believers must stand firm against the clever attacks of the devil. The deposit of faith must be preserved intact and handed on to other faithful men. 

The faith and love that is in Jesus Christ must be upheld and must be pointed to men.  We must believe the truth, love the truth and tell all men the truth that is committed to us.  Love shows righteousness bestowed by the grace of God. It expresses the new life in Christ and it is only available by the Holy Spirit. 

Those who believe that the specific doctrines of the Apostles are not essential and are negotiable, they are leading people to death. 

The importance of this guiding of the truth is most necessary in these days. In many places it is in short supply, so we have had a great job to do.

Verse 14.  Timothy was now told that he personally had been entrusted with the truth. The Spirit had deposited something with him.  This knowledge had freed him and he had been given the power to free the world from the lies of Satan. 

The Spirit had made the words of Scripture living, powerful and enlightening. The words could split open hearts and change minds and behavior. 

He had to keep it by the power of the Spirit as the Spirit was only one with power to enable such an end.

We should make sure that our life as parents help our children in positive ways, so that they will be able to bear fruit. Too often our lives turn our children away from God or give them an excuse to turn away from God. Parents have a most critical responsibility. 

This role of proper, godly parenting and godly example is most important, because our children will face a very dangerous enemy if they ever begin to be active for Christ. We should never place them in a position where they are confused about what a man or woman of God should be like. 

Timothy's mother and Grandmother had given a great gift to the Apostle Paul and to the church. Would God be able to say of us that we have brought up children that are gifts to God, or will we be ashamed of what we have done or not done, when we stand before God!  This is an awesome responsibility. 

Young people should be aware that the sound words that they have been exposed to must be held fast. A life for Christ can be difficult, but the power of God is more than sufficient to keep them. They must use the gifts that God has given them. 

The fear that comes on us is not really coming from God but from the enemy. We must realize, that we do have the spirit of power because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. God does not ever make us afraid to spread his word or to live and show the nature of God in our life.  We must resist the fear brought by the enemy of our souls. 

We have nothing to be ashamed of or to fear, for when we are called home we will be with Jesus and will begin to enjoy a qualitatively different kind of life. 

Immortality and true life with Jesus awaits us.