Paul: To Proclaim, to Suffer and to Believe (2 Timothy 1:11-12)

In 1555 Calvin preached through 2 Timothy but his sermon on these two verses has been lost. After looking at the plan of salvation in verses 9-10, Paul now turns to himself.

1. Paul proclaimed Christ. – 1:11. Paul says he was appointed as one who proclaimed Christ (note Acts 9). See 1 Timothy 2:7. – a preacher, one who proclaims the gospel of Christ, and urges people to believe in Him for salvation; an apostle, an eye-witness of Christ, one who is directly commissioned by Christ, and who was given powers to carry out miracles. They belong to the foundation of the Church (Eph.2:19-20); a teacher.

2. Paul suffered for Christ. – 1:12a; see 1:16- read 2 Cor.11:23-28. If you want an easy life with as few troubles as possible, do not become a Christian. of it? Consider these things.

3. Paul believed Christ. – 1:12b. Christ is able to guard the deposit entrusted to Paul (ESV, John Stott, Patrick Fairbairn) or what Paul has entrusted to Christ (NIV, NASB, NKJV, William Hendriksen, George Knight III). Rom.8:8-39 has the same Greek word: ‘I am persuaded’. Christ guards. Thomas of Celano in the thirteenth century wrote of it: That day of wrath, that dreadful day, When heaven and earth shall pass away, What power shall be the sinner’s stay? How shall he meet that dreadful day? Paul was convinced that Christ would guard him, literally, ‘into’ that day.