Timothy's parents had given him physical life; but it was Paul who gave him eternal life. Paul's object in writing is to inspire and strengthen Timothy for his task in Ephesus. Timothy was young and he had a hard task in battling against the heresies and the infections that were bound to threaten the Church. In order to keep his courage high and his effort strenuous, Paul reminds Timothy of certain things. He reminds him of his own confidence in him. There is no greater inspiration than to feel that someone believes in us. The fear of letting down those who love us is a cleansing thing. He reminds him of his family tradition. Timothy was walking in a fine heritage, and if he failed, not only would he smirch his own name, but he would lessen the honor of his family name as well. A fine parentage is one of the greatest gifts a man can have. Let him thank God for it and never bring dishonor to it. He reminds him of his setting apart to office and of the gift which was conferred upon him. Once a man enters upon the service of any association with a tradition, anything that he does affects not only himself nor has it to be done only in his own strength. There is the strength of a tradition to draw upon and the honor of a tradition to preserve. That is specially true of the Church. He who serves it has its honor in his hands; he who serves it is strengthened by the consciousness of the communion of all the saints. He reminds him of the qualities which should characterize the Christian teacher. There was courage.
Timothy's parents had given him physical life; but it was Paul who gave him eternal life. Paul's object in writing is to inspire and strengthen Timothy for his task in Ephesus. Timothy was young and he had a hard task in battling against the heresies and the infections that were bound to threaten the Church. In order to keep his courage high and his effort strenuous, Paul reminds Timothy of certain things. He reminds him of his own confidence in him. There is no greater inspiration than to feel that someone believes in us. The fear of letting down those who love us is a cleansing thing. He reminds him of his family tradition. Timothy was walking in a fine heritage, and if he failed, not only would he smirch his own name, but he would lessen the honor of his family name as well. A fine parentage is one of the greatest gifts a man can have. Let him thank God for it and never bring dishonor to it. He reminds him of his setting apart to office and of the gift which was conferred upon him. Once a man enters upon the service of any association with a tradition, anything that he does affects not only himself nor has it to be done only in his own strength. There is the strength of a tradition to draw upon and the honor of a tradition to preserve. That is specially true of the Church. He who serves it has its honor in his hands; he who serves it is strengthened by the consciousness of the communion of all the saints. He reminds him of the qualities which should characterize the Christian teacher. There was courage.
2_Timothy_-_TJL_Compilation.docx