Paul the
apostle told Timothy he was “appointed a preacher, and an
apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” that they might know
the “purpose and grace” of God to make “manifest by
the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death,
and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”.
Because of this Paul wrote that Timothy should not be “ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be a
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of
God;”. In chapter one and
verse twelve of this second and final letter to Timothy, Paul wrote
concerning his “suffering”, not being “ashamed”, and his
personal “persuasion”. We read:
For the
which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: 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.
The verse begins, “For
the which cause I also suffer these things:” Paul
began this verse with the word “For”
which means “since, because or on account of” “the
which cause”
or “that reason for which one is worthy
of punishment, charge of crime and accusation” “I
also suffer” which is the Greek phrase
“paschō kai paschō” and
means “to be affected or have been affected, to feel, have a
sensible experience, to undergo and suffer a bad plight” “these
things”
which is a reference to previously stated difficulties and troubles.
Paul was in prison and knew a death threat was over his head, and it
was because he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ that he underwent
“these things”.
The verse goes on
to say, “nevertheless I am
not ashamed:” Even
though Paul suffered as he did for the sake of the gospel, he
declared, “nevertheless”
or “but, notwithstanding, nay, rather, moreover and an exception or
restriction” “I am not
ashamed” which
is the Greek phrase “epaischynomai
ou
epaischynomai” and
means was “not with shame, embarrassment or troubled emotional
state”. Paul endured great suffering and hardship, but it did
little to move him from his steadfastness with the Lord Jesus and His
gospel.
The
verse continues, “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.” Paul gave the reason he was not
“ashamed”, “for I know” or “perceive with the
eyes and senses, notice, discern and discover” “whom I have
believed” which refers to “the one in whom he thinks to be
true, places credit in, entrusts and puts confidence within” “and
am persuaded” which means “am induced with by words to
believe, have faith in, and trust” “that he is able” or
“capable, mighty, powerful and strong enough” “to keep”
or “guard, watch, protect, care for and observe” “that which I”
or “me, myself and I” “have committed unto him” which
is “a deposit, trust or thing consigned to one's faithful keeping
like a bank deposit” “against that day” or “towards,
unto, to and into the day” when Paul's final confrontation with
persecution would occur.
As
we ponder these words of Paul, let us observe that it was not “what”
Paul believed, but “whom” he believed. Paul committed,
entrusted and deposited his future and fate to the person of Jesus
Christ and not in a “belief system, religion or doctrinal
position”. For this reason Paul was “not ashamed” of the
gospel of Jesus Christ and had full confidence that what he was
sharing was the truth of God. Though Paul suffered because of his
dissemination of the gospel, he was not impeded by the threats and
enactments of those who were against him. Do we have this sort of
resolve, and are we depositing our confidence and trust within Jesus
Christ? Do we really believe that “he is able to keep that
which” we “have committed unto Him against that day?”
Let us examine ourselves and ask the Lord to reveal any areas
where we are amiss, and may we commit unto Him all “things”
we encounter in our lives.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy to “hold fast sound words”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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