In the first seven verses of 2 Timothy 2, Paul invites Timothy—and all shepherds under Christ—to take up the burden of public ministry. To strengthen Timothy in this calling, Paul points Timothy to others: to Jesus, to himself, and to all believers. Our hardships are not unique to us. They are common to Christ and all his people.
8 Μνημόνευε Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐγηγερμένον ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυίδ, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου· 9 ἐν ᾧ κακοπαθῶ μέχρι δεσμῶν ὡς κακοῦργος. ἀλλὰ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται· 10 διὰ τοῦτο πάντα ὑπομένω διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ σωτηρίας τύχωσιν τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ μετὰ δόξης αἰωνίου.
Translation: Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship to the point of being in chains like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. On account of this I endure all things for the sake of the elect, in order that they may attain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Paul points Timothy first to his Savior. He says, “Remember Jesus Christ.” This is the only place in the pastoral epistles where Paul’s usual order is reversed: Jesus Christ, instead of Christ Jesus. In this way he draws attention to the Savior’s humanity—to his sufferings and death for us. Timothy should remind himself of that suffering and frame it with this glorious truth: Jesus was raised back to life by his Father and is alive forever.
Nothing makes Christ’s servants stronger as they bear their cross for his sake than the resurrection of their Savior. God promises that those who share in his sufferings will also share in his glory. The heavenly Father will raise them to life too.
Second, Paul shares his own story. Paul was suffering bad things, even imprisonment as if he were a criminal. Like his Savior, Paul was numbered among the transgressors. Yet Paul had reason to rejoice and sing in that dungeon, for the word of God was on the loose, running freely.
Christ’s servants are fortified in their suffering as they see God’s kingdom coming to others. The gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’s church. God has his elect. The gospel will reach them and make them recipients of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and that comes with eternal glory.
A risen Savior in heaven and a rejoicing apostle in prison—the remembrance of them would support and strengthen Timothy in his suffering.
And so would a sure saying of the saints.
11 πιστὸς ὁ λόγος· εἰ γὰρ συναπεθάνομεν, καὶ συζήσομεν· 12 εἰ ὑπομένομεν, καὶ συμβασιλεύσομεν· εἰ ἀρνησόμεθα, κἀκεῖνος ἀρνήσεται ἡμᾶς· 13 εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν, ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς μένει· ἀρνήσασθαι ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται.
Translation: The saying is trustworthy: “If we died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also rule with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful; for he is not able to deny himself.”
Paul shares this trustworthy saying from prison in Rome. Its first line echoes Romans 6, and it unfolds in four conditional sentences. It appears that believers knew and confessed these words. The words would be meaningful in any gathering of believers, including the occasion of holy baptism. Paul quotes them to encourage Timothy in his sufferings.
The first two statements are positive; the third is a word of warning. The fourth expresses great comfort, along with a confirming statement.
“If we died with him” is not a reference to martyrdom but to baptism. Those who have been baptized into Christ, have been baptized into his death. They will surely live forever, even as he lives.
While they are in this world, they must go through many tribulations. If they endure, they will rule with Christ forever, just as he promised.
The devil pressures God’s people to deny their Savior in order to save their lives from suffering. But on the Last Day, Jesus will deny those who denied him.
What about those who don’t deny him but who falter in their faith? What about those for whom the struggle is a struggle? The Lord will not extinguish a smoldering wick. Even though his people are faithless at times, Jesus remains faithful. He can do no other. He is the compassionate, gracious, and merciful Lord who never changes. He always keeps his promises.
In our life of faith and in our ministries, we have ups and downs. We are anything but steady. It can be said of us that we are faithful, and it can be said of us that we are faithless. But our lives are hidden with God in Christ Jesus, our Savior. His grace is greater than our sin. His faithfulness overcomes our faithlessness.
In the Lord Jesus Christ and in the fellowship of his singing saints we find the strength to keep on keeping on.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for baptizing us into the death and resurrection of Jesus, our Savior. Especially during times of trial and suffering, keep us from looking inward. Lift our eyes to see our Savior at your right hand and enable us to speak with certainty this trustworthy saying of the saints; through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.