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July 18, 2022
If you knew you were writing your final words to a loved one, what would you include? Memories? Lessons? Things you never said in person? As the apostle Paul faced the end of his life, he wrote his last words to his dear friend and protégé Timothy. Alistair Begg examines the letter’s opening exhortations, making clear the relevance of its contents for Christians today. Nearing the finish line of his spiritual race, Paul’s focus remained steadfastly on the Gospel—a reminder that God’s grace remains necessary for all of us.
1Paul, aan apostle of Christ Jesus bby the will of God according to cthe promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, dmy beloved child:
eGrace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3fI thank God gwhom I serve, as did my ancestors, hwith a clear conscience, as I remember you iconstantly in my prayers night and day. 4jAs I remember your tears, kI long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of lyour sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and myour mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this reason I remind you nto fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us oa spirit not of fear but pof power and love and self-control.
8Therefore qdo not be ashamed of rthe testimony about our Lord, nor of sme his prisoner, but tshare in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9uwho saved us and vcalled us to1 a holy calling, wnot because of our works but because of vhis own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus xbefore the ages began,2 10and which now has ybeen manifested through zthe appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, awho abolished death and bbrought life and cimmortality to light through the gospel, 11dfor which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12ewhich is why I suffer as I do. But fI am not ashamed, for gI know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until hthat day iwhat has been entrusted to me.3 13jFollow kthe pattern of lthe sound4 words mthat you have heard from me, in nthe faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit owho dwells within us, guard ithe good deposit entrusted to you.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
