The Unchained Word

If I had to name one book in the Bible that is my "favorite," 2 Timothy would have to win the prize simply for frequency of readings. In my twenty-seven years of being a follower of Christ, I have read the entire Bible some twenty-five times (roughly once a year), but 2 Timothy probably forty times or more. To say why I have such a deep connection to this particular book I have to briefly disclose some not always flattering aspects of my own personality.

Written by Paul the Apostle just prior to his own execution under the authority of Nero in Rome around 64 AD, the second epistle to Timothy speaks words designed to equally challenge and comfort a young pastor overseeing a growing church body in Ephesus. Timothy by all accounts was a good man -- diligent, dedicated, a loyal and reliable friend. But he was also timid by nature, easily discouraged, and given to obsessing and disputing about things that don't matter. Sounds familiar.

In the process of encouraging a temporarily unconfident, struggling Timothy to "stir up the gift" of faith within him (and others like him in our own day), Paul mentions the fact that he has problems of his own. He has been suffering persecution, many of his closest friends have betrayed him, and as a result he is languishing in prison awating execution. On top of all that, even mature believers in the churches are afraid to visit him for fear of drawing the same kind of attention.

Paul then reminds Timothy of something powerful: "...that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained" (2:8, 9). That says to me basically this: Despite the pain and humiliation of being shackled with irons by hard-hearted men with seemingly unlimited power to control Paul's life, Jesus is still risen and God's word is just as true as it ever was. No amount of suffering can alter the promises of God to his people. "Therefore I endure all things," continues Paul, again because God is eternally reliable and faithful:

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful: He cannot deny Himself" (2 Tim. 2:13).

That's much of what this blog will be about: the faithfulness of God and the truth of his word. Feel free to comment or share how something here relates to your own testimony. Thanks for reading!