Paul testifies his personal experience: (1:15-17):
The Lord Jesus came to save sinners. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Lk.19:10). But those are under the illusion of their own righteousness, have no hope in Him. Paul says he is the worst of sinners. The important thing is one has to accept that he or she is a sinner. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23). Unless a man recognises and admits himself a sinner, the salvation becomes more difficult for that person. When we feel the burden of our sins, we can be more nearer to God. So Paul felt the burden and he was shown God’s mercy. God has shown His unlimited patience towards Paul. The more we understand God’s grace and mercy, the more we be aware of our sinfulness. Then our humility and gratitude increase towards the Lord. Paul felt rightly that he was the chief of sinner because he was responsible for suffering , imprisonment and death of many Christians. Harming God’s children, blaspheming are the worst sins. When Paul turned to God, His grace and mercy outweighed all his guilt, sins shortcomings. Yes, His loving kindness is better than our entire life! Paul makes a testimony before even King Agrippa and persuade him to accept Christ (Acts 26:19-29).
With the greatest conviction, Paul opens up with natural emotional response with a doxology.
- The King eternal: Paul is bursting with gratitude and thanksgiving to god because He has manifested His abundant grace and mercy by saving him. He is the Sovereign God. This is true with every person. No sinner is untouchable. God cannot stop any sinner coming to Him, however big-sinner he may He is the eternal God, ever living to justify and save sinners till the end of this world.
- Immortal: He is in-corruptible, always living. He is same yesterday-today and forever. He is the living God and always. “I am He that I am” speaks of His immortality in all 3-tenses. The nation and people are blessed whose God is the Lord.
- Invisible: He works everywhere, He fills all things, He is invisible to angels and human beings. He is omnipresent, omnipotent God.
- The only God: He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. There is none equal to Him. He is the almighty. No one can match Him. He has done great and mighty things that no one can do.
- Be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen! : No one can match Him. He is worthy of all the honour and glory from every person. So let all the earth ascribe Him the glory and honour which is due for Him. All mankind must worship Him.
Fight the good fight: (1:18-20):
Paul used the military language and gave standing orders to Timothy. It is an urgent command. Paul speaks to him as to the minister whose special calling by God carries with it special obligations. Persons who accept positions of power and importance in this world must also accept the obligations and responsibilities that come along with them. The same is true in the church. Here Paul reminds Timothy of God-given responsibility to minister and serve the church. Timothy responded to God’s call. The event of appointment in other words termed as “ordination”. Timothy was ordinated or set apart by laying on hands by the elders of the church for the furtherance of the Gospel. At that time many people prophesied about the strengths and gifts that Timothy would possess. This must have been a great motivating factor for Timothy. The obligation and responsibilities for Timothy would include:
- Fight the good fight: It is a military term. Timothy has to face hostile circumstance. He has to oppose false teachers, the heresy involving the myths and genealogies etc. He has to take the role of a soldier who is ordered out into battle. As a military soldier, the weapons are not clever argumentation or inescapable logic or debates with false teachers. Timothy has to avoid debates (2 Tim. 2:23-25). The soldiers work is to destroy his opponent with the spiritual weaponry. Further his goal should be to protect the faith of whom false teachers exert influence and win back those who have gone astray. The Gospel is more than sufficient to win them back.
- Holding on to faith and a good conscience: Holding on to faith is holding on to the correct knowledge of God, right doctrines. “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17-17). Good consciousness is that inner faculty that causes faith to issue in godly conduct. Purity of faith is directly related to the effectiveness of one’s consciousness. False teachers and their subtle doctrines could be nullified or made ineffective if the teacher is holding on to faith and a good conscience. If Timothy is unprepared while opposing the false teachers, he may suffer severe blow to his faith. So Paul encourages Timothy to hold on to God’s Word.
From the army battle, Paul moves on to Navy as he spoke about 2-leaders viz. Hymanaeus and Alexander who made terrible mistakes. Paul was not afraid to mention the names of the people whom he handed over to Satan since they have destroyed their faith. It is an excommunication from the Church and back into Satan’s fold. They have resolved in blaspheme which are unpardonable sin when it is done deliberately. Paul asks Timothy to cut the cancer out in order to preserve the body. Otherwise it would corrupt the whole body and makes it useless. We do not know what was the sin of Alexander. The name Alexander was common in those days. But the sin of Hymanaeus is the false teaching that resurrection was already done (2 Tim. 2:16-18).
Ex: Luke gives story of sons of Sceva who had gone out to cast out demons (Acts 19:13-16). Because they were not holding the faith and good conscience, their rebuke got rebounded with good beating from one of the devil possessed man.
Paul gave charge to Timothy in brief. This is also a command for all pastors and elders in the church.
- To guard the believers who were in right doctrine.
- To ex-communicate those whose faith had been shipwrecked.
- To restore the believers who were under the influence of false teaching.
- To always be ready and prepared with faith and good conscience when Satan attacks him subtly.