I Saw an Angel in the Marble - 2 Timothy chapter 2 verses 14 to 18 - J Stewart Gillespie

The repetition of Divine truth is the last bastion of defence against error. Where truth from the past remains unstated in the present it is forgotten in the future; 'put them in remembrance' (2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 14). It is likely that they already knew these things but we all need reminded. In the absence of Divine truth repeated and re-emphasised we could perhaps become confused by men like Hymenaeus and…

'Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus' (2 Timothy 2:1) is not a bad choice as a summary verse for 1 and 2 Timothy. The entire epistle of 2 Timothy is written in particular with this thought in mind. Timothy needed the exhortation 'be strong'. His position was perilous at Ephesus. Timothy had the task of mounting a single handed rescue operation at Ephesus on every conceivable front it would seem: 

1. Morally – 'faith and a good conscience' – 1 Tim 1:5,19,20; 4:12 – MEN DEFILED 
2. Doctrinally – 1…

Paul's second letter to Timothy opens with an outpouring of encouragement and Timothy certainly needs it! Paul's first and second letters are challenging to Timothy in and of themselves. Timothy is challenged to "stir up the gift" (2 Timothy 1:6), to "be not ashamed" (2 Timothy 1:8) and to "be strong" (2 Timothy 2:1) amongst other challenges and exhortations. We decidedly get the impression that Timothy is being challenged if not a little corrected at times by these two epistles. Far greater than the…

" For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." 2 Timothy 1:12-14

The pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy describe one of the greatest spiritual…

1 Timothy is an epistle of RELATIONSHIP truth: 

Christ is at the centre of the epistle – 1 Timothy 3:16; Christ is at the heart of the church, to be lifted up for the gaze of all (1 Timothy 3:15). Christ is at the centre of our faith personally and individually. I read an article recently regarding a prominent American Christian, a worship leader in one of the large megachurches, who had backslidden, and denied the faith. The reason he gave was that he couldn't answer one or two tuff questions and thus…