A 1:1,2. Greetings and benediction. B 1:3-18. Epistolary. Private and personal. C 2:1-26. Charges connected with the Good News. C 3:1-4:8. Charges connected with the Apostasy. B 4:9-21-. Epistolary. Private and personal. A 4:-22,22. Greetings and benediction.
1. The 2nd Epistle to Timothy is the latest of all Paul's writings. It was written during his 2nd imprisonment at Rome, within a short time of his martyrdom [4:6], probably at the end of 67 or early 68 A.D. It is thought that at this time Timothy was at Ephesus. The apostle's regard for his "dearly beloved son" is seen in 1:4, and it is affecting to observe the pathetic desire to see Timothy once more before death, 4:9,11,21. No further mention is made of Timothy. The tradition that he suffered martyrdom about the end of the 1st century is only tradition.
2. The prominent feature of this Epistle is the "church's" departure from the truth [see 1:15; 2:17; 3:8; 4:4]. When "all they which are in Asia [cp. Acts 19:11] he turned away from" Paul, he exhorts Timothy, his "son", therefore to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus". No more is there heard, as in the 1st Epistle and in that to Titus, the apostolic guidance for church rule or administration of any kind. Only 2 things are possible now, Preach the word" [4:2], and "the things that you heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" [2:2]. And, as in the 1st Epistle, the Holy Spirit through Paul tells of even worse days to come, perilous, or grievous, times "in the last days" [3:1; 4:3], the only charge in connection with which is "Continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of" [3:14].
2 Timothy 1)
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus (Gr. Iesous, Heb. Yahshua = Yahaveh's Savior) Christ (Gr. Christos = the Anointed One, i.e. the Messiah) by the will of God (Gr. Theos, Heb. equivalent to Elohim), according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father (Gr. Pater, it denotes His relationship to His "beloved Son") and Christ Jesus our Lord (Gr. Kurios, Heb. equivalent to Yahaveh).
B A 3-5. Thanksgiving for Timothy.
B a 6-11. Exhortation.
b 12. Paul's sufferings.
B a 13,14. Exhortation.
b 15. Desertion of Paul.
A 16-18. Prayer for Onesiphorus's household.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers (see 1 Tim. 5:4) in pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see you, having remembered your tears, in order that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which indwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in you also.
6 On account of which cause I put you in remembrance that you stir up (Stir the flame, freshen) the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be you suffer evil with [me] for the good news according to the power of God;
9 Who saved us, and called us (the elect) with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, it that He abolished death, and has shed light on life and incorruption through the good news: (The Lord did this in His own person, when He rose from the dead, alive for evermore. Acts 13:34. Rom. 6;9 Rev. 1:18.)
11 To which I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
(The nations, the ethnic people.) 12 For the which cause I suffer these things also: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to guard my deposit unto that day. (The day of His appearing. Cp. 4:8. He knows he can trust Him. Can you? God's elect can cut it.)
13 Hold the form of sound words, which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
(Don't let man change it. Guard the Scripture.)
14 The good deposit which was committed to kept by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us.
(Passing from mind to mind, thought to though. See the Massorah.) 15 This you know, that all they which are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
(They turned away because he was a prisoner.)
16 The Lord give mercy to the household of Onesiphorus (Onesiphorus must have recently died); for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
(Stuck with him.)
17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
(He took the trouble to find him and provide him what he needed - Material to write books &c.)
18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered to me in Ephesus, you know very well.
(God uses us as helpers to bring His Word forward.)