2 Timothy 01:03-07 Faith of Our Fathers

Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-7

2 Timothy 1:3

Paul emphasized serving God with a pure conscience, just as his forefathers did.

In Acts 23:1, he admitted to serving God with a pure conscience until that day. Even when he was persecuting Christians he did it with a good conscience.

When he later learned what the Lord wanted him to do, he turned his life around (Acts 7-9).

He then began to worship the one true God that existed in the beginning, as God required of Him (Acts 24:14-16).

2 Timothy 1:4

Paul had a great relationship with Timothy (see verse 2), and longed to see him again. No doubt Timothy was weeping, longing to see Paul.

2 Timothy 1:5

Paul recalls the faith that Timothy’s mother and grandmother had.

They passed it on to Timothy, and Paul is convinced that his faith is genuine also.

Paul already reminded him that the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5); thus, he encouraged Timothy to instruct others in it as he followed it himself (1 Timothy 4:6-7).

2 Timothy 1:6

Paul encouraged him to use the gift he has received to glorify God and edify others.

In his earlier letter, he said, “do not neglect the gift that is in you (1 Timothy 4:14)…” If one doesn’t use what God has given him, he’ll lose it (Matthew 25:14ff.)!

2 Timothy 1:7

Perhaps the most popular reason that a person does not use his gift is because of fear.

Paul reminds Timothy that God does not give us a spirit of fear, but rather of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Paul also reminds the Romans that they did not receive the spirit of fear, but of adoption (Romans 8:15).

If we love God, love the truth, love His Son, and others, we will become His son by obedience to the gospel (Galatians 3:26-27), thus clearing our conscience and allowing our faith to work.

When we become a Christian, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit even as those on Pentecost did (Acts 2:38). Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit would come upon them with power, and He did on that day (Acts 1:8; 2:1ff.).