Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus
2 Timothy 1-2 - It is an obligation to us as believers to do our best to live, learn, and teach the Gospel of grace to others.
Icon of Saint Timothy in an Orthodox parish in the United States. Moralmonke, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
2 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV
Friday’s Heaven On Wheels devotional was from Paul’s first Epistle to Timothy, so when verses from his second Epistle to Timothy appeared in my random verse picker today, I was thrilled to have the chance to study them. These two epistles to Timothy, along with the one to Titus, are commonly referred to as the “pastoral epistles,” written by Paul to encourage young pastors in the early church.
Paul’s advice to Timothy begins with a fond reminder that the Apostle thinks of the young pastor in Ephesus to be more than just another believer — he calls Timothy “my son”. Just before these verses, Paul has described the example of Onesiphorus, who out of all the followers of Christ in Asia was the only loyal believer and helped Paul frequently. Paul is now exhorting Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”, as the young disciple will need strength, patience, and fortitude to fulfill his calling to God.
David Guzik’s commentary on 2 Timothy 2:1 from Enduring Word explains this phrase perfectly:
Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus: Paul told Timothy a specific way to be strong — that is, to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. This strength in grace is essential for a strong Christian life.
i. “Grace here has its simplest theological meaning, as the divine help, the unmerited gift of assistance that comes from God” (White). Resting in the grace — the unmerited favor of God towards us that is in Christ Jesus — gives a confidence and boldness we could never have when thinking we are on probation or thinking God hasn’t made up His mind about us yet.
ii. There is nothing that can makes us as strong as saying, “I am a child of God in Jesus Christ” and “I have the love and favor of God even though I don’t deserve it.” That is the strength that comes by grace.
iii. Paul knew what it was like to receive the strength of God’s grace, as he explained in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. He could encourage Timothy like this from his own life experience.
Timothy has spent years at Paul’s side, receiving the truth in the presence of many others at the church. He’s spent countless hours hearing Bible studies from Paul, and received instruction in discipleship from the apostle. In verse 2, Paul is commanding Timothy to carry on the tradition, to pass along the truth to others who can in turn teach others. This has been the process faithfully repeated for two thousand years, and it is an obligation to us as believers to do our best to live, learn, and teach the Gospel of grace to others.
You’ll note that Paul advises Timothy to “entrust to reliable people”, that is, those who are faithful. Some denominations have placed weight on the concept of “apostolic succession”, in which those in power in the church pass along that power, usually with some ceremony or laying on of hands. This one verse completely negates apostolic succession, as Paul simply says to find reliable and faithful believers to teach, who can then pass along the truth to another generation of believers, ad infinitum.
From Enduring Word:
Without faithfulness to the teaching and example of the apostles, the idea of apostolic succession is nothing more than the laying of empty hands upon empty heads. “Where is the uninterrupted apostolic succession? Who can tell? Probably it does not exist on the face of the world. All the pretensions to it by certain Churches are as stupid as they are idle and futile” (Clarke).
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father, thank You for the Word that passed down to us by Paul and the other apostles, and many other faithful followers of Christ through the centuries. I pray that You give me the will and the opportunity to share the Gospel of grace with many people, and that I can shepherd multitudes into the kingdom. I pray this in Jesus’ name, AMEN.