2 Timothy 2:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When Timothy himself undergoes the same misfortunes, he will not ascribe what happened to human weakness, nor to being a disciple and less than Paul. For the teacher also suffered the same things, according to the natural order of things.

For this reason the Apostle acted thus. For this reason he speaks at length about all this, to encourage and strengthen Timothy.

With this aim, after recounting his afflictions and temptations, he continues: “Be strengthened, my son, in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” What are you saying?

You have struck us with fear. You have said that you are bound, that you are in afflictions, that all have abandoned you. Then, as though you had said that you had suffered no misfortune and had been abandoned by no one, you add: “Be strengthened, my son.”

And rightly so, for the former can encourage you far more than the latter. Indeed, if I, Paul, endure such misfortunes, then much more must you endure them. If the teacher suffers, how much more the disciple.

He offers this exhortation to Timothy with great love, calling him “son,” and not simply that, but “my son.” If, he says, you are a son, imitate your father.

If you are a son, be strengthened by what I have said. Yet not by my words only, but by the grace of God: “Be strengthened, my son, in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” that is, by the grace of Christ.

Stand courageously. You know the battle order. So also elsewhere, explaining that “our wrestling is not against flesh and blood” (Eph 6:12), he says this not to terrify his hearers, but to encourage them.

Therefore be sober, he says, and watch. The grace of the Lord struggles and works together with you. Yet you also must fulfill your work with complete readiness and eagerness.

In general, anyone who is lesser in some respect receives great consolation in dangers when he sees one greater than himself in the same condition.

Do you see with what fatherly love he offers him his exhortation, saying, “my child”? With this word he seems to have poured his loving soul into him. If you are a son, imitate your father.

“In the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” In the grace through Christ Jesus. Be strengthened not only by my example, but above all by the grace of Christ.

Have it as your fellow combatant. Through it we have received authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon every power of the enemy, and to suffer no harm.

To show how this thought about Christ can inspire a pastor to suffer for the elect, who are called by Christ to eternal glory, the Apostle Paul again sets himself forth as an example, suffering in chains like a criminal.

For fuller explanation from the section “Exhortations to Firmness and Truth in the Preaching of the Gospel” (2 Tim 2:1-3:9), see the analytical survey of this section above.

“And what you have heard from me among many witnesses” (2 Tim 2:2), that is, what I told you about Christ and His works, not timidly or in your ear, but openly. I feared neither accusations from unbelievers nor persecutions from Christ’s enemies.

“Commit these things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Who are these faithful men?

By every indication, the Apostle is speaking here of pastors and teachers of the Church, that is, bishops and presbyters, whom St Timothy was to ordain, and not of all faithful laypeople.

The Apostle’s thought is evidently this. Besides the general Christian preaching for all without distinction, St Timothy had to concern himself with the selection and preparation of special faithful men.

He was deliberately to choose them as guardians of tradition and keepers of ecclesiastical order (Theophan, Oecumenius).

“Commit these things to faithful men,” not to such as love only to investigate and dispute, but to such as will not prove betrayers of the testament. The Apostle did not say, “Speak,” but “Commit.”

What profit is there if they are believers but are unable to communicate to others what has been entrusted to them? Therefore teachers must be both faithful and able to teach others, that is, teachable teachers.

“Faithful men.” “In my opinion,” says Oecumenius, relying on Photius, “the Apostle Paul gives Timothy these instructions concerning the bishops and presbyters whom he was to ordain.”

To this Bishop Theophan adds: “Here there is also a hint at what did not belong to the circle of general teaching for the faithful. Does this not refer to the handing down of the manner of celebrating the holy Mysteries? According to St Basil the Great, this proceeded secretly, though before witnesses from among the elder faithful, so that it might be preserved more securely.”

“Be strengthened in grace” is the same as what was said above: “stir up the gift of God” (cf. 2 Tim 1:6). This gift is threefold, uniting in itself the spirit of power, love, and soundness of mind.

Since the spirit of power has already been discussed, here one should understand the spirit of love. Or “in grace” means by the power of grace.

Grow and come to maturity in apostolic action, in preaching the Gospel and establishing life according to it. “In this the grace of the Lord will strengthen you” (Theodoret).

“Be sober, he says, and watch. The grace of the Lord struggles and works together with you. Yet you also must fulfill your work with full eagerness and readiness” (Chrysostom).

“Have it as struggling together with you” (Theophylact). How? By acting in its spirit, according to its inspirations and stirrings.

If you do not act so, this spirit, not being stirred up and fanned by labors corresponding to it, will be extinguished. Thus both meanings come together: strengthened by the power of grace, act in its spirit. Then you will grow in the order of life to which it calls and obliges you.