In his Second Epistle to Timothy, Paul taught that fear does not come from God and counseled Timothy to be unashamed of his testimony of Jesus Christ. Paul encouraged Timothy to faithfully endure trials and instructed him to teach the Saints to repent.
Paul counsels Timothy to be unashamed of the gospel
Write the word Fear on the board, and ask students to consider how fear can influence us. Invite a student to read aloud the following statement by President GordonB. Hinckley:
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President Gordon B. Hinckley
“Who among us can say that he or she has not felt fear? I know of no one who has been entirely spared. Some, of course, experience fear to a greater degree than do others. Some are able to rise above it quickly, but others are trapped and pulled down by it and even driven to defeat. We suffer from the fear of ridicule, the fear of failure, the fear of loneliness, the fear of ignorance. Some fear the present, some the future. Some carry the burden of sin and would give almost anything to unshackle themselves from those burdens but fear to change their lives” (“God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear,” Ensign, Oct. 1984,2).
According to President Hinckley, how can fear influence us?
How could fear affect our ability to live the gospel?
Invite students to look for a principle as they study 2Timothy1 that can help them overcome fear.
Explain that shortly before Paul died, he wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy while imprisoned in Rome. Summarize 2Timothy 1:1–5 by explaining that Paul expressed his desire to see Timothy and recalled Timothy’s sincere faith.
Invite a student to read 2Timothy 1:6 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Paul reminded Timothy to do.
What did Paul remind Timothy to do?
Explain that “the gift of God” received by the laying on of hands likely refers to the Holy Ghost. To “stir up” means to rekindle or revive (see verse6, footnotea). Paul admonished Timothy to rekindle the gift of the Holy Ghost, or to earnestly seek to have the Holy Ghost to be with him.
Write the following incomplete statement on the board: As we earnestly seek to have the Spirit to be with us,…
Invite a student to read 2Timothy 1:7–8 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for the blessings that can come from having the Spirit with us.
According to verse7, what blessings can come from having the Spirit with us?
What do these blessings help us overcome?
Explain that Paul referred to worldly fear, which creates anxiety, uncertainty, and alarm and differs from what the scriptures refer to as “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 9:10). To fear the Lord is “to feel reverence and awe for Him and to obey His commandments” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Fear,” scriptures.lds.org).
According to verse8, what did Paul invite Timothy to do with the understanding that the Spirit could help him overcome fear?
Ask students how they would complete the statement on the board using Paul’s teachings in verses 7–8. Using students’ words, complete the statement so that it conveys the following principle: As we earnestly seek to have the Spirit to be with us, we can overcome fear and be unashamed of our testimony of Jesus Christ.
How can the divine power, love, and good judgment we receive through the Spirit help us overcome fear?
What are ways in which we can show that we are unashamed of our testimony of Jesus Christ?
When has the Spirit helped you overcome fear or given you courage to stand firm in your testimony of Jesus Christ?
Ask students to ponder what they can do to invite the Spirit to be with them so they can overcome fear and be unashamed of their testimony of Jesus Christ.
Summarize 2Timothy 1:9–18 by explaining that Paul admonished Timothy to remain faithful to true doctrine. Paul also confirmed that widespread apostasy was occurring in the Church (see 2Timothy 1:15).
Paul instructs Timothy to faithfully endure hardships
Invite students to read 2Timothy 2:1 silently, looking for Paul’s counsel to Timothy.
What was Paul’s counsel to Timothy? (Explain that we access the grace or divine help of Jesus Christ through our faith [see Romans 5:2].)
Why might someone find it difficult to remain strong in his or her faith in Jesus Christ?
Explain that Paul counseled Timothy to be strong through the grace of Jesus Christ because he knew Timothy would experience affliction and persecution as a disciple of Christ.
Display pictures of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. (Or you could invite students to draw pictures of these three people on the board.)
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drawings, soldier, hurdler, farmer
Explain that Paul used the metaphors of a soldier, an athlete, and a husbandman (or farmer) to teach Timothy how to remain strong in the faith despite hardship.
Copy the following chart on the board. Invite students to copy it into their class notebooks or scripture study journals, or provide it on a handout:
Metaphor
Description
What this metaphor teaches about remaining strong in the faith
Soldier
Athlete
Husbandman (farmer)
Invite a student to read 2Timothy 2:3–6 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for how Paul described a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Explain that the word hardness (verse3) refers to afflictions or hardships (see verse3, footnotea) and that the phrase “strive for masteries” (verse5) refers to competing in an athletic contest (see verse5, footnotea).
According to Paul’s teachings in verses 3–4, what does a good soldier do? (Write the following in the first box under “Description” on the chart: A good soldier dutifully endures hardships and sets aside other affairs to please his or her superior.)
What does it mean in verse5 that an athlete will not be “crowned” unless he or she strives, or competes, “lawfully”? (Write the following in the second box under “Description”: An athlete can be victorious only if he or she obeys the rules.)
According to verse6, what is the reward for a farmer who works hard to harvest his or her crops? (Write the following in the third box under “Description”: A farmer must work hard to enjoy the fruits of his or her labors.)
Invite students to complete their charts by writing in the third column what each metaphor teaches about remaining strong in the faith. Ask a few students to report their responses.
Explain that Paul said he experienced many trials for being a disciple of Christ (see 2Timothy 2:9). Invite a student to read 2Timothy 2:10–12 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Paul said about why he endured such hardship. Explain that “the elect” (verse10) refers to faithful Church members and that the word suffer in verse12 refers to enduring and remaining constant (see verse12, footnotea).
According to Paul’s words in verses10 and12, why was he willing to endure hardship and remain faithful to Jesus Christ?
What principle can we learn from Paul about what can happen as we endure hardships and remain faithful to the Lord? (Students may use different words but should identify a principle similar to the following: As we endure hardships and remain faithful to the Lord, we can help ourselves and others obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. Write this principle on the board.)
How can faithfully enduring our own trials help others obtain salvation through Jesus Christ?
Summarize 2Timothy 2:13–19 by explaining that Paul counseled Timothy to remind the Saints to avoid contention and to “depart from iniquity” (verse19).
Display pictures of various containers, such as a bowl, a cup, and a vase. Invite a student to read 2Timothy 2:20 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what kinds of vessels are “in a great house.”
According to Paul, what kinds of vessels are “in a great house”?
Explain that Paul used different kinds of vessels, or containers, as a metaphor for members of the household, or Church, of Jesus Christ. Invite a student to read 2Timothy 2:21 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what makes someone a fitting “vessel … for the master’s use.”
According to Paul, what can we do to be fit “for the master’s use”?
Point out that the phrase “purge himself from these” (verse21) refers to becoming thoroughly clean from iniquity (see verse19).
Based on Paul’s use of vessels as a metaphor, what principle can we learn about what we can do to better serve the Lord? (Students should identify a principle similar to the following: If we purge ourselves of iniquity, we can better serve the Lord.)
What can we do to purge ourselves of iniquity?
Invite students to read 2Timothy 2:22 silently, looking for what else we can do to purge ourselves of iniquity. Ask students to report what they find.
How can purging ourselves of iniquity help us better serve the Lord?
Invite a student to read aloud the following statement by Elder JeffreyR. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ask students to listen for how this principle applies to those who serve the Lord as missionaries:
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
“No missionary can be unrepentant of sexual transgression or profane language or p*rnographic indulgence and then expect to challenge others to repent of those very things! You can’t do that. The Spirit will not be with you, and the words will choke in your throat as you speak them. You cannot travel down what Lehi called ‘forbidden paths’ [1Nephi 8:28] and expect to guide others to the ‘strait and narrow’ [2Nephi 31:18] one—it can’t be done.
“…Whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can be forgiven. … It is the miracle of forgiveness; it is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you cannot do it without an active commitment to the gospel, and you cannot do it without repentance where it is needed. I am asking you … to be active and be clean. If required, I am asking you to get active and get clean” (“We Are All Enlisted,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011,45).
Why is it essential to be clean from sin when proclaiming the gospel?
Conclude by testifying of the truthfulness of this principle. Invite students to ponder any sins they may need to repent of so they can better serve the Lord.
Commentary and Background Information
2Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear”
President GordonB. Hinckley taught about the source and effects of fear:
“Let us recognize that fear comes not of God, but rather that this gnawing, destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness. Fear is the antithesis [opposite] of faith. It is corrosive in its effects, even deadly.
“‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’ [2Timothy 1:7].
“These principles are the great antidotes to the fears that rob us of our strength and sometimes knock us down to defeat. They give us power.
“What power? The power of the gospel, the power of truth, the power of faith, the power of the priesthood” (“God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear,” Ensign, Oct. 1984,2).
Elder DavidA. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how godly fear differs from worldly fear:
“Different from but related to the fears we often experience is what the scriptures describe as ‘godly fear’ (Hebrews 12:28) or ‘the fear of the Lord’ (Job 28:28; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 11:2–3). Unlike worldly fear that creates alarm and anxiety, godly fear is a source of peace, assurance, and confidence.
“But how can anything associated with fear be edifying or spiritually helpful?
“The righteous fear I am attempting to describe encompasses a deep feeling of reverence, respect, and awe for the Lord Jesus Christ (see Psalm 33:8; 96:4), obedience to His commandments (see Deuteronomy 5:29; 8:6; 10:12; 13:4; Psalm 112:1), and anticipation of the Final Judgment and justice at His hand” (“Therefore They Hushed Their Fears,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015,48).
2 Timothy 1:7–8. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord”
Sister BonnieL. Oscarson, Young Women general president, shared the following account of Marie Madeline Cardon, a young convert in Italy who demonstrated courage in defending her new faith:
“I recently read the story of Marie Madeline Cardon, who, with her family, received the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ from the first missionaries called to serve in Italy in 1850. She was a young woman of 17 or 18 years of age when they were baptized. One Sunday, while the family was holding a worship service in their home high in the Alps of northern Italy, an angry mob of men, including some of the local ministers, gathered around the house and began shouting, yelling, and calling for the missionaries to be brought outside. I don’t think they were anxious to be taught the gospel—they intended bodily harm. It was young Marie who marched out of the house to confront the mob.
“They continued their vicious yells and demands for the missionaries to be brought out. Marie raised her Bible up in her hand and commanded them to depart. She told them that the elders were under her protection and that they could not harm one hair of their heads. Listen to her own words: ‘All stood aghast. … God was with me. He placed those words in my mouth, or I could not have spoken them. All was calm, instantly. That strong ferocious body of men stood helpless before a weak, trembling, yet fearless girl.’ The ministers asked the mob to leave, which they did quietly in shame, fear, and remorse. The small flock completed their meeting in peace.
“Can’t you just picture that brave young woman, the same age as many of you, standing up to a mob and defending her newly found beliefs with courage and conviction?” (“Defenders of the Family Proclamation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015,14).
In saying this, Paul recognizes that all rewards given by God are because of His mercy, not because of obligation. Paul desires God's favor and mercy be upon Timothy. He is wishing this because he could wish nothing greater. Paul also wishes peace upon Timothy in addition to wishing grace and mercy.
Paul says we're to do our best to present ourselves to God as approved. The Greek word for to present (or show) is parastesai, which gives the idea of service. To handle the word accurately, to present or show ourselves approved, is, in a sense, an act of service to God and others.
In his Second Epistle to Timothy, Paul taught that fear does not come from God and counseled Timothy to be unashamed of his testimony of Jesus Christ. Paul encouraged Timothy to faithfully endure trials and instructed him to teach the Saints to repent.
Those believers who struggle, or are "faithless," are still held by God. He remains faithful, even when His people are not. This theme is consistent with God's faithfulness to His people Israel in the Old Testament. Though they often rejected Him, He continued to keep His promises to them.
In 2 Timothy chapter 2, Paul warns us to stay away from “irreverent babble” and to avoid quarreling over words. He also makes it clear that false teaching cannot be tolerated, describing it as a gangrene that infects the hearers.
Men are to show holiness, dignity, and godliness by having sincere hearts, praying in every place, free from anger and arguing. Women are to show holiness, dignity, and godliness by not drawing attention to their clothing but to their good works in the Lord.
After commenting about false teachers in the previous verse, Paul urges Timothy to view himself as a worker seeking to please God. Any worker or servant should desire to satisfy the expectations of his or her boss. Timothy was to view his work for God in the same way.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul instructed, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15).
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The First Letter to Timothy is primarily about leadership in the early church: it exhorts its readers to resist false teaching, hold on to the faith as delivered, exhibit good conduct, and order the church in such a way that all of this can be accomplished.
In a nutshell, the theme of 1 Timothy is Christ-centered godliness for the sake of the gospel. Personal godliness (Christ-infused godliness) is not only indispensable to perseverance in faithfulness, but absolutely essential to the proclamation of the gospel to the lost world. This gospel theme is explicit in 1 Tim.
Timothy was to study, learn, and grow himself from God's Word, and then preach what he was learning. The letter also points out that the quality of leaders affects the quality of the members.
1 Timothy 2:1–2 is a clear command, call from God for us to pray for all kinds of people. Specifically to pray for kings, and leaders who are in high positions.
Many Christian advocates of drinking alcoholic wine point to a verse in 1 Timothy. Paul says, "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities" (1 Tim 5:23). What did Paul mean when he instructed Timothy to take "a little wine" for thy stomach's sake?
Here, he speaks regarding Timothy's diet. Timothy apparently did not drink any wine at this point, consuming only water. However, Timothy seems to have experienced digestive or physical problems. To help, Paul commanded him to drink "a little wine."
First Timothy 2:1–8 provides a perspective on prayer. Christians are not only supposed to pray, but to pray for all people. This even includes kings, rulers, and government officials. The basis for this is that God wants to see such people saved; His love for them is as great as it is for anyone else.
Paul then focuses on two primary ideas. First, that Timothy's background in the faith should give him the courage to stand fast against hard times. Second, that Timothy should use that courage to defend the truth of the gospel message.
I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent” (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Paul describes how in the church, God assigns different roles to men and women as a result of the way mankind was created and the way in which sin entered the world (1 Timothy 2:13-14).
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