Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

(13)Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (14)That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

This second letter to Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul.  This is a transcendant, personal letter from a dear mentor saying he has been deserted by his associates; he is in a Roman dungeon for the very truths he is urging Timothy in his ministry to teach; and that he (Paul) is about to die for the gospel.  Paul would not do this if he felt Timothy would bow to fear or timidity but instead encouraged Timothy to recognize his weakness and to trust in God – as did Paul trust in God.

Paul refers to the sincere faith in Timothy – “O man of God”.  Paul writes that the gift of the spirit is from God and we vacillate when the focus is on ourselves and not on the Lord who is sufficient.  In the face of ominous developments – imperial hostility and persecution, there was a need for spiritual power and aggressive energy.  Christians needed to work, endure, suffer and die if need be for the love to Christ and of the souls of men whatever risk of consequences to self.  To be at peace is to be right with God, not the world.  Unsaved people have peace in an absence of conflict; Christians enjoy peace in spite of threats because of the presence of power, the Holy Spirit.  God does not give us a spirit of fear.

Paul now commands Timothy to follow the teachings he heard from Paul.  Paul writes that he (Paul) is the model for imitation as he was an Apostle by God’s will.  Timothy is to keep Paul’s doctrinal beliefs and to pass them on intact.  Paul was open about his past so others might hear and take courage that grace which changed him would/could change them too.  Paul was living proof that God can save any sinner – he was the model/ pattern.

It was imperative to Paul that Timothy hold fast and use the doctrinal words he heard Paul use.  They needed to be accurate and to be a norm for future teachers – vitally connected to the doctrine of verbal and written inspiration which holds that the Bible writers wrote down in God chosen words the truth given by revelation.  Paul commands Timothy to guard the treasure of the gospel – to preserve it pure and entire to be transmitted to those who come after.

We don’t know if Timothy came to Paul before he was executed.  Paul asked for his letters and parchments to be brought to him in prison – and also his warm cloak which he had left behind.  i find this last request to be so utterly human and touching.  Paul was executed in late 67 A.D or 68 A.D.