2 Timothy 1:1-7 The Challenge of Christian Leadership

2 Timothy 1:1-7 The Challenge of Christian Leadership

SETTING:

As you may recall, Paul endured two periods of imprisonment.…

The Book of Acts closes with Paul under house arrest in Rome. Although he was linked to a guard at all times, he lived in his own quarters and was able to have visitors. After his release from house arrest, Paul embarked on yet another missionary journey, probably into Spain. Upon his return to Rome, he was arrested a second time. This time, however, Paul was put in a dark, damp dungeon. Why? The reason most probably lies with the then-emperor of Rome—Caesar Nero.…

According to historical evidence, such a megalomaniac was Caesar Nero that he desired to burn Rome in order to rebuild it and become known as the supreme architect of a rebuilt Rome. Thus, the majority of historians believe that Caesar Nero was the one who set the fire that did, indeed, burn the city in A.D. 64. Needing a scapegoat for the fire, Nero chose to blame Christians. “These Christians are always talking about being the light of the world,” he said, “but really they’re nothing but a bunch of arsonists and cannibals”—referring to Communion. Eventually, Caesar Nero would ride through his palace grounds, shrieking with glee, as he watched Christians lit as human torches.

Why did Nero descend to such depths of insanity? Historical evidence points to the fact that Nero went insane after he had a discussion with Paul the apostle. Church history indicates that Paul was indeed brought into a discussion with Nero before he was beheaded. Thus, it was at the point that Nero rejected the gospel that he seemingly lost his mind. Awaiting trial before Caesar Nero, Paul picks up his pen for the last time.…1 Paul was encouraging his associate to keep the fire burning brightly so that it might generate spiritual power in his life. Paul gave Timothy four encouragements.2

FOUR CHALLENGES OF EVERY CHRISTIAN LEADER

1. Growing loving relationships (2 Timothy 1:1-2)

Paul reminds Timothy of Paul’s own position in leadership. At the same time, he calls Timothy not just the leader of the church, but also a son.

(1 Timothy 1:2, HCSB)

Paul’s relationship with Timothy deepens as they continue together in ministry. That is what is going to happen when you develop leaders. The first challenge of Christian leadership is not just to develop the principles but to develop the relationship.

As noted in 1 Timothy, it seems Paul led Timothy to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ during his first missionary journey. On his second journey, Paul again encountered Timothy, and this time invited Timothy to travel with him.

But what if the younger Christians mess up? Sometimes they will, but, as Solomon said, “Although an empty stable stays clean, an empty stable brings no profits” (Proverbs 14:4). We need to make way for those who are younger because along with the potential for an occasional mess in the stable, there is about them a vitality and an ability to relate sometimes lacking in those of us who are older. Paul took a chance on Timothy—and Timothy profited Paul greatly.3

Paul ends his greeting with his traditional phrase “Grace and peace.” But in this case, he adds mercy. He uses the Greek word for grace – charis. He uses the Hebrew word for peace – shalom. He adds the word for mercy – eleos. This word is used by prison officials to show compassion to their prisoners. Ironic as that may sound, Paul is reminding Timothy of where Paul is when he writes this letter as well as the importance of showing mercy to other people. I suspect that since Paul added this greeting near the end of his life, Paul has learned another quality of God which he needs to emulate – compassion. So Paul is teaching Timothy one new quality to emulate: mercy and compassion.

As you grow in relationships with other people, you are going to learn more Godly qualities which you should reveal to others. Paul is showing Timothy in this fashion how much his relationship with Timothy has deepened by greeting him with grace, peace, and compassion. This verse also reveals three different ways in which we can deepen our love in our relationships with others:

THREE LOVE-DEEPENING SKILLS TO DEVELOP

1. Grace

To give grace is to pass on goodwill to another person. I look out for the best of someone else.

2. Mercy or Compassion

To show mercy and compassion is to be lenient and helpful to someone else. The opposite is to be punitive or hurtful.

3. Peace

When I deepen my love through peace, it means that I try to build more harmony. I fight less and cooperate more.

When I develop these three qualities in my relationships with other people I am growing more loving relationships. “Grace” is God’s enabling power, “mercy” his compassion, and “peace” his stability and tranquility. God as our spiritual Father and Christ Jesus as our Lord are the source of these necessary provisions for our daily Christian life.4

2. Having a consistent prayer life (2 Timothy 1:3-4)

Paul had develop a deeper prayer life. The second challenge of every Christian leader is prayer. While in prison, Paul was able to increase his prayer life. He had little else to do than pray. Paul starts to pray by thanking God. He does so with a clear conscience. Paul heard about the true God from his forefathers; and now he was serving that God with a pure conscience. The fact that he had a pure conscience helped give power to his prayers.5

You can sense the emotions in his prayer life. It may be due to the fact that he is about die. It may also be the fact that he has deepened his relationships with other people, including Timothy. Paul is wanting to develop his relationship with Timothy even more. We know this because the answer to Paul’s prayer – seeing Timothy again – will give Paul joy. When you look forward to that kind of joy, you are going to be praying more. When you deepen your relationships, you are going to pray for them with more intensity, passion, persistence, regularity and focus.

Paul had longed for Timothy’s companionship which was such a joy to him. Even the great apostle at times became lonely, discouraged, and in need of support from fellow Christians.6

It is essential that leaders pray for their people. At times, one will pray in general for groups of people. At other times, a leader for pray for specific people.

3. Developing confidence in others (2 Timothy 1:5)

The third challenge to Christian leadership is confidence in others. Paul recalled his confidence in Timothy in these verses. Paul was confident in Timothy’s leadership ability because of his faith. Timothy had a history of faith which Paul watched. He saw Timothy’s mother and grandmother become Christians. Timothy’s father was Greek.

“Then he went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:1, HCSB)

Timothy had a strong religious history. He learned about Jesus and the under Paul’s mentoring, Timothy became a Christian.

“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2, HCSB)

So Paul is watching Timothy and his spiritual growth. He has taken time to see how Timothy will turn out. Based on this experience, Paul is convinced in Timothy’s sincere faith.

4. Continuing spiritual enthusiasm (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

The central theme of 2 Timothy is Paul’s charge to Timothy to carry on with his ministry. This charge is the central theme of 2 Timothy because Timothy was somehow failing to fulfill his ministry calling. The nature of his failure or weakness may be evident from 2 Timothy 1:7, where Paul says, “God has not given us a spirit of cowardice.” The inference is that Timothy was held back in ministry effectiveness because of a timid spirit. Perhaps he had not opposed the false teachers as boldly as Paul had expected after his first letter (see 1 Timothy 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:11–16). This rhetorical thesis statement leads directly into the first argument or proof in the letter, in which Paul continues to exhort Timothy toward more effective ministry (2 Timothy 1:8–14).7

There is a reference to Timothy’s ordination in 1 Timothy 4:14, where Paul also speaks of it as having imparted a ‘special gift’ (the same word as here: Gk. charisma) to him. Here the gift is compared to a fire (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:19: ‘Do not extinguish the Spirit’), the suggestion of rekindle being not so much that it has gone out as that the embers need constant stirring (the verb is in the present infinitive).8 Gifts are not given fully developed; they need to be strengthened and matured through use.9

When you go camping, you usually build a fire. After a time of putting wood on the fire, the flames will turn to embers. Unless those flames are completely drowned out by water, you can always rekindle the flames and use the fire again. It is this picture that Paul uses when he states to “rekindle the gift.” The embers of the Holy Spirit need to be constantly stirred up in our lives. For the fire of the Spirit to brighten our ministry, we need to keep the coals stirred up.

After the events of the last letter, Timothy might have felt fearful to lead in his present ministry setting. Timothy might have said: “I am not going to stir anything up. Dealing with those false prophets last time really hurt me and wore me out.” Paul was encouraging Timothy to get back up, and stir up the Holy Spirit’s gifts within him. It is like riding a horse. You may have fallen off the horse on the last trail ride. Once you learn, you can always get back on another horse for the next one.

The word fear is better translated “cowardice.” I think that many of us have misinterpreted this—I know I have in the past. I remember that when I first began to travel by air, I didn’t want to, but I was forced to use that mode of travel to meet my engagements. I certainly didn’t enjoy it. At first, this disturbed me a great deal. I would make a flight, and then I would rebuke myself because of my fear. I tried to fight my fear.

Well, fear is a natural thing, and it is a good thing. For example, I am afraid of a lion. If there were one loose in the street, I would find a good place to hide. It is normal and good to have a sense of fear. But many of us, for some reason, have a fear of height, which makes us fear flying. I prayed about it and wondered why God didn’t remove that from me, because I read in this verse that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear.”

However, Paul is speaking not of a good kind of fear, but of cowardice. Paul is saying, “God hath not given us the spirit of cowardice; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”10

HOW TO REKINDLE THE EMBERS OF SPIRITUAL ENTHUSIAM

1. Overcome cowardice – “fear”

2. Rely on God’s power – “power”

3. Deepen yourself in God’s love – “love”

4. Continue in spiritual discipline – “sound mind”