Page 69 - Pastoral Epistles I & 2 Timothy, Titus

merely in ink but in Paul’s lifeblood. He is prepared to offer the pledge of his death for everything he
writes about. So this letter may be seen as a solemn and urgent ratification of Paul’s teaching.
It is important to remember, as we pointed out in the case of Paul’s first letter to Timothy, that the
apostle was not just writing for one man but was giving teaching that had a general application and that
Timothy could later pass on to others.

Excerpt taken from: 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus by John Calvin.

Paul wrote this letter as he awaited execution. Despite all that Paul was facing—death, the end of his ministry,
abandonment by most of his friends for fear of persecution—he faithfully directed his spiritual son Timothy to
the hope that is in Christ. As he exhorted Timothy to boldness, endurance, and faithfulness in the face of false
teaching, Paul showed his customary concern for sound doctrine. Scripture, said Paul, is “breathed out by God”
and is sufficient in all things about the faith and practice of Christians (3:16-17). Older believers, therefore,
should be eager to pass on their knowledge of Scripture to those who are younger in the faith (2:2). Paul
probably wrote from Rome, AD 67 or 68.

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2 Timothy 1:1-5. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise
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of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I
constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be
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filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and
in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Two things to consider from this paragraph.
V3. We need to have people praying for us.

V5. Our faith must be sincere.
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2 Timothy 1:6-7. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you
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through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives
us power, love, and self-discipline.

When we put our faith in Jesus for our salvation, the Holy Spirit enters our life and at that moment, we receive
our Spiritual Gift(s).
Romans 8:9. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not
belong to Christ.

Non-Christians do not have spiritual gifts – Only Christians have spiritual gifts.
The Holy Spirit gives us our gift(s) at the time of salvation.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
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5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of work, but in
all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work.

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