2 Timothy 1

Therefore—because God gave power, love, and self-control—do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of Paul His prisoner. Share in suffering for the Good News according to the power of God.

The power is given to be used in costly witness. Shame is a live temptation; grace that can be resisted must be drawn on so Timothy actually stands with the gospel and the chained apostle.

The “therefore” leans on the Spirit of power already given. The God who endues with power is the same God by whose power Timothy is to suffer.

Comfort: suffering for the gospel is not self-wrought heroism. God supplies the power that keeps a minister unashamed of Christ and of Christ’s imprisoned servant.

He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to works, but according to his own purpose and grace, given in Christ Jesus before the ages began. Wesley: saved us—by faith; purpose and grace means His own gracious purpose, fixed for our advantage before the world began. The whole economy of salvation is here: the Father’s love, the Savior’s grace.

The plan is all from God and claims us all for God. Grace given in Christ before the ages is the Father’s gracious plan of salvation in the Son—not a bare decree that bypasses faith. Works did not earn it; faith receives what was prepared in Christ. Holy calling is a claim on the called, not a reward for prior merit.

Saved and called, not according to works, but according to His purpose and grace. Calvin: we had not works by which we could anticipate God; the whole depends on His gracious purpose and election. This giving of grace is nothing else than predestination, by which we were adopted as sons.

If God chose us before the creation of the world, He could not have regard to works, of which we had none. Purpose and grace given before the ages is unconditional election in Christ—not a plan merely waiting on foreseen faith. Calling is holy because the God who elects also makes a people holy.

What was given before the ages is now manifested in the appearing of our Savior. He abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.

The gospel is the public shining of a grace prepared in Christ. Life and immortality are sincerely held out where that gospel is preached; the appearing is good news to be believed, not a private notice for a closed list.

The eternal purpose is not a hidden curiosity; it is manifested in Christ’s appearing. Death is abolished; life and immortality come to light through the gospel.

What God purposed before the ages He has now enacted in the Savior. The gospel does not create the purpose; it unveils the Christ in whom electing grace was already given.

Paul was appointed preacher, apostle, and teacher of this gospel. The office is gift; the message is the manifested grace of vv. 9–10.

Appointment does not void labor. He is set to announce a gospel hearers must still believe.

Appointment is Christ’s; Paul did not take the pulpit to himself. Preacher, apostle, and teacher name the one gospel in three tasks.

The God who purposed grace before the ages also appointed the mouth that tells it. The office stands on God’s will, as the opening of the letter already said.

Suffering follows appointment; shame does not. Paul knows whom he has believed. Wesley: that which I have committed to him—my soul—until that day of His final appearing.

The person of Christ is the object of faith. Timothy’s teacher has placed his soul in the Savior’s keeping; the same Christ is able, and the believer’s act of committing is trust, not a work that saves.

I know him whom I have believed. Calvin: our salvation is in the hand of God, as things delivered to a depository to keep. He is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day what has been entrusted.

The accent falls on the Keeper. What is entrusted is safe because God is able, not because Paul’s grip is strong. Unashamed suffering rests on God’s fidelity to His own deposit.

Follow the pattern of sound words heard from Paul, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Wesley: the model of pure, wholesome doctrine.

Wholesome doctrine is to be held in living faith and love, not as a cold form. The pattern can be left; Timothy must follow it in faith and love Christ gives and the believer exercises.

Sound words have a pattern. Timothy is not free to recast the gospel. Faith and love in Christ Jesus are the atmosphere of the holding, not a license to revise.

God keeps the church by a model already given. The Spirit who dwells (v. 14) does not whisper a different deposit.

Guard the good deposit by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Wesley: the good thing—this wholesome doctrine.

The Spirit dwells, and Timothy must still guard. Indwelling is not a substitute for watchfulness. The deposit can be neglected; cooperating with the Spirit is how it is kept.

Keep the excellent thing committed to thee—by the Holy Spirit. Calvin locates the keeping in the Spirit’s power, not in native competence.

The same God who is able to guard Paul’s deposit (v. 12) now commands Timothy to guard by the Spirit who dwells in us. Duty and divine keeping are not rivals.