May 7, 2023 – 2 Timothy 1:7-14

“Guard the treasure.”

Download discussion questions:  2 Timothy 1:7-14

I encourage you to look at the passage in 2 Timothy before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

One of the observations in our group discussion noted the repeated words or themes in this passage:

• • • Spirit – v.7, 14 (on “spirit” vs. “Spirit” see the previous post.)
    • Power – v.7, 8
    • Love – v.7, 13
    • Suffering – v.8, 12
    • Gospel – v.8, 10
    • Not ashamed – v.8, 12
    • Guard – v. 12, 14

The list can also include related ideas using different words.

• • • Given, Granted, Entrusted – v.7, 9, 14
    • In Christ Jesus – v.9, 13
    • Retain, Guard – v.13, 14

Sometimes noticing repeated words in a passage is a good starting point.  Those repetitions might give a hint about what was on the writer’s mind (inspired by the Holy Spirit) as he was writing.  As always with inductive study observation, some items may be unimportant, others may be the key to the passage.  You don’t know until you have explored them.

A Purpose

Another observation focused on the contrast about our salvation in verse 9, “not according to our works, but according to ….”  We noted that the frequent New Testament contrast with works is faith (e.g., Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; even James 2:14-26).  But Paul departs from that pattern here, “…not according to works but according to His own purpose and grace.” The natural interpretation question that follows that observation is, “Why? Why did Paul focus on God’s purpose in this passage rather than focus on our faith?”

Someone pointed out that this passage is dealing with suffering.  In fact, the comment about God’s purpose immediately follows Paul’s startling invitation to Timothy, “Join with me in suffering” (v.8).  Another person mentioned Paul’s counsel to Timothy in his earlier letter, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (1 Timothy 3:12, emphasis added).  Suffering is inevitable in this fallen world, and particularly for Christians.

One person asked about responding to questions from young believers or non-Christians about the problem of suffering.  Seeing suffering as valuable training is difficult enough for mature followers of Christ.  With no simple answer, perhaps one response for us is to live a life that demonstrates our trust in the good, wise, sovereign God in all our circumstances.  That was Peter’s assumption.  In the context of enduring suffering, he expected others would ask about our hope, and that we should be prepared to respond:

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:14-15).

A group member asked the question, what effect the perspective of purpose has on suffering.  (That question is particularly relevant in our group, which includes one member with severe chronic health problems and another recovering from a serious workplace injury.)  The response was clear – believing in a good, wise, sovereign God’s purpose is the only viewpoint that makes suffering bearable.  Knowing we are on God’s path is hope-giving.  If our suffering was random or arbitrary it would seem (and be) pointless.  If it is for our training, like the agony endured by an athlete, we can trust in God’s wisdom.

C. S. Lewis offers an interesting illustration.

If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad. Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable. So that what seems the ugly doctrine is one that comforts and strengthens you in the end.  The people who try to hold an optimistic view of this world would become pessimists: the people who hold a pretty stern view of it become optimistic.[1]

Long before Lewis, the Apostle Paul had a similar perspective.

A Prisoner

Someone asked why Paul referred to himself as a “prisoner” of the Lord (v. 8).  Why not simply say the hard truth, that he had been arrested and imprisoned by Rome (and was awaiting execution)? It seems that Paul was expressing his view on suffering in the light of God’s purpose.  Whatever part Rome played in his circumstances, the ultimate Author of the story was God.  Seeing himself as a prisoner of God for God’s purpose would give hope.  Seeing himself only as a prisoner of Rome, subject to the arbitrary whim of a magistrate or an emperor could only bring despair.  This passage doesn’t define what that purpose for Paul was, and perhaps he was not sure himself.  But he knew he could trust the God behind that purpose, and being His prisoner was a source of encouragement.

A Treasure

The end of the passage mentions a “treasure” (v.14) which Paul had “entrusted” (v.12) to Timothy.  Another natural question, “What treasure?”  Once again, Paul does not give details or define that he means.  (As mentioned in a previous discussion, this is a personal letter from one close friend to another.  Not everything had to be explained to the degree that readers would like two-thousand-years later.)

Several suggestions came out in our discussion as the possible nature of the treasure.

• • Was the treasure the Holy Spirit? But the text actually says that the Holy Spirit is the agent that would enable Timothy to guard the treasure (“through the Holy Spirit,” v.14a).
  • Was the treasure faith for salvation? Faith is mentioned in verse 13, and grace “granted” in verse 9.  But those seem indirectly related to the treasure.
  • Was the treasure the gospel? The gospel is mentioned in relation both to suffering (v.8) and to life and immortality (v.10).
  • Was the treasure eternal life? Life and immortality are mentioned in verse 10.
  • Was the treasure the spiritual gift imparted to Timothy mentioned in verse 6.

Given multiple options, how do we choose?  Go back to the text.  Is there anything in the text – the language, the wording, the grammar, the structure – that would indicate which, if any, of these thoughts is more likely what Paul had in mind

After continuing to read and discuss, an interesting pattern emerged. Sometimes it is useful to try to rearrange the text in a rough outline form.  That can help illuminate what the writer was thinking and the flow of his thoughts.  Consider this possible structure of the segment:

¹³ Retain
.          the standard of sound words
.                    which you have heard from me,

in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us,
.          the treasure
.                    which has been entrusted to you.

Paul was repeating the same instruction in two different ways for emphasis:

Retain-//-Guard
the standard of sound words-//-the treasure
which you have heard from me-//-which has been entrusted to you

That very reasonable interpretation (based on the parallel expressions) would indicate that the “treasure” is the “standard of sound words.”  Paul is exhorting Timothy to maintain the doctrine that accurately, truthfully, and precisely explains the salvation God offers, that is, the gospel.  The next passage to be studied (2 Timothy 1_13-2_2) will shed further light on Paul’s concern that the gospel needed to be guarded.

A Future

The treasure of the gospel and the reality of suffering brought our discussion to considering heaven.  While heaven or paradise are not mentioned explicitly in this passage, one member of our group reminded us that this was Paul’s last letter.  He was facing imminent execution.  Even without specifically mentioning heaven, Paul hints that it is on his mind.  He briefly provides a sweeping overview of God’s purpose encompassed by the gospel.

…His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
¹⁰ but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,
who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:9b-10, emphasis added)

God’s plan from eternity past, unveiled in the present, has everlasting consequences.  No wonder the gospel is a treasure.  No wonder safeguarding it is essential.  No wonder its light blazes brilliantly to put every shadow of suffering into perspective.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17)

May we retain and guard the sound words of the gospel which have been entrusted to us through God’s Word.  May we live in the hope that the gospel provides in all our circumstances.

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[1] C. S. Lewis, “Answers to Questions About Christianity” in God in the Dock (Grand Rapids, Michigan:  William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970), 52.