Paul exhorts Timothy to remember
to "stir up" ("fan into flame")
the "gift of God" Paul imparted to him through "laying on of the hands"
(II Timothy 1:6)
The "gift of God" to Timothy was the "doctrine"
and the sharing of it with the congregation (I Timothy 4:13-16)
A "good minister of Christ Jesus" nourishes
his congregation in "words of faith", which is to say "good doctrine" (I Timothy 4:6)
Paul exhorts Timothy to share in the "afflictions
of the gospel" according to the "power of God" (II Timothy 1:8)
The "power of God" is manifested through the
mature love of a sound mind, which stands in contrast to the weakness of a "spirit of fear" (II Timothy 1:7)
Paul experienced the "power fo God" in the midst
of "suffering" and "much contention" through "boldness of speech" concerning the
gospel (I Thessalonians 2:2)
"For we preach NOT ourselves, BUT Christ Jesus the
Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake" (II Corinthians 4:5)
Paul encourages Timothy with the glory of the gospel concerning the Body of Christ, which He purposed in Christ in eternity
past, BUT NOW has been made known by the manifestation of Christ through the gospel (II Timothy 1:9-10)
The gospel reveals that the salvation and calling of the
members of the Body of Christ is NOT according to their works, BUT according to His grace (Titus 3:5 cf.Ephesians 1:4-6; Ephesians 2:8-9)
The glory involves being seated in the heavenlies at the
Father's right hand with Christ (Ephesians 2:6-7)
The glory involves sharing the headship over ALL earthly
and heavenly governmental authorities with Christ at the Fathers's right hand in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:19-23 cf. Ephesians 1:9-11)
The gospel transfers the sinner from the darkness of Satan's
kingdom into the light of Christ's kingdom (Acts 26:18 cf. Colossians 1:12-13) and makes it possible for Christ's life in the believer (Philippians 2:14-16)
to be the light that dispels the world's darkness around the believer (Ephesians 5:12-14)
Paul encourages Timothy to
remember his appointment as a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles concerning the gospel for which he suffers, but is confident in the One Who is able to guard the
deposit committed to him unto the Day of His Appearing (II Timothy 1:11-12 cf. II Timothy 4:7-8)
Paul was ordained a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher
of the Gentiles to testify at the appointed time concerning Christ as God's Ransom for lost mankind (I Timothy 2:5-7 cf. Romans 3:24-26)
The earthly ministry of the Lord was directed to Israel
(Romans 15:8 cf. Matthew 15:24) and it was God's earthly program to bless the nations through Israel
(Romans 15:9-12)
The heavenly ministry of the Lord was directed to the
nations independently of Israel (Acts 22:6-11,17-21)
Paul was NOT ONLY the communicator of God's grace, BUT
ALSO the living demonstation of it (I Timothy 1:12-16)
God invites the believer to "press toward the mark
of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14) through "the fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10)
Paul was more than happy to "fill up that which is
behind the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body's sake" (Colossians 1:24) and so will also those who "live godly in Christ Jesus"
(II Timothy 3:12)