HAVING COURAGE IN FEARFUL TIMES (2)
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-18
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Title: Having Courage in Fearful Times (2)
Series: Endure
Author: Jonathan McLeod
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-18
Recap
Second Timothy is a letter written by the apostle Paul to a young man named Timothy. (There's another letter in the NT written by Paul to Timothy, which is called ... 1 Timothy.)
At the time of this letter's writing, Paul is in prison, and he expects to be executed any day. In 4:6, he writes, "The time of my departure has come." It's believed that Paul died in A.D. 68, so this letter would have been written sometime between A.D. 64 and 68.
It's a farewell letter to Timothy. Paul might never see Timothy again, though he does hope to see him one last time. In 4:9, Paul says, "Do your best to come to me soon" (cf. 1:4; 4:21).
Timothy is in Ephesus. Paul had left him there to rid the church in Ephesus of false teaching (1 Tim. 1:3). It wasn't an easy task.
The theme of 2 Timothy is endurance. Paul encourages Timothy to endure when life and ministry get difficult.
Fearful Times
In verse 7, Paul tells Timothy, "God gave us a spirit not of fear." Why did Paul write these words near the beginning of this letter? Probably because Timothy was feeling afraid.
Timothy had reasons to be afraid. He was facing opposition in Ephesus, and there was the possibility that he could suffer the same fate as Paul. It's also possible that Timothy was someone who struggled with fear. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 16:10, "When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you."
Paul mentions two men in verse 15 who had "turned away from [him]." There was the temptation for Timothy to do the same ... to run away and hide (i.e., find a more comfortable lifestyle).
What did Timothy need? He needed courage to endure. We have the same need.
How do we get the courage to endure in fearful times?
Fan into Flame
Paul is in prison, so he has lots of time to think. There is a motif of remembrance in verses 3-6 ("remember, ...
Series: Endure
Author: Jonathan McLeod
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-18
Recap
Second Timothy is a letter written by the apostle Paul to a young man named Timothy. (There's another letter in the NT written by Paul to Timothy, which is called ... 1 Timothy.)
At the time of this letter's writing, Paul is in prison, and he expects to be executed any day. In 4:6, he writes, "The time of my departure has come." It's believed that Paul died in A.D. 68, so this letter would have been written sometime between A.D. 64 and 68.
It's a farewell letter to Timothy. Paul might never see Timothy again, though he does hope to see him one last time. In 4:9, Paul says, "Do your best to come to me soon" (cf. 1:4; 4:21).
Timothy is in Ephesus. Paul had left him there to rid the church in Ephesus of false teaching (1 Tim. 1:3). It wasn't an easy task.
The theme of 2 Timothy is endurance. Paul encourages Timothy to endure when life and ministry get difficult.
Fearful Times
In verse 7, Paul tells Timothy, "God gave us a spirit not of fear." Why did Paul write these words near the beginning of this letter? Probably because Timothy was feeling afraid.
Timothy had reasons to be afraid. He was facing opposition in Ephesus, and there was the possibility that he could suffer the same fate as Paul. It's also possible that Timothy was someone who struggled with fear. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 16:10, "When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you."
Paul mentions two men in verse 15 who had "turned away from [him]." There was the temptation for Timothy to do the same ... to run away and hide (i.e., find a more comfortable lifestyle).
What did Timothy need? He needed courage to endure. We have the same need.
How do we get the courage to endure in fearful times?
Fan into Flame
Paul is in prison, so he has lots of time to think. There is a motif of remembrance in verses 3-6 ("remember, ...
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