Remember thatJesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, (9)for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. (10) Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (11) This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. (12) If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. (13) If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

The second letter to Timothy was written by the apostle Paul. Paul was in chains in the Mamertine prison which was above the Roman forum. This letter was the final word from Paul who was soon to be executed for preaching the gospel. Paul wrote to strengthen Timothy’s resolve to remain faithful in the face of suffering which was surely coming to Christians. Paul longed to see Timothy one more time and urged him to bring his books and parchments – and his cloak; Paul was cold in the prison, which touches me deeply. Paul calls Jesus the seed of David which reminds him that the Lord sprang from mortal flesh and blood to raise the fainting heart of Timothy in the hour of discouragement. This was a truth to be maintained and taught in the presence of false teachers who were ever ready to explain away or even to deny the Incarnation and the Resurrection. At the heart of false teaching they asserted Christ was divine but not of true human nature. This destroys the message that Jesus has taken away our sins and reconciled us to God. Paul is firmly stating that Jesus is fully man.

Though Paul was in chains, expecting death, he could still pray and speak – chains in no way weaken the power of the gospel. Paul continues: Can a believer in Christ shrink from suffering when he/she knows the glorious consequences of present suffering? If we endure for His sake – if we do this in this life, we shall, in life to come, live with Him. If we deny Him He will deny us – a grave warning to the faithless and unbelieving who will have no share in the glories of life to come.

Paul closes this letter showing himself to be an example to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”