This section has 4 verses:
2 Timothy 1:8-11
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of
our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according
to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according
to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and
hath brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an
apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
A GOSPEL WORTH SUFFERING FOR
So, then, do not be ashamed to bear your witness to
our Lord; and do not be ashamed of me his prisoner;
but accept with me the suffering which the gospel
brings, and do so in the power of God, who saved us,
and who called us with a call to consecration, a
call which had nothing to do with our own
achievements, but which was dependent solely on his
purpose, and on the grace which was given to us in
Christ Jesus: and all this was planned before the
world began, but now it stands full-displayed
through the appearance of our Saviour Christ Jesus,
who abolished death and brought life and
incorruption to light by means of the good news
which he brought, good news in the service of which
I have been appointed a herald, and an apostle and a
teacher.
IT is inevitable that loyalty to the gospel will
bring trouble. For Timothy, it meant loyalty to a
man who was regarded as a criminal, because as Paul
was writing he was in prison in Rome. But here Paul
sets out the gospel in all its glory, something
worth suffering for. Sometimes by implication and
sometimes by direct statement, he brings out element
after element in that glory. Few passages in the New
Testament have in them and behind them such a sense
of the sheer grandeur of the gospel.
(1) It is the gospel of power. Any suffering which
it involves is to be borne in the power of God. To
the ancient world, the gospel was the power to live.
That very age in which Paul was writing was the
great age of suicide. The highest-principled of the
ancient thinkers were the Stoics; but they had their
own way out when life became intolerable. They had a
saying: ‘God gave men life, but God gave men the
still greater gift of being able to take their own
lives away.’ The gospel was, and is, power – power
to conquer self, power to take control of
circumstances, power to go on living when life is
unlivable, power to be a Christian when being a
Christian looks impossible.
(2) It is the gospel of salvation. God is the God
who saves us. The gospel is rescue. It is rescue
from sin; it liberates people from the things which
have them in their grip; it enables them to break
with the habits which are unbreakable. The gospel is
a rescuing force which can make bad people good.
(3) It is the gospel of consecration. It is not
simply rescue from the consequences of past sin; it
is a summons to walk the way of holiness.
(4) It is the gospel of grace. It is not something
which we achieve, but something which we accept. God
did not call us because we are holy; he called us to
make us holy. If we had to deserve the love of God,
our situation would be helpless and hopeless. The
gospel is the free gift of God. He does not love us
because we deserve his love; he loves us out of the
sheer generosity of his heart.
(5) It is the gospel of God’s eternal purpose. It
was planned before time began. We must never think
that God was once stern law and that only since the
life and death of Jesus has he been forgiving love.
From the beginning of time, God’s love has been
searching for us, and his grace and forgiveness have
been offered to us. Love is the essence of the
eternal nature of God.
(6) It is the gospel of life and immortality. It is
Paul’s conviction that Christ Jesus brought life and
immortality to light. The ancient world feared
death; or, if it did not fear it, regarded it as
extinction. It was the message of Jesus that death
was the way to life, and that far from separating us
from God it brought us into his nearer presence.
(7) It is the gospel of service. It was this gospel
which made Paul a herald, an apostle and a teacher
of the faith. It did not leave him with the
comfortable feeling that now his own soul was saved
and he did not need to worry any more. It laid on
him the inescapable task of wearing himself out in
the service of God and of other people. This gospel
laid three obligations on Paul.
(a) It made him a herald. The word is ke¯rux, which
has three main lines of meaning, each with something
to suggest about our Christian duty. The ke¯rux was
the herald who brought the announcement from the
king. The ke¯rux was the one who was sent when two
armies were opposed to each other, who brought the
terms of or the request for truce and peace. The
ke¯rux was the person whom an auctioneer or a
merchant employed to advertise the wares and invite
people to come and buy. So, the Christian is to be
the one who brings the message to others; the one
who brings men and women into peace with God; the
one who calls on others to accept the rich offer
which God is making to them.
(b) It made him an apostle, apostolos, literally one
who is sent out. The word can mean an envoy or an
ambassador. The apostolos did not speak for himself,
but for the one who sent him. He did not come in his
own authority, but in the authority of the one who
sent him. Christians are the ambassadors of Christ,
whose task is to speak for him and to represent him
to the world.
(c) It made him a teacher. There is a very real
sense in which the teaching task of Christians and
of the Church is the most important of all.
Certainly, the task of the teacher is very much
harder than the task of the evangelist. The
evangelist’s task is to appeal to people and
confront them with the love of God. In a vivid
moment of emotion, someone may respond to that
summons. But a long road remains. That person must
learn the meaning and discipline of the Christian
life. The foundations have been laid, but the main
structure still has to be built. The flame of
evangelism has to be followed by the steady glow of
Christian teaching. It may well be that people drift
away from the Church after their first decision, for
the simple yet fundamental reason that they have not
been taught about the full meaning of the Christian
faith.
Herald, ambassador, teacher – here is the threefold
function of all Christians who would serve their
Lord and their Church.
Now back to the list of what the gospel is...
(8) It is the gospel of Christ Jesus. It was fully
displayed through his appearance. The word Paul uses
for appearance is one with a great history. It is
epiphaneia, a word which the Jews repeatedly used of
the great saving manifestations of God in the
terrible days of the Maccabaean struggles, when the
enemies of Israel were deliberately seeking to
obliterate God.
In the days of the high priest Onias, a certain
Heliodorus came to plunder the Temple treasury at
Jerusalem. Neither prayers nor pleading would stop
him carrying out this sacrilege. And, so the story
runs, as Heliodorus was about to set hands on the
treasury, ‘the Sovereign of spirits and of all
authority caused so great a manifestation
[epiphaneia] . . . For there appeared to them a
magnificently caparisoned [harnessed] horse with a
rider of fighting mien . . . it rushed furiously at
Heliodorus and struck at him with its front hooves .
. . When he suddenly fell to the ground and deep
darkness came over him’ (2 Maccabees 3:24–7). What
exactly happened, we may never know; but in Israel’s
hour of need there came this tremendous epiphaneia
of God. When Judas Maccabaeus and his little army
were confronted with the might of Nicanor, they
prayed: ‘O Lord, you sent your angel in the time of
King Hezekiah of Judah, and he killed fully 185,000
in the camp of Senacharib [cf. 2 Kings 19:35–6]. So
now, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel
to spread terror and trembling before us. By the
might of your arm may these blasphemers who come
against your holy people be struck down.’ And then
the story goes on: ‘Nicanor and his troops advanced
with trumpets and battle songs, but Judas and his
troops met the enemy in battle with invocations to
God and prayers. So, fighting with their hands and
praying to God in their hearts, they laid low at
least 35,000, and were greatly gladdened by God’s
manifestation [epiphaneia]’ (2 Maccabees 15:22–7).
Once again, we do not know exactly what happened;
but God made a great and saving appearance for his
people. To the Jews, epiphaneia denoted a rescuing
intervention of God.
To the Greeks, this was an equally great word. The
accession of the emperor to his throne was called
his epiphaneia. It was his manifestation. Every
emperor came to the throne with high hopes; his
coming was hailed as the dawn of a new and precious
day, and of great blessings to come.
The gospel was fully displayed with the epiphaneia
of Jesus; the very word shows that he was God’s
great, rescuing intervention and manifestation into
the world.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the other commentaries.
We will begin with a general commentary. This will
be the Matthew Henry main which is giving commentary
on verses 6-14. I will cover the commentary on
verses 11 and 12.
Consider the example of Paul, 2 Timothy
11-12. He was appointed to preach the gospel, and
particularly appointed to teach the Gentiles. He
thought it a cause worth suffering for, and why
should not Timothy think so too? No man needs to be
afraid nor ashamed to suffer for the cause of the
gospel: I am not ashamed, says Paul, for I know whom
I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to
keep that which I have committed unto him against
that day. Observe,
[1.] Good men often suffer many things for the best
cause in the world: For which cause I suffer these
things; that is, “for my preaching, and adhering to
the gospel.”
[2.] They need not be ashamed, the cause will bear
them out; but those who oppose it shall be clothed
with shame.
[3.] Those who trust in Christ know whom they have
trusted. The apostle speaks with a holy triumph and
exultation, as much as to say, “I stand on firm
ground. I know I have lodged the great trust in the
hands of the best trustee.” And am persuaded, etc.
What must we commit to Christ? The salvation of our
souls, and their preservation to the heavenly
kingdom; and what we so commit to him he will keep.
There is a day coming when our souls will be
enquired after: “Man! Woman! thou hadst a soul
committed to thee, what hast thou done with it? To
whom it was offered, to God or Satan? How was it
employed, in the service of sin or in the service of
Christ?” There is a day coming, and it will be a
very solemn and awful day, when we must give an
account of our stewardship (Luke 16:2), give an
account of our souls: now, if by an active obedient
faith we commit it to Jesus Christ, we may be sure
he is able to keep it, and it shall be forthcoming
to our comfort in that day.
~Matthew Henry Main
Quoted verse:
Luke 16:2
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that
I hear this of thee? give an account of thy
stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
Now to the specific commentaries. Some handle this
as one statement. Others break it down by duty
position: Preacher, Apostle and Teacher.
Whereunto I am appointed a
preacher - That is, I am appointed to make
these truths known; see the notes at Ephesians
3:7-8. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 3:7-8
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the
gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints,
is this grace given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Notice the commentary on verse 7:
Verse 7:
Whereof I was made a minister.
According to the gift
of the grace of God - It was not by
my own seeking or merit; it was a free gift.
Of the grace of God
- The sentiment is, that throughout it was a
mere matter of grace that he was called into
the ministry, and that so important an
office was entrusted to him as that of
bearing the gospel to the Gentiles.
By the effectual
working of his power - Not by any
native inclination which I had to the
gospel, and not by any power which I have
put forth. It is by “the energy of his
power." Locke understands this of the energy
or power which God put forth in converting
the Gentiles under his ministry. But it
seems to me that it refers rather to the
power which God put forth in the conversion
of Paul himself, and putting him into the
ministry. This is clear from the following
verse. The meaning is, that such was his
opposition to the gospel by nature, that
nothing but the “energy of God” could
overcome it, and that his conversion was to
be traced to that alone.
~Barnes Notes
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Now back to 2 Timothy 1:11
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher - ke¯rux, a
herald. See the notes on Matthew 3:17.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 3:17
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Notice the commentary on Matthew 3:17
In whom I am well
pleased - In whom I have delighted -
though it is supposed that the past tense is
here used for the present: but see the note
on Matthew17:5. By this voice, and
overshadowing of the Spirit, the mission of
the Lord Jesus was publicly and solemnly
accredited; God intimating that he had
before delighted in him: the law, in all its
ordinances, having pointed him out, for they
could not be pleasing to God, but as they
were fulfilled in, and showed forth, the Son
of man, till, he came.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of
the cloud, which said, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
As the office of a herald is frequently
alluded to in this chapter, and also in
various other parts of the New Testament, I
think it best to give a full account of it
here, especially as the office of the
ministers of the Gospel is represented by
it. Such persons can best apply the
different correspondences between their own
and the herald’s office.
At the Olympic and Isthmian games, heralds
were persons of the utmost consequence and
importance. Their office was: -
1. To proclaim from a scaffold, or elevated
place, the combat that was to be entered on.
2. To summon the contenders, to make their
appearance, and to announce their names.
3. To specify the prize for which they were
to contend.
4. To admonish and animate, with appropriate
discourses, the athletae, or combatants.
5. To set before them, and explain, the laws
of the agones, or contenders; that they
might see that even the conqueror could not
receive the crown or prize, unless he had
strove lawfully.
6. After the conflict was ended, to bring
the business before the judges, and,
according to their determination, to
proclaim the victor.
7. To deliver the prize to the conqueror,
and to put the crown on his head, in the
presence of the assembly.
8. They were the persons who convoked all
solemn and religious assemblies, and brought
forth, and often slew, the sacrifices
offered on those occasions.
9. They frequently called the attention of
the people, during the sacrifices, to the
subject of devotion, with hoc age! τουτο
πραττε: mind what you are about, don’t be
idle; think of nothing else. ~Adam
Clarke
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Now back to 2 Timothy 1:11
And an apostle - Sent
immediately from God to man.
A teacher - One whose
business it is to instruct men, and particularly the
Gentiles, to whom he was especially sent; to
proclaim the doctrines of eternal life, the
resurrection and final incorruptibility of the human
body; and, in a word, the salvation both of the body
and soul of man by Christ Jesus.
~Adam Clarke
Now to the John Gill.
Whereunto I am appointed a
preacher - Both from eternity, in the counsel
and purpose of God, Acts 9:15 and in time, by the
church at Antioch, and the prophets in it, according
to the express order of the Holy Ghost [Spirit],
Acts 13:2. And if ever there was a preacher of the
Gospel, Paul was one; he preached purely,
powerfully, publicly, constantly, boldly, and with
all faithfulness and integrity:
Quoted verses:
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a
chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost [Spirit] said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have called them.
And an apostle - that
is, of the Gentiles, as follows, and as he elsewhere
styles himself, Romans 11:13 for it does not run so
smooth and easy to connect this with the word
Gospel. In 2 Timothy 1:1, he is called the apostle
of Jesus Christ, because he was sent by him; and
here the apostle of the Gentiles, because, he was
sent to them; and this by the same appointment, by
which he became a preacher:
Quoted verses:
Romans 11:13
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the
apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
2 Timothy 1:1 [see
lesson]
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
according to the promise of life which is in Christ
Jesus,
And a teacher of the Gentiles
- though all the apostles, by their commission, were
sent to teach all nations, or the Gentiles in the
several parts of the world, as well as Jews; yet the
apostle was eminently a teacher of them; his work
chiefly lay among them; the Gospel of the
uncircumcision, or the ministration of the Gospel to
the uncircumcised Gentiles, was committed to him;
and he was a teacher of them in faith and verity, as
in 1 Timothy 2:7. ~John
Gill
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 2:7 [see
lesson]
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle,
(I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Now the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown:
Whereunto — For the
publication of which Gospel.
I am appointed — Greek,
“I was appointed.”
Preacher — Greek,
“herald.”
Teacher of the Gentiles — [1 Timothy 2:7] He brings
forward his own example in this verse and 2 Timothy
1:12, as a pattern for Timothy, as a public
“preacher,” an “apostle,” or missionary from place
to place, and a “teacher" in private instructing His
flock with patient perseverance. ~Jamieson,
Fausset, Brown |