Peter Barnes: From the Apostle to His Beloved Child, 2 Timothy 1:1-2 (Sunday 31 May 2020 Morning Service, 9.00 a.m.)
– Paul’s last epistle, not long before he was beheaded. Handley Moule said that he could not read 2 Timothy without becoming misty-eyed. Calvin: ‘For my part, I know that this letter has done me as much good as any book of Scripture.’
1. Paul the apostle. – 1:1. His background is in 1 Cor.15:9; Phil.3:5-6; Gal.1:13-17. – Luke 6:13. An apostle is a ‘sent one’. Apostles were eye-witnesses to Christ; they were given the gift of miracles; and some of them wrote the books of the New Testament.
2. Paul called by God. – 1:1; Gal.1:1; Eph.1:1. – Acts 9:1-9, 15-18a. Paul did not exercise his free will; this was the will of God.
3. The promise of life in Christ. – 1:1; Titus 1:1-2. What do you say to a person in gaol who is not far off being beheaded? Believe in yourself? – John 6:47; see Psalm 23:4.
4. Timothy the beloved child. – 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 1 Cor.4:17. – Acts 16:3. Paul greatly helped him in his Christian walk. See 1 Peter 5:13; 2 Kings 2:11-12.
Watch the service below.