2:1–6
Be empowered by the grace that is in Jesus Christ (see Phil 4:13). Grace is at the beginning of everything, grace constantly accompanies us, and finally that grace can accomplish within us the purpose of God’s will in us.
In 2 Tim 1:6 - we have the grace of ordination (see also 1 Tim 4:14);
In 1 Tim 1:14 - Paul speaks about the powerful work of grace in his life.
In the next verse we have a reference to so-called “apostolic succession”. Paul passed it (deposit of faith) on to Timothy. Now, Timothy needs to find a worthy people, he could pass it on to them.
Then, we have again an invitation to persevere in the ministry of preaching the Gospel. Three metaphors are used: (1) that of a soldier; (2) a wrestler, (3) a farmer.
Each metaphor has a point to convey. A soldier is totally dedicated to the cause of the one who enlisted him to his army - “a good soldier of Christ”. Christ has enlisted Timothy to his army, so Timothy should focus on that one aspect of life: how to please Christ.
A wrestler can only get the price if he fight according to the rules. It is a call to Timothy to obey the commandments and admonitions Paul wrote to him about a holy life.
Finally, husbandman - farmer - works on the field aiming to partake in its fruits. So is the pastor. The fruit of apostolic work is a growing Christian community - growing in faith, piety, right doctrine and holy life.
Paul is sure, that the Lord will help him to grasp the meaning of these metaphors. So, it is hope with us.
2:8–10
For the sake of the Gospel Paul endured a lot of hardship, including imprisonment. Why? By bringing the Gospel to the people, he let them participate in the fruits of the Gospel: salvation and eternal glory.
“For the sake of the elect” - those chosen for salvation and eternal glory. This is a beautiful statement and at the same time a mysterious one. Paul struggled with it in Romans 9–11. There is a mystery of God’s mercy towards the elect but there is also a mystery of God’s judgement towards those who reject the Gospel.
One more thing. Paul and Timothy are Jews (at least Timothy’s mother was a Jewish woman - Acts 16:3). Paul remind Timothy that Jesus Christ is the Messiah from the house of David that all the Jews awaited. This Jewish Messiah defeated death and this is the content of Paul’s Gospel that brought so much suffering to Paul. Timothy should remember it and expect much the same, but not be intimidated.
There is a beautiful play on the word: ‘bond”. Paul is in “bonds” like a prisoner. By this, the authorities think that they can stop his work of preaching the Gospel. But, they fail to realize that the word of God that Paul preaches cannot be bound.
2:11–13
Another liturgical passage
Notice the “if” in all those phrases, pointing to the condition aspect of these sentences. If one happens, then the other one also happens.
2:11 speaks about dying with Christ and living with Christ - it is a reference to the sacrament of baptism (Rom 6:3–4);
2:12 two conditional here: (1) enduring (till the end) in Christ in this life - reigning together with Christ in the life to come （Matt 24:13);
(2) denying - being denied (Matt 10:33, but see the story of Peter, who denied Christ three times and yet was forgiven); The scholars point out that the word “arneisthai” was not present in other letters of Paul, but is present in Pastoral Letters (1 Tim 5:8; Titus 1:16; 2:12). Some of them see here the problem of increased persecution. Many Christians, out of fear, denied their faith in order to save their lives. Paul insist that we should be faithful to the end. But the Gospel story of Peter states that even if that happen, we can always repent and try again - so the second time Peter did not deny his faith but bravely embraced martyrdom.
2:13 one conditional, we can and are often unfaithful, Christ is always faithful. Our unfaithfulness is seen in our sins, our daily acts of life that go against Gospel principles and moral standards. The word “apistoumen - from apistein” can also mean “lack of trust in Christ” (see Rom 3:3).
But, despite our sins and lack of trust, God (Christ) is always faithful. That is one among the most beautiful characteristics of God (see Hosea 3:1; Jonah 3:10; 1 Thess 5:24; 2 Thess 3:3; 1 Cor 1:9).
2:14–21
2:14.16–17 - see 1 Tim 4:7; 6:4–5.20 - one characteristic of false teachers is quarrel about words. The fruit of such teaching is division within community and confusion of the faithful. As an example, we have two preachers who claim that the resurrection has already taken place.
The problem of the resurrection of the body, Paul discussed in detail in 1 Cor 15. Greek thought could not accept easily the biblical idea of the resurrection of body. For them, only the soul mattered, and the body was useless - a prison for the soul.
In opposition to them, Timothy supposed to preach the word of truth.
2:19 - two quotation. The first one from Numbers 16:5. It indicates that despite all difficulties it is God, who sustains the Church. There is a strong foundation laid down by God (Eph 2:19–22). Some consider the entire Church as the foundation. In this case, the Church would be the foundation of truth (see 1 Tim 3:15).
The second quote is difficult to locate. Some see it as a combination of Is 26:13 and 52:11 in LXX. It calls to repentance those who create a problem within the Church’s community with their own false teaching (Luke 13:27). Thus calling the name of the Lord needs to go hand in hand with the right living. We see here the message of Matt 7:21–23.
2:20–21
That is another call to repentance. Paul compares teachers of the truth with vessels of gold and silver, and the false teachers with vessels of wood and earth. The first one brings the owner honor, the others dishonor. So, those from the second group are called to repent and join the first group - stop teaching false doctrine and begin to teach the true Gospel after then pattern of Paul.
2:22–26
Practical advice to Timothy. (1) First, Timothy should associate himself with those who are sincere in their faith. “Flee” - “Fuego” - here we have the root of the famous “fuga mundi” - run away from the world, the monastic call to leave the world behind and live for God;
“Youthful lusts” does not necessary mean here - sexual desire; perhaps it is an advice to young and inexperienced shepherds of the community (like Timothy), who tend to be overzealous, forceful in their arguments for the truth, and easily prone to quarrels - hotheaded;
On the opposite side of “youthful lusts” is righteousness, faith, charity, peace. He should “eagerly follow” after such virtues”;
(2) Towards those who disagree or oppose the true Gospel, he should behave with kindness. He should present the true doctrine in an intelligent way and hope that God will give them the grace of conversion - leading them to the truth.
In this way, they will be set free from the snares of the devil to do the will of God. The actual word is “to come to own’s senses”. Thus, the false teachers and those who hold wrong teaching are unaware that they are caught in the snares of the devil.