June 1, 2022
Faith Over Fear
2 Timothy 1
Caleb Read
Central Truth
As believers in the all-powerful creator God, we live by faith rather than fear.
Key Verse | 2 Timothy 1:7
[F]or God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to 1 1:9 Or with a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 2 1:9 Greek before times eternal 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 3 1:12 Or what I have entrusted to him; Greek my deposit 13 Follow the pattern of the sound 4 1:13 Or healthy words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | 2 Timothy 1
As a kid, I was highly influenced by the faith of my parents. They created a gospel-centered environment in our home and helped shape a solid foundation for my faith as a young person. As Paul commends the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother in this opening section of his epistle, I can't help but be reminded of a similar role my own parents played in my life. And I am eternally grateful!
Do you have someone like that in your life?
What I love about this letter from Paul to Timothy is that we get an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at leadership in the early church. Timothy, a young leader entrusted to pastor the church in Ephesus, has major leadership challenges before him. These challenges exist both internally and externally for Timothy. And this portion of Paul's letter to Timothy primarily focuses on the internal challenges of leadership.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, we see an internal challenge every leader faces: fear.
When I think of my own life, it's not difficult to identify areas of fear within my own heart and mind. For me, these are typically areas related to parenting, finances, occupation, or my kids.
Think of some areas of fear in your life.
Now, what does God say about those fears in His inspired Word?
What we know to be true, based on this chapter in God's Word, is that fear is not from God. It says that God did not give Timothy a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. We can take the same truth to heart!
The next time you are facing some kind of fear in your life, ask yourself if this fear is from God. Recall this verse, and rest in the fact that you no longer have to live in slavery to your fear (Romans 8:15). But through the power of the Holy Spirit God gave you, you can live with power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).
Our Father is good, and His Word can be trusted.
Today, may you choose to walk in faith over fear.
Discussion Questions
1. Who has helped shaped your faith similarly to how Timothy's mother and grandmother helped shape his faith?
2. Do a quick inventory of your heart and mind. Where are you fearful and/or ashamed? What do you think Paul would say to you? (2 Timothy 1:7-8)
3. What does it mean for Timothy to guard what was entrusted to him? (2 Timothy 1:14) What does it mean for you?
4. How does this passage further motivate you to share the light of the gospel with those around you?