Unchain The Gospel

Unchain the Gospel!

2 Timothy 2:8-15

This letter by Paul to Timothy along with his letter to the Philippians were probably the last two letters he ever wrote. We find Paul chained in prison. As a Roman citizen before his condemnation to death, he had been given some liberty to receive friends and visitors. Now only Luke who might have made himself Paul’s slave so that he could conduct business for him in prison was left. As a slave, he would have liberty to go in and out. He could bring in food and drink. As a physician, he could care for Paul’s broken body. We know Paul is now condemned because now he is chained. Death row in Rome was a very sort stay unlike America, so Paul knew his time was very short at this point. He probably sent these last letters out through Luke either in oral form in which Luke remembered and wrote down, or if he had paper, written. Second Timothy is particularly touching and shows Paul’s great affection and pride in his adopted son. Timothy and others would have to carry on the torch of the gospel. Paul’s race was coming to its end, and now he was awaiting his transport to eternal glory in Christ’s kingdom.

Besides some touching reminisces of their time together along with Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Paul also needed to give final instructions to Timothy. Timothy was a man of some ability, but he tended to be timid. The future Timothy would face required great boldness in the faith. Paul could shield Timothy somewhat while he was alive, but now he would be on his own, although he would not be alone as the Spirit would be with Timothy. He reminds Timothy that hands had been lain on him. He was set aside for Christ’s service. He had been prepared for it by his mother and grandmother at first and then discipled by Paul himself.

In this part of the letter, Paul begins by reminding Timothy that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, a core belief of the Christian faith. There is no Christianity without the resurrection. By telling Timothy this, he reminds him as well as himself that even though the executioner’s axe would soon sever his head, that this is just the beginning of the story and not the end. The same God who raised Jesus from the dead would raise Paul also. And not only Paul, but Timothy as well. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain for the Gospel.

Paul realizes the chains that restrain his aging body, but it is his earnest desire that in spite of this, the Gospel must not be chained. His desire that his chains might preach his final sermon. He tells Timothy he suffers these chains as if he were the chief of sinners. But he was not in this Roman condemnation for the sins he committed in his youth. The Christians he persecuted were not the reason he stood condemned before this court. And he would stand uncondemned by the one who called him into ministry only because of God’s wonderful grace. But the one who called him reminded Paul that he would suffer great things for the Gospel. He had endured all kinds of toils and snares for those who would believe the Gospel through his preaching. Now there was only more thing to endure in this life.

Paul now characterizes the Gospel that is to be unchained through one of his “faithful sayings” as he had just also pressed the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The beginning of this saying reinforces the resurrection. Because he arose, we will also arise. Also, Timothy needed to get used to suffering. And when he would suffer, he needed to be reminded that he would also one day reign with Jesus. We also see this in the 12th chapter of Hebrews about Jesus looking beyond the pain and shame of the cross and seeing the joy at the other end of His suffering. Jesus arose and sits at God’s right hand. He shall reign for ever and ever, and we with Him. But we must remain faithful to carry our crosses.

Paul warns Timothy to be steadfast in the difficulties he would face. He must not deny Jesus. To apostate from the faith means to be denied before the Father. It is a terrible thing to consider these words being said: “Depart from me; I never knew you!” The final determiner of relevance shall before the judgment seat of Christ. One can be irrelevant to this world, but that doesn’t matter in the long run. But if one should fail to believe, this in no way changes the reality of who Christ is. When pressed, Jesus affirmed who He was, before both the Sanhedrin and then, Pontius Pilate. He cannot deny Himself.