RSV ~ 2 Timothy 2 Notes
2 Tim 2:1 | ISB Notes
my son: Paul is Timothyâs spiritual father in the faith. See note on 1 Cor 4:15.
2 Tim 2:2 | ISB Notes
entrust to faithful men: Timothy is the second link in a chain of succession that stretches from the apostles of the first century to the bishops of the present day. Having received Paulâs authority and mission, he is charged with passing on both the priestly ministry and the apostolic faith to the next generation.
Timothy must transmit these traditions in the same way he received them from Paul: through public instruction, the sacramental imposition of hands, and the witness of his life (1:6, 13-14; 3:10; 1 Tim 5:22; 6:20).
⢠Apostolic succession takes place through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, when bishops receive and then transmit to others the fullness of their apostolic ministry. In this way, the authority that Jesus gave his apostles to preach, teach, administer the Sacraments, and govern the Church is passed on to successive generations until his glorious return (CCC 861-62, 1576).
2 Tim 2:3 | ISB Notes
share of suffering: Timothy must be brave and steadfast under trial, especially since the gospel he preaches will inevitably spark opposition from those offended by the Cross and uncomfortable with the harsh reality of sin (3:12; Gal 6:12). The commitment expected of him is exemplified in the soldier (2 Tim 2:4), the athlete (2:5), and the farmer (2:6), all of whom receive rewards for their toil and dedication.
2 Tim 2:8 | ISB Notes
Remember Jesus: Christ is the center of Paulâs gospel. Through his natural birth in the line of King David and his miraculous rebirth in the Resurrection, the Jesus that Paul preaches is none other than the Messiah (CCC 436-37).
⢠In Paulâs mind, Jesus fulfills Godâs covenant oath to raise up the Messiah from Davidâs descendants and enthrone him over an eternal kingdom (2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 89:3-4; 110:1; Lk 1:32-33). See note on Rom 1:3-4.
2 Tim 2:9 | ISB Notes
the word ⌠not chained: Paul himself is shackled in prison, but his saving message continues to spread through trustworthy preachers such as Timothy. In this context, the âword of Godâ is equivalent to the gospel proclaimed by word of mouth (1 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:25).
2 Tim 2:10 | ISB Notes
eternal glory: Everlasting life in heaven, where the saints enter the fullness of their inheritance (Mt 25:34; Col 3:23-24).
2 Tim 2:11-13 | ISB Notes
Possibly an excerpt from an ancient Christian hymn (CCC 2641). It sets forth in conditional propositions the blessings and curses that await us at the Judgment: those who persevere in faith will live and reign with Christ, but those who deny him will be disowned and disgraced in the end. Our ultimate certainty is that Christ will follow through on his promises and threats and so exercise his justice and mercy in perfect faithfulness to the terms of the New Covenant. Several of these statements echo Jesusâ teaching in the Gospels (Mt 25:31-46; Mk 8:38; 13:13).
2 Tim 2:11 | ISB Notes
If we have died: Refers (1) to Baptism, where we die to sin and are filled with new life (Rom 6:2-4; CCC 1262-64), (2) to the Christian life, where we struggle with Godâs help to put to death our selfish and sinful inclinations (Rom 8:13), and (3) to death itself, which admits us into the presence of Christ our Judge (Phil 1:21) (CCC 1010).
2 Tim 2:14 | ISB Notes
avoid disputing: Timothy must silence errant teachers who are fascinated with useless speculation and become contentious when it comes to defending their private opinions before others (2:23; 1 Tim 1:3-7; 6:3-5). This is a matter of urgency since their novelties are already spreading like an infectious disease (2 Tim 2:17).
2 Tim 2:15 | ISB Notes
the word of truth: The gospel message, which is âheardâ through preaching (Eph 1:13; Col 1:5). Uppermost in Paulâs mind is the word of God orally proclaimed (1 Thess 2:13), not the word of God written in the Scriptures (Rom 15:4), though the latter is often central to Christian teaching and evangelism (2 Tim 3:16).
2 Tim 2:17 | ISB Notes
Hymenaeus: Possibly the same person Paul had already excommunicated for blasphemy (1 Tim 1:20). His partner Philetus is otherwise unknown.
2 Tim 2:18 | ISB Notes
the resurrection is past: The precise nature of this error is unclear. Perhaps false teachers affirmed a âspiritual resurrectionâ in connection with Baptism (Rom 6:3-4; CCC 1002) but denied the Pauline doctrine of a âbodily resurrectionâ of the whole person in the future (Rom 8:11; Phil 3:20-21; CCC 989). According to some, this denial smacks of early Gnosticism, an ancient heresy that reached its full development in the second and third centuries and was known to repudiate the body and the material world in general.
2 Tim 2:19 | ISB Notes
Godâs firm foundation: The gospel message, or perhaps the Church, which upholds the truth (1 Tim 3:15).
this seal: Of the two quotations that follow, the first is from the Greek version of Num 16:5, and the second is drawn from an unknown source, though its wording resembles parts of Sir 35:3 and Is 26:13.
⢠The context of the first excerpt is Korahâs rebellion against Moses and the Aaronic priesthood, for which he and his fellow dissenters are destroyed by the Lord. Paul hints that a similar crisis is afoot in Ephesus, where Timothy is the legitimate priest and shepherd of Godâs people, while the false teachers are doomed to face Godâs judgment.
names the name of the Lord: An act of prayer and worship (Gen 4:26; Acts 9:14; 1 Cor 1:2), unless the divine name is taken in vain (Ex 20:7; Lev 24:10-16).
2 Tim 2:22 | ISB Notes
shun youthful passions: Timothy is still a young man by ancient standards, probably in his mid-to-late thirties (1 Tim 4:12). Despite his age, he must flee from immaturity and pursue the virtues that befit a seasoned minister of the gospel.
2 Tim 2:24 | ISB Notes
forbearing: Timothy must deliver the truth at all times and refute errors whenever they arise. There is hope that straying sheep will return to the fold, so long as his pastoral teaching is matched by a life of integrity and patience (2:25; Jas 5:19-20).