2 TImothy 1:1-14 Questions 1-3

 I'm reproducing the section on study skills - connecting words here for our reference. This is an excellent aid whenever we do Bible Study.

• Time: after , as, before, then, until, when, while
• Place: where
• Reason: because, for, since
• Result: so, then, therefore, since
• Purpose: in order that, so that
• Contrast: although, but, much more, nevertheless, otherwise, yet.
• Comparison: also, as, as...so, just as...so, likewise, so, also.
• Source: by means of, from, through.

1. List instructions given to Timothy in 1:1-14 and the reasons/resources he gives for obeying the instruction:

1:6 Fan to flame the gift of God	for this reason (1:5-6): your sincere faith, that dwelt in your grandmother..and mother.. There is a family heritage of faith that can be built on.
	through (1:6) the laying on of my hands. Paul had personally prayed for and ordained Timothy to ministry. There are church leaders
	for (1:7) God gave a spirit… of power and love and self-control: God supernaturally gave Timothy the resources he needed for pastoral ministry.
1:8 do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner rather	by (1:8) the power of God. We need Divine help not to be ashamed.
1:8 share in suffering for the gospel	who (1:9-10) saved us and called us to a holy life; who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: The gospel is rich in depth of meaning and truth. God has indeed saved us. Our calling to a holy life also involves suffering.
1:13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.	that (1:14) was entrusted to you: There is a sense of personal responsibility to one who has solemnly asked us to do something for them. Timothy must guard and pass on what he has been given by Paul.
1:14 Guard the good deposit	with 1:14 the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. There is Divine power to accomplish this task.

 2.    a) What is the "gift of God, which is in you"? (1:6)

Interpretations of this vary. Although the study suggests that the 'sincere faith' (v.5), is a gift of God (true, c.f. Eph 2:8-9), most commentators would simply say that this is a pastoral gift given at ordination to Timothy. The  'for' at the start of v.7 could mean that Timothy must fan his gift into flame because God gave a spirit of power, love and self-control (c.f. Ac 1:8), or that Timothy has a gift that he received through Paul, as evidence of which God gave a spirit of power, love and self-control to him. Perhaps the first interpretation is more natural (i.e. the gift should be boldly fanned info flame). This is especially so when we consider the following question:.

       b)  What does it mean to fan the gift into flame (kindle it afresh) 

In particular, it means to express it by practical action in being unashamed and to join Paul in suffering for the gospel. In general terms, it means that we practice the spiritual gifts we have been given. The wider application is that spiritual gifts are developed by usage.

 3. Key points in the gospel in 1:9-10:

1. God has saved us
2. God called us to a holy life
3. God saved us not because of our good deeds, but because of His own purpose and grace. 
4. God showed us this grace in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,  
5. God revealed His grace when Christ appeared
6. Jesus destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

 

Additional questions

a) What has God commissioned Paul to do? (1:1,11)

To be an apostle - which involves the role of being a preacher and teacher. As prophets spoke with Divine authority in the OT, so the apostles spoke with Divine authority in the NT (e.g. 2 Cor 13:10, cf. Eph 2:20). They were qualified by criteria (Ac 1:21-25) authenticated with miracles (2 Cor 12:12).

b) How is this related to what God has commissioned Timothy to do? (1:8, 2:2, 4:1-2)

To share in suffering for the gospel, to entrust what he heard from Paul to faithful men who will be able to teach others, to preach the word, reprove, rebuke and exhort. Basically, Timothy is called to continue Paul's ministry and to be faithful to his teaching, although not  with the same apostolic authority.

Application of 1:6 (" 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.") 

In in 4:14 this 'gift' applies to Timothy .

Eph 4:7-12 the 'gifts' applies more widely: Christ gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers to "equip the saints for work of ministry, building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to unity of the faith and of knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.."

Ac 6:1-6 also applies more widely: to the twelve who were called to preach the word of God and prayer and the seven who would 'serve tables'.

1 Cor 12:4-11 applies to all Christians: "There are varieties of gifts... To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good"

We each must consider what spiritual gift(s) the Lord has given us, and fan those "into flame" as well, because we are not to be slack with what God has entrusted to us.(c.f. The Parable of the Talents, Mt 25:14-30)

Here is a link to the FTP session on spiritual gifts

We asked, with respect to teachers in church, why Jesus says in Mt 23:8-10 "You are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher". We pointed out that the passage is addressed to the Pharisees and is intended to warn them not to exalt themselves over others. So here the context indicates that Jesus is not prohibiting the office or the title of teacher per se.