Fathers

2 Timothy 1

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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy; having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also. For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News. For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day. Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me (the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.

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What the Fathers say

2 Timothy 1:12

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For the which cause I also suffer these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed. For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." "I am not ashamed," he says. For are chains, are sufferings, a matter for shame? Be not then ashamed! Thou seest how he illustrates his teaching by his works. …

Homily on 2 Timothy 2 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

I suffer for preaching to the Gentiles. I suffer not as an evildoer. At the same time he makes his speech more credible: if, he says, I did not believe that death has been destroyed, I would not suffer so. Do you see how he himself shows by his deeds that which he urges upon Timothy, that is, not to be ashamed of sufferings. What boldness! What unwavering confidence! I know, he says, and am firmly convinced. …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

For this reason I suffer as I do, but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. For this reason I suffer as I do. What then is that reason? Because I am a messenger and an Apostle. As if he were saying: I am not being overcome as a criminal and dragged to prison. but I am not ashamed. For the greatest glory is to suffer something for Christ. Do you see how Paul prepares the disciple for afflictions? …

Commentary On 2 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, for which cause I also suffer these things, he shows what he is suffering as a result of being faithful to his office, saying, I suffer these adversities, namely, chains and ennui, and this for the faith of Christ: I labor even unto bands (2 Tim 2:9). And he says, for which cause, because suffering of itself is not praiseworthy, but only when it is for a just cause: blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice's sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:10). …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗