2 Timothy 1:1-12 - Series on the Epistles of Paul (123)

Good evening, brethren. After Paul left prison, that is his first imprisonment, around about the year 60 to 62 AD, that's about 30-31 years after Christ's death, Paul most likely began what may be called by some his fourth missionary troop. During this time, he commissioned Timothy to Ephesus, and he commissioned Titus to Crete. Then he moved through northern Greece, we call today Macedonia, maybe, and where he wrote first Timothy and also Titus. What happened around about that time, in fact, in 64 AD, the great fire of Rome occurred, and Nero, it is stated by some historians, historians, burned the actual city, Rome, because apparently he was a great builder, and he wanted to build a better and greater Rome. So he set the city on fire.

A number of people suspected it was him, and historians, as I mentioned, regarded it as a fact. However, in order to divert suspicion from himself, he accused Christians of burning Rome.

So Nero's persecution of Christians is, therefore, a direct background of this Epistle, 2 Timothy. It was during this persecution that ended up bringing Paul to his second martyrdom, his second imprisonment and final martyrdom in Rome. Basically, Nero felt somebody had to be blamed, and there was a new group of people, what they would call a new sect, mostly from people that were from more humble walks of life, people that were not famous, people that were not influential or prestigious.

Many of them were slaves. What an ideal group to accuse them and order their punishment for burning Rome. And so, in and around Rome, in that area, multitudes of Christians were arrested, and they were put to death in the most cruelest ways possible. Some may have been tied in skins of animals and brought into the arena for dogs to go with them, purely for people's entertainment. Or maybe they were thrown in to wild beasts, also into those arenas, or colosseum, or whatever they were. They also say that some were tied to stakes in Nero's gardens, and then peach was poured on their bodies, and they were set alight as human tortures. And that was for the purpose, to light up Nero's gardens at night, while he drove around in his chariot, gloating over the agonies of his victims. That was so evil, as you can imagine. It's just terrible. But it was in the wake of this persecution that Paul was arrested the second time, and brought back to Rome. This time, however, he was brought in as a criminal, by the agents or representatives of the Roman government. He was not brought in as some falsely accused him of violating the Jewish law around the temple. So, in this case, during Second Timothy, Paul's trial had proceeded far enough that Paul knew there was no hope of escape. And while he was waiting for his time of, quote-unquote, departure, and it was his time of death, he wrote the second letter to Timothy, around about the year 66 or 67 AD.

And this was written maybe a year or so before his death, around about 67-68 AD. And to put it into context, the temple was destroyed two years later in 17 AD.

There are a few themes and phrases that recur throughout the pastoral epistles. That is First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus. One is that God the Father is described as the Savior. That is interesting because Christ is also the Savior, so it just shows both had a role in the plan of salvation. God planned it, orchestrated it, He sent His Son to die for us, and both are our Savior's, because God instructed, commanded Christ to do what He did, and Christ did. Christ did as instructed by the Father, so both together worked as our Savior's. Secondly, another great theme enduring the these pastoral epistles is the theme of sound doctrine, sticking to the faith and to the teaching, not deviating. Also, a theme of godliness, being like God. There's also a theme of ongoing controversies, and you see that time and time again in Timothy, where he says don't get involved in arguments about words and genealogies and disputes about things like that that don't be fruit. And lastly, there is a number of what Paul calls it trustworthy sayings.

So those are some common themes that we see or common phrases that reoccur in the pastoral epistles, and therefore, 2 Timothy is one of the lost books that Paul wrote, probably either the lost or second lost, as we believe that he also wrote the book of Hebrews. So it was round about the same time, and therefore he realizes he has a short time left. So Paul, through this letter, tries to help Timothy and those that are to follow him, in other words, God's ministers, to be good ministers.

Paul, at this time, was an aged apostle. He was in a dungeon, and there was probably quite a dark-looking place, maybe cold and damp and wet and human and musty, and maybe even moldy and probably smelling badly, with little light, dripping water. Or, as we could call it, in a true environment of decay and confinement.

And so he knew there was no hope of escape, but he knew his death was around the corner.

He knew that his apostolic work and labor was over. He had finished the race. And now he, Paul, had to make provision for the faith after he's gone, for that faith, for the truth, to be transmitted, uncontaminated, to future generations. So he sends to Timothy this solemn charge, in other words, this epistle, 2 Timothy.

And Timothy is charged to preserve what he has received at whatever cost, and to hand it to faithful men, who will teach others also, as we see in 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 2, where it says, and the things that you have heard from me, among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. And so he is concerned about the continuation of this truth, of this gospel.

And so let's continue reading now, or start reading, from verse 1 of 2 Timothy chapter 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.

And so, again, he emphasizes that he was personally chosen by God the Father to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. And so he is a chosen agent or representative or messenger of Jesus Christ by or according to the will of God. So the Father chose him according to the purpose of life, which is in Christ Jesus. So he carried authority. He carried a certain degree of authority. If we look in John 13, John 13 verse 20, John 13 verse 20, we read, Most assuredly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives me, and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.

So he had this degree of authority that he was sent by Jesus Christ according to the Father's will. A little later in chapter 15, John 15 verse 15 through 16, he says, No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what is must he's doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I've made known to you. So yeah, he's Christ saying he's got that authority. And therefore, Paul is a servant of Christ. He had that authority. And he says, You do not choose me, Christ said, but I chose you. So you're a chosen agent of Jesus Christ, Paul, by the will according to God's will.

And I appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. And that's how the ministers of Jesus Christ are called, and they are chosen. And that your fruit should remain that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. And then in verse 20, Christ says as well, Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, Christ, they will also persecute you in words of God's ministers.

If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. And so it's a very high calling, a very high responsibility, which carries the very authority of Jesus Christ. And false teachers lasted for this authority and leadership. Look at 2 Corinthians 11. 2 Corinthians 11 verse 4. 2 Corinthians 11 verse 4. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it.

So yeah, Paul is telling Corinthians, be careful, don't accept it. Don't put up with it. And then in verse 13 says, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. In other words, they want their last to be to have their authority, but as it says, they are false apostles, deceived through workers. And no wonder for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. So therefore, it is no great thing if Satan's ministers also appear or transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their workers.

And so we see, yeah, that these false ministers lasted for a position. But continuing, yeah, in verse 1, he says, according to the promise of life. You see, God has promised life right from the beginning, right from the beginning, life has been promised.

For instance, from the Garden of Eden, there was a tree of life. Right there, life was promised. So human beings, as a whole, since the Garden of Eden, have not had access to or understanding of this promise of life until when? Until the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, as it says in verse 10. But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Let's look also at John 3. John 3 verse 14 through 16. John 3 verse 14 through 16.

Yeah, we see again Christ's words. John 3 verse 14 through 16, and it says, and this Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, crucified, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. So the understanding of this promise of eternal life is now understood by the appealing of our Savior and what is done for us. Verse 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him, and understand behind the world believe, there's always an action to do what he tells us to do, because believing him should not perish but have everlasting life. In John 10, John 10 verse 9 and 10. John 10 verse 9 and 10. It says, all whoever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, you'll be saved and will go in and out and find the pasture. The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. And then John 14 verse 6, Christ also says, John 14 verse 6, he says, and Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

I'm the way, the truth, and the life. And so Christ at his appearance, he has given us his given us that understanding of the promise of life. So, Paul's calling to be an apostle of Jesus Christ is a step in the fulfilling of God's promise of eternal life, which is in or through Christ Jesus. And as Paul is about to die, Paul is focused on this promise of life.

Now verse 2, to Timothy, a beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord. Timothy, a son, not as a son, in the Greek, the A is not there. So, Timothy was a beloved son, not a son. In other words, he understood, as son, Timothy understood Paul's teachings to benefit the church. And so we read, for instance, in 1 Corinthians 4 verse 17. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 17, he says, For this reason I've sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. And so, Timothy understood it. He got it, and he was a faithful servant, and Paul used him because he trusted in Timothy. In Philippians chapter 2, Philippians chapter 2 verse 19, Philippians chapter 2 verse 19 through 23. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I may also be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state, for all seek their own, not the things which are Christ Jesus. But you know, he's proven character. In other words, Timothy's proven character, that as son of his father, he served me in the Gospel.

And therefore, I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord, that I myself may also come shortly. So he had absolute trust in Timothy. He got it, and he understood the Gospel, and he had a very clear understanding of the teachings of Christ through Paul, as we understand better today. Let the statement he had in verse 2 says, Grace, Mercy, and Peace.

These are blessings from God the Father and Jesus Christ, because he says, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Note once again that the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. And therefore, we can see that only a true representative of God and of Christ could really give that, and could do that. In other words, and also Paul adds mercy, because in all of Paul's epistles, except the pastoral epistles, on all of Paul's epistles he says, Grace and Peace. But in his pastoral epistles, first Timothy, second Timothy, and Titus, he adds mercy. So those in the ministry are often confronted with their own shortcomings. And we look at ourselves, we look at our shortcomings, and we have great need of mercy. So that's why he says, Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God the Father and Christ. Continuing now in verse 3, he says, I thank God whom I serve with pure conscience as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day.

So he says, I thank God whom I serve with pure conscience. Paul served God with a pure, clean, clear conscience. He served God like the forefathers did with pure conscience.

And then he says, I remember you, Timothy, in my prayers day and night. So Paul wrote a lot about conscience. There are a few points here in that where he wrote about conscience. Let's look at 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 2. 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 2 says those in the last letter times, he says there will be people that will give heed to false doctrines and doctrines of demons, speaking lies, verse 2 in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with odd hot iron. Their conscience has been burned, has been destroyed. Then in Titus chapter 1, I beg your pardon, just yeah, Titus chapter 1 verse 15, Titus chapter 1 verse 15 says, to the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure. But even their mind and conscience are defiled. And so he's talking about these people that their mind and conscience is just being corrupted. It's not pure. And look at Acts 24. In Acts 24 verse 16, Acts 24 verse 16.

Acts 24 verse 16.

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and man. So this is Paul defending himself before Felix, and he says I always strive to have a clear conscience. Without offense. Without offense towards Alice, towards God, and towards man.

In Romans chapter 9, Romans chapter 9 verse 1, Romans chapter 9 verse 1, we read, I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.

And so he says my conscience is my witness. I'm not lying. I've got a clean conscience.

In 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12, 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12.

2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12 says, For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience. In other words, the witness, the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world, insimplicitly, and godly sincerity. Not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. And so he says, yeah, that in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12, the testimony of our conscience, the witness again of our conscience. Look at 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 5. 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 5.

1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 5.

He says, Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. And so he is giving this instruction, this command, the intent is to have godly love, it's godly edification, and he's doing it with a good conscience, with a clear conscience. In 1 Peter chapter 3, 1 Peter chapter 3, 1 Peter chapter 3.

We read in verse 21. There is also an anti-type which now saves us, baptism, not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the answer of a good conscience. So we can see the Bible in various places. Paul and Peter saying answer of a good conscience. The Bible emphasizes you and I, we should have a pure conscience. It says, don't sear it with like a hot iron, keep it clean, keep it pure. So the only way you and I can do that, how can we have a pure conscience? The only way you and I can have a pure conscience is when we sin, we repent, and we ask God to forgive us. We have an open, clear conscience admitting before God what we've done, and repenting, and striving to change. This also implies that you and I don't walk around with a defiled or perverted conscience, that is, with a wrong way of thinking and a wrong way of doing things. All right, so continuing now in 2 Timothy chapter 1, 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 4. So he said, I remembered, you remember Timothy in his prayers day and night, night and day, greatly desiring to see you being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy. Paul and Timothy, and particularly as he is saying to Timothy, they cried maybe when they said goodbye previously. And he said, he says, desiring to see you being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy.

You see, Paul instructed Timothy about this way of life, about Christ's sacrifice, and somewhere during the conversations for when they bid farewell to one another, they were tears for one another and for Christ, what Christ has done. They were deeply, emotionally involved in the Gospel. Look at Acts 20 verse 37. Acts 20 verse 37. And this is when Paul was in Ephesus and saying goodbye to them on his third journey. Acts 20 verse 37.

And he says, and they all wept bitterly. I mean, they all wept freely and fell, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. So we see a very strong action of hugging and crying and saying goodbye, as Paul was saying goodbye to these ministers in Ephesus. We also read the story of Jesus wept when he heard that Lazarus had died. So there's strong emotion. God has strong emotion. Christ has strong emotion. And there's nothing wrong with us having strong emotion or emotions. Verse five.

Then I may be filled with joy when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. And so Timothy's mother and grandmother also served God faithfully.

And if we read chapter three of 2 Timothy verse 15, 2 Timothy 3 verse 15, he says, and that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures. Why did he know the holy scriptures from childhood? Because he had this training around through his mother and grandmother before he heard the gospel. And so they served God faithfully even before they knew the truth and the gospel. Now continuing in verse six. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the lane of my hands. And so now we have an act to stirring up. It's like fanning the flames in a barbecue to get them going. In other words, you stir up, you get God's holy spirit working in you. You use God's holy spirit and it says here, which is in you through the laying of your hands. So it shows God's holy spirit was in in through the laying of hands, but also it's linked to verse five because it says therefore it's linked to what? To his upbringing, to Timothy's upbringing. And he says, I remind you therefore to stir up the gift of God. And so why is it linked to the gift or rather to the laying of hands and to his childhood and the way he was brought up? Because it's probably referring to when he was baptized by Paul. And he then received the gift of the holy spirit at baptism.

It's probably not when Timothy was ordained because it refers to you, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. My hands. Very probably when Paul met Timothy and his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice and he maybe baptized all three at the same time. With his own hands. Why do I say this? Because Timothy's ordination when he became an elder was done by the eldership. Was not only done by Paul's hands. First Timothy chapter four verse 14 and the eye it says do not neglect the gift that is in you. There is given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. And so in this case it's talking about that extra portion of God's holy spirit as a minister. Yeah, in first Timothy chapter four because it was that he received that extra portion of God's holy spirit with the laying of hands of the eldership. And yeah, in second Timothy chapter one verse four he says that that is in you through the laying on of hands, on my hands, very probably at baptism. Now obviously in both cases one receives extra gifts of the holy spirit. The ministry itself, the office of serving as a minister, is a gift. Let's look at example Yahweh says in Ephesians chapter four, Ephesians chapter four verse eight. And it's talking about him becoming a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me. And so he became a minister and that's a gift. And then it says for me who am less than the least of all the signs, this grace, this grace that it was the gift that was given to him that I should preach. In other words, to be a minister that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable reaches of Christ. And so we see Yah that the act of being a minister itself is also a gift. It's a gift to be called into the ministry. But the point is that whichever way whether you are ministering you have God's Holy Spirit or we are lay member and you have God's Holy Spirit, we must stir up God's Holy Spirit.

And that in a sense is the opposite of quenching the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 19. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 19 says, do not quench the Spirit. You will stir it up. Don't quench it. In Matthew 15 verse 14 through 30, Christ gave the parable of the talents. And what does he say there? We expect to use those talents. We expect to stir it up to produce spiritual growth. In Luke 19 verses 11 through 27, we got the parable of the pounds or of the meanness. And what are we supposed to do? Produce growth, bear fruit, stir it up, use it, use God's Holy Spirit. In 2 Peter, and 2 Peter is quite interesting because here in 2 Peter, starting in chapter 1, 2 Peter chapter 1 is talking about, in verse 2 says, grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ by his divine power. That's the Holy Spirit that has given us all things that pertain to life and darkness, eternal life and darkness. And it says, by which we given great promises to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped corruption. That is so we are to grow, we are to multiply. It says multiply you the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, as it says in verse 2. We are to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And then in verse 5, 5, 6, 7, and 8, it gives you and your faith. In other words, had virtue and knowledge and self-control, etc. And so we gotta stir the Holy Spirit because it says his divine power in verse 3 was given us all things. And we gotta stir it and use it and add to your faith so that we may grow. And that's the theme of the second epistle of Peter. And at the conclusion of the second epistle of Peter, in chapter 3 verse 18, it says, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How do we grow? By stirring up God's only Spirit, by using it, by putting it to practice, by producing spiritual growth. Now continuing, therefore, in verse 7 of 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 7, it says, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We're not to be fearful. We've given all good capabilities of God's only Spirit. And God's only Spirit is not fear. You know, there's no fear in love. 1st John chapter 4 verse 18. If one is fearful, the source is not God's only Spirit. In Luke 24 verse 49, it's talking about, wait for the promise of the Father, and you will be endured with power, dunamis, that power, that energy that comes from the Holy Spirit. And yes, they had to wait till Pentecost, and at Pentecost they received the power of God's only Spirit, as it's described in Acts 2.

So that power of God's only Spirit, it's the spiritual strength of God for you and I, one, to comprehend the truth. In other words, to comprehend God's will, to comprehend what God wants you and I to do, to understand the plan of God, and two, to do God's will. It's the power, it's the spiritual strength for you and I to faithfully do God's will. And so that's what we got to use. That's why it says it's not given as a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, of outgoing concern, and of a sound mind. A sound mind is a mind that is balanced, is disciplined, it's moderate, that sound mind could be translated as moderate mind, a mind that is self-disciplined, self-controlled, which is balanced. So God has given us a sound mind, a mind that is moderate and not extreme to one side and not extreme to the other side. Verse 8, therefore, do not do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. So don't be ashamed that I'm back in jail. It's very continuous. But share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God. And so the ministry of God, and that's what he's saying, yeah, is not free of hardships. It's not free of hardships. So we need to pray for God's ministry and their families, because hardships come onto the ministry and their families.

Satan hides us, and they are precious, many precious, on God's ministers and their families.

So don't be ashamed that, in this case, Paul is a prisoner. But share with me the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God. Verse 9, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. Well, there's a lot to unpack in this verse.

Who has saved us? The word saving can be used in many different ways. It can mean purely luck if somebody is walking across the street and could be maybe ran over by a car. It could be rescued, or somebody fell into a water, struggling, swimming, and it could be saved, rescued, from dying in the pool, or whatever, or in the sea, because of a rip current, or whatever it is. And so, in this case, we've been saved. That means we've been rescued. So when you and I repent, we repent from the wages of sin, and therefore we've been saved from the wages of sin, eternal death. So that is a first stage. Then there's a process of salvation, which begins at baptism, and we've got to go through that process of salvation. It's an ongoing process. The Bible talks about it as sanctification, the sanctification of the Spirit. And we've got to go on. And then ultimately, it also means the ultimate salvation at the end, when we'll receive eternal life, as it's described in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 51 to 53. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, 50. Be all I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we all shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corrupt almost put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. That is the ultimate salvation. And so, when the Bible talks about saved, we've got to read the context and what it means, because it can mean one of those three saved now, when we repent from the wages of sin, the process of salvation, which begins at baptism, and we're going to be overcoming and using the power of God's Spirit to overcome, and ultimately, after death, after resurrection, we will be saved. That is, have immortal life. Continue now in verse 9 of 2 Timothy chapter 1, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling. We have a holy calling. We have a calling to what? To holiness. Look at 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 7. 1 Timothy chapter 4. I'll be upon 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 7.

It says, for God do not call us to uncleanliness, but in holiness. God called us in holiness to, for us to become even more holy. So, it's a holy calling. In Hebrews chapter 12, look at Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14, where it's telling, well, Yahya Hebrews is telling us what we need to pursue. Look at verse 14. Pursue peace with all people and holiness. Without a witch, no one will see the Lord. We have peace and holiness with all people. Without a witch, no one will see the Lord. We have to pursue peace. We have to pursue holiness. Without a witch, and he's pursuing peace, and without a witch pursuing holiness, we will not attain, as it says here, will not see the Lord. Now, continuing again, still in verse 9, not according to our works, not according to what we do. Why? Because this calling is based on mercy, not merit. Not merit. God has a purpose, and God has grace, and that's why I said, but according to his own purpose and grace. What is his purpose? What is his purpose? God has planned before creation, before Adam and Eve sent. God has planned this all plan for us. That's why it says, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. How is time measured? Time is measured by the movement of the sun and the moon and and the earth rotating around its axis. We have hours and days and years and months. Time is a function. Time as we measure it, before time as we measure as we understand, is a function of the physical realm, is a function of the creation of the physical realm. That started in Genesis 1 verse 1. In the beginning God created heavens and earth.

And so, before time began, before God created the heavens and earth, God had already had this purpose. God had already decided on the purpose for you and I to be children of God. In Revelation 13 verse 8 puts it in a different way. Revelation 13 verse 8, it says right at the end, you know, all who dwell on earth will worship the beast, you know, that's talking about whose names are not being written in the book of life. The book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Christ was slain from the foundation of the world. In other words, was condemned to death from the very foundation of the world. Then continue now in verse 10 and it says, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

He says now is revealed by Christ's first coming. That's what he says. This plan of salvation is now understood because Christ came and he gave his life and now we understand. In other words, and through what Christ has done, he has abolished or annulled death. You know, we read, for instance, in 1 Corinthians 15 that he died so that others may have a plan. Look at 1 Corinthians 15 verse 25. He says, for he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet and the lost enemy that will be destroyed is death. Look at verse 54. So when this corruptor is put on incorruption and this mortal is put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the sign that his death is swallowed up in immortality. And so this plan, this death has been abolished by Christ's coming. He's made it possible, has abolished death and brought life and immortality. Now, life is eternal life. Now isn't immortality also eternal life? You see, the thing is, the word yah immortality is a word that should have been translated incorruption. It's the actual Greek word is aphasia and that word aphasia is also used. That's Greek 861 is also used in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 53 and 54 where it says, and this corruptible must put on incorruption, aphasia. And this mortal must put on immortality which is Greek 110, aphasia. And this Greek word 110, aphasia only happens three times, three times in the New Testament. In verse 53 that we're reading immortality. In verse 54 where it says, so when this corruptible is put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, that's the second time. And the third time that it appears is in 1 Timothy 6 verse 16. And so the word yah in 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 10, the word that is translated yah as in verse 10 that it says brought life and incorruption because it's the word Greek 861 which is translated in 1 Corinthians 15 and 54 for instance, aphasia as incorruption. So it's brought life and incorruption. So we're gonna have eternal life and in that internal life we'll never be corrupt, we'll never get old, we'll never have pain. That is the beauty about that and brought that to light, to the fore, to our understanding through this gospel. Verse 11, to which I Paul was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. You see, Paul's appointment came as a result of Jesus Christ bringing life and incorruption to light through the gospel. And so now Paul has a job and we have a job of preaching the gospel.

God chose preaching as the method to deliver the gospel. You remember, for instance, in Romans 10 verse 14 to 15, how beautiful are the feet of those that bring good tidings. I don't have to read the the rest of the verse. That alone triggers you and brings you to thinking that it is through preaching. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 21, the foolishness of the message preached. In 1 Timothy chapter 2, 5 verse 7, he says, I was appointed a preacher. In 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 7, again uses the word preacher first. And yeah, in 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 11 says, preacher, again uses the word preacher first, and an apostle, and a teacher. And so preaching preaching is the method designed by God to deliver, to proclaim, the good news, the gospel.

And verse 12, which is the last verse we'll complete today, for this reason I suffer these things. I suffer these things. Paul says, due to his faithfulness, nevertheless I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded that he, God, and through Christ, and Christ is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day. That's the day of Christ's coming. He's not ashamed that he's committed his life. He committed his whole life to being the kingdom of God. No matter what happens, that is what he is committed until that day.