It’s 67AD and in a prison cell, chained to a guard, a man sits down to write to a friend. He knows it may well be his last letter. What will he say? What last words will he leave?
Remember… the promise of God
Read 2 Timothy 1:1
• Who is the letter from, and to? What do we learn about their relationship?
The opening greetings get us straight into the theme of the letter.
• What does Paul remind Timothy about:
• why Paul is an apostle?
• what God has promised?
All that happens to us is a result of the sovereign will of God and is in line with His promise of eternal life. God and His gospel form the heart of these opening verses, will be at the hearts of the whole letter, and are at the heart of all true
encouragement!
Remember… the people of God
Read 2 Timothy 1:3
Timothy was a pastor at the church Paul had founded in Ephesus in modern-day Turkey (as 1 Timothy 1:3 makes clear). And it wasn’t an easy job…
• What is Paul doing for Timothy?
• How’s Timothy feeling (v 3-4)?
Faithful service will mean struggle and persecution (have a look forward to 2 Timothy 3:12). Paul has a clear conscience because he has been faithful even to the point of going to prison.
• What does Paul remind Timothy about his background?
• Why does he do this, do you think?
..................................................
TIME OUT
• What discourages you right now from loving, following and serving Christ?
Read Hebrews 11:1 (or, if you’ve got time, Hebrews 1:11).
Like Timothy, we stand in a long line of people of faith who endured much.
• How does this passage encourage you to keep going?
..................................................
Remember… the power of God
Read 2 Timothy 1:6
• The “spirit” (v 7) is the Holy Spirit. What sort of Spirit is He?
Living the Christian life is not about finding resources deep down inside of us, but drawing on the infinite resources of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He gives us the power to endure, the love to serve, and the ability to think and act rightly.
..................................................
APPLY
Be encouraged to keep living and speaking for God. True faith is never in vain, and the true believer is never alone.
• Where in your life do you particularly need to remember this?
..................................................
This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
Click here and enter the code bstexplore57 when you check out to get the current quarter’s Explore for $5.84, a 10% discount.
Click here and enter bstexploresub when you check out to buy a year’s worth at 25% off—just $16.
Keep a record of what God is teaching you with "my bible" at biblestudytools.com
