For some reason, the fire of Timothy’s faith seems, perhaps, to be just gently smouldering when Paul was writing this second letter to him. It had first been sparked into life by his mother and grandmother (v 5). The first verses of today’s reading are a touching tribute to the spiritual influence they had had on his early life. Paul himself addresses Timothy as his ‘dear son’ – a term of affection that indicates the depth of relationship they’d developed. 

Because of that, Paul can remind Timothy that things should burn more brightly again – specifically, the gift given to him by God (v 6). This is unspecified, but we can speculate that it’s connected with his role in the church as a leader – for which the attributes in verse 7 are important and need wielding carefully. If Timothy has been called to the responsibility of leading and has been given a spiritual gift by God – which he has – then that gift needs to be fanned back into bright flame. Then he can fulfil what God has called him to with enthusiasm and energy (v 14).

Praise God for the blessings he has given you in those who first shared Jesus with you and your new life in him.

In his first letter, Paul greeted Timothy as ‘my true son in the faith’.¹ Here his greeting is ‘my dear son’ (v 2), showing his warm affection for his young convert and colleague. Paul ‘constantly’ remembers Timothy in his prayers (v 3).² He must have had a large heart to carry such a loving concern for so many people. ‘Long’ (see v 4) is a word expressing intense desire. In Paul’s letters we see his real humanity. He was a stalwart soldier, but he had a tender heart. Do we pray regularly for others?

Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother. His father was Greek and presumably an unbeliever, his mother Eunice was a believing Jewish woman who became a Christian. His grandmother Lois had evidently been converted, for Paul talks of the ‘sincere faith’ of all three generations (v 5). These godly women had instructed Timothy out of the Old Testament so that from childhood he had ‘known the Holy Scriptures’.³ Timothy is urged to ‘fan into flame the gift of God’ (v 6) given to him when Paul laid his hands on him. This would most naturally be taken as the time of Timothy’s ordination. Are you aware of your God-given gifts? Are you using them in his service?         

Paul reminds Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of timidity or cowardice, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (v 7). The effective Christian worker must have the power of the Holy Spirit, but that power must be expressed in a loving spirit or it may do damage. Be strong in the Spirit in your life and ministry.

Thank God that you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.⁴ 

¹ 1 Tim 1:2  ² Cf Rom 1:10; 1 Thess 1:2; 3:6  ³ 2 Tim 3:15  ⁴ Cf Eph 1:3