With this section of the letter, Paul shifts back to a focus on Timothy and his ministry, with some further encouragement. His instructions here are pretty simple. Timothy is to continue to imitate Paul, putting into practice the things he has learned from his mentor, what he has seen played out in Paul’s life, and keep the gospel as his prime priority. Take a look at this week’s passage in 2 Timothy 3:10-11:

Paul begins this section of exhortation with an emphatic declaration, “You, however…” This sets Timothy’s ministry apart from the false teachers that Paul has spent much of this letter addressing. Their false doctrine and the consequences of it differ greatly from that of Timothy. Paul lists a series of descriptors here, about his own life, that Timothy is aware of and that he can learn from. Timothy knows about…

My teaching

This word could be translated as “doctrine” because this is the very thing to which Paul has dedicated his life. His message is the gospel, and Timothy is very aware of that fact. Being first on this list stresses its priority in the mind of Paul.

My way of life

This is the only place in the New Testament that this word is used, but based on the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, and the use of the same phrase in Esther 2:20, we can see that it means “manner of life.” This is the idea of conduct. See 1 Timothy 4:12 for an additional example of how this is used.

My purpose

This phrase literally means “aim” or “resolve.” This is the reason Paul exists, to remain true to the gospel and spread its message to the Gentiles.

Faith

This word means trust or dependence, fully placed in something. In Paul’s case, and Timothy’s, this is the faith that he placed in the work of Christ on the cross, purchasing our salvation. The same word is used in 1 Timothy 4:12, 6:11, and 2 Timothy 2:22. All of these carry the same idea.

Patience

This carries the idea of putting up with people. The idea is longsuffering or forbearance. This is the idea of putting up with people when they are foolish, or not losing patience when they are unteachable. This is the concept of continuing to be gracious to those who refuse to let go of their sin, much like the ministry setting Timothy was in. 1 Timothy 1:16 sheds more light on this idea.

Love

This is the Greek word agape. This type of love does what is best for another person spiritually. Love such as this has many facets, according to 1 Corinthians 13, and Paul uses it frequently in his letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy 1:5, 4:12, 6:11; Titus 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:22).

Endurance

This word could be, and has been, translated as “perseverance.” Where patience meant “putting up with people,” this means “putting up with things.” This is steadfast perseverance, not simply the passive endurance of hard things. This is the head bowed, feet planted, ready to triumphantly persevere through difficulties, salvaging them for something good. Paul refers to these kinds of things in 1 Timothy 6:11 and Titus 2:2.

Persecutions

Timothy knows about these persecutions because some of them happened to Paul when he was near Timothy’s hometown. Others occurred while Timothy was traveling with Paul on his missionary journeys. And every time, Paul persevered.

Sufferings

Some of those persecutions resulted in injury and hurt for Paul. Even though things were difficult, Paul persevered through it nonetheless.

Here, Paul breaks into his own train of thought to give Timothy a few reminders. The first two examples of Paul’s persecutions, those at Antioch (Acts 13:48-52) and Iconium (Acts 14:1-7), Timothy probably didn’t witness, but heard about, either from Paul or someone else. The third location, however, may have been personally witnessed by Timothy (Acts 14:8-20). Lystra was his hometown (Acts 16:1-2).

Throughout all of these trials, and more, the Lord rescued Paul. Timothy may have been deeply impacted by this, especially if he witnessed the stoning of Paul in his own hometown. After he was stoned, Paul was left for dead. However, God kept his life in place, and saved him from death. If Timothy saw that, or even if he only heard of it secondhand, that happening in his own backyard would have been a significant factor in this young man’s developing faith, contributing heavily to his willingness to respond to the gospel, having seen its power displayed so dramatically.

With this list, Paul encourages Timothy with some of the things that Christ has carried Paul through in his own life, some of which Timothy had witnessed firsthand. With such evidence in mind, Timothy would be encouraged to watch and see what God would do in his own life and ministry. We can and should do the same thing. The only way we see much of what God does in and around our lives is by paying attention, just like Paul encourages Timothy to do.

Question: What have you seen God do in your life that greatly encouraged you and others around you? You can leave a comment by clicking here.