Suffer or Deny 2 Timothy 2:12

Paul the apostle wrote to Timothy his “dearly beloved son” that he endured “all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory”, and it was because “if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.”. In chapter two and verse twelve of this final letter from Paul, he shares the rewards of suffering with or denying the Lord Jesus where we read:

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

The verse begins, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:” Paul began with the word “if” which is a primary particle of condition that means “whether, that, forasmuch as and although” “we suffer” which literally means “to remain, tarry behind, abide, not recede, bear bravely or endure” and refers to when we “undergo and bear trials”, and he continued with, “we shall also reign with” which in Greek is “symbasileuō kai symbasileuō” and means “to possess supreme honor, liberty, blessedness with one in the kingdom of God”. Paul added “him” which refers to Jesus Christ the Son of the living and only true God.

The verse continues, “if we deny him, he also will deny us:” Paul went on to say, “if” which again is the conditional particle which that means “whether, that, forasmuch as and although” “we deny” or “disregard, abnegate, abjure, not accept, reject and refuse” “him” which again refers to Jesus Christ “he also will” or “likewise, even and in the same manner” “deny” or “disregard, abnegate, abjure, not accept, reject and refuse” “us” which refers to anyone who rejects Him.

When we think through these words of Paul, we may be reminded of his words in verse nine of this same chapter, “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” Paul knew what it meant to “suffer” with Jesus, and perhaps we do as well. We must remember there is hope beyond our suffering. Paul reminds us that the reward of our suffering “with him” is that we shall “reign with him”, and we must be careful not to be among those who “deny him” because there is a reciprocal reward for denial as well. Paul was bound in chains, sitting in a Roman prison and suffering for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the hope of reigning with Jesus helped him to endure. May the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit give us the same willingness and hopeful outlook when we suffer, and may we never be among those who “deny him” simply because we suffer.

Next time Paul tells Timothy about Jesus abiding faithful, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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