As Paul pens what is likely his last recorded word in all of Scripture in this final chapter to Timothy, he leaves a powerful reminder. He charges Timothy to be alert and proclaim the Gospel with patience and care. He further guides Timothy to see how the Lord is faithful to fulfill his promises. Finally, he shows how the only way to live out the Gospel and keep the faith, is to cling to and proclaim Lord Jesus!

Paul is going to encourage Timothy to hold fast and endure in the gospel. The way Timothy needs to endure in the gospel is to avoid ungodly examples and follow godly examples and to continue learning and believing the sacred Scriptures.

Paul is giving Timothy three different images to describe the character of a faithful teacher. In giving him these images, Paul is reminding and instructing Timothy to remain a faithful teacher and do not fall into the traps that the false teachers have fallen into.

Paul encourages Timothy to endure suffering for the gospel and he gives Timothy four challenges of how to endure suffering for the gospel.

In today’s passage, Paul is encouraging Timothy to guard the gospel of Jesus Christ that has been entrusted to him. Guarding the gospel is to not be ashamed of the gospel, to remember the truths of the gospel and to hold fast the gospel that we may remember Jesus and proclaim him.

In the introduction of this letter, Paul is encouraging Timothy who is struggling in ministry, and he reminds him of his calling from God through the Apostle Paul who is his spiritual father, his godly mother and grandmother and God who is gifted him with spiritual power that Paul himself has confirmed.