"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To notice the great love that existed between Paul and Timothy
2) To examine the exhortations to faithful service given by Paul to
Timothy
3) To contrast the people who abandoned Paul, with a faithful friend
like Onesiphorus
SUMMARY
The apostle Paul begins this letter to his "beloved son" with a prayer
for grace, mercy and peace in his behalf. Thankful to God for the
unceasing memories that he has of Timothy in his prayers night and day,
Paul greatly desires to see the young man. Seeing him again will bring
great joy as Paul is mindful of Timothy's tears and his unfeigned faith
(1-5).
Paul's purpose in writing begins in earnest with a series of
exhortations toward steadfast service. He encourages Timothy to stir
up the gift of God which was in him by the laying on of Paul's hands,
to not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord nor of Paul His
prisoner, and to hold fast the pattern of sound words which he had
heard from Paul, keeping it by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Timothy is
then reminded of those who had forsaken Paul, but also how Onesiphorus
had proven to be a true friend and brother by virtue of his courage,
diligence, and service (6-18).
OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION (1-5)
A. SALUTATION (1-2a)
1. From Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1)
a. By the will of God
b. According to the promise of life in Christ Jesus
2. To Timothy, his beloved son (2a)
3. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus
our Lord (2b)
B. THANKSGIVING (3-5)
1. Thanks offered to God by Paul (3)
a. Whom he serves with pure conscience, as did his forefathers
b. For without ceasing he remembers Timothy in his prayers
night and day
2. Greatly desiring to see Timothy (4-5)
a. For he is mindful of Timothy's tears
b. For Paul himself desires to be filled with joy
c. For he remembers the genuine faith that is in Timothy
1) Which dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and his mother
Eunice
2) And which Paul is persuaded is in Timothy also
II. EXHORTATION TO ZEAL AND COURAGE (6-12)
A. STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD (6-7)
1. Which was in him through the laying on of Paul's hands (6)
2. For God has given a spirit, not of fear, but of power, love,
and a sound mind (7)
B. DON'T BE ASHAMED (8-12)
1. Of the testimony of our Lord, nor of Paul His prisoner (8a)
2. Share with Paul in the suffering of the gospel according to
the power of God (8b-12)
a. Who saved us and called us with a holy calling (9-10)
1) Not according to our works
2) But according to His own purpose and grace
a) Given to us in Christ before time began
b) But has now been revealed by the appearing of our
Savior Jesus Christ
1/ Who abolished death
2/ And brought light and immortality to light through
the gospel
b. For the gospel Paul was appointed a preacher, apostle and
teacher (11-12)
1) For such things he suffers
2) But he not ashamed
a) For he knows Whom he has believed
b) And is persuaded that He is able to keep what Paul
has committed to Him until that Day
III. EXHORTATION TO STEADFASTNESS AND LOYALTY (13-18)
A. BE STEADFAST (13-14)
1. Hold fast the pattern of sound words (13)
a. Which he had heard from Paul
b. In faith and love which are in Christ Jesus
2. Keep that good thing (14)
a. Which was committed to you
b. Keep it by the Holy Spirit who dwells is us
B. BE LOYAL (15-18)
1. All in Asia have turned away from Paul, including Phygellus
and Hermogenes (15)
2. In contrast, the example of Onesiphorus (16-18)
a. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus
1) For he often refreshed Paul
2) He was not ashamed of Paul's chains
3) Arriving in Rome, he sought Paul diligently and found
him
4) He also ministered to Paul in many ways at Ephesus
b. May the Lord grant mercy to Onesiphorus in that Day
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Introduction (1-5)
- Exhortations to zeal and courage (6-12)
- Exhortations to steadfastness and loyalty (13-18)
2) How does Paul describe Timothy in his salutation? (2)
- My beloved son
3) How did Paul serve God? (3)
- With a pure conscience, as did his forefathers
4) What two things came to Paul's mind when concerning Timothy? (4-5)
- His tears
- The genuine faith that was in him
5) What two women had this genuine faith before Timothy? (5)
- His grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice
6) What did Paul remind Timothy to stir up? (6)
- The gift of God which was in him through the laying on of Paul's
hands
7) What had God given Paul and Timothy? (7)
- Not the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind
8) What two things did Paul not want Timothy to be ashamed of? (8)
- The testimony of our Lord
- Paul His prisoner
9) How has God saved us and called us with a holy calling? (10)
- Not according to our works but according to His own purpose and
grace
10) What has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ?
(10-11)
- God's purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ before
time began
11) What two things has Jesus done according to verse 10?
- Abolished death
- Brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
12) To what three functions had Paul been appointed relating to the
gospel? (11)
- Preacher, apostle, teacher
13) Though Paul suffered, why was he not ashamed? (12)
- He knew Whom he had believed
- He was persuaded that He is able to keep what he had committed to
Him until that Day
14) What was Timothy to hold fast? (13)
- The pattern of sound words heard from Paul
15) How was he to keep that good thing that was committed to him? (14)
- By the Holy Spirit who dwells in him
16) Who had turned away from Paul? (15)
- All those in Asia
- Including Phygellus and Hermogenes
17) What four good things are said about Onesiphorus? (16-18)
- He often refreshed Paul
- He was not ashamed of Paul's chains
- When he arrived in Rome, he diligently sought until he found Paul
- He ministered to Paul in Ephesus in many ways
18) What two things did Paul desire of the Lord? (16,18)
- Mercy be granted to the household of Onesiphorus
- Mercy be granted to Onesiphorus in that Day
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016
