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Session 4 | 2 Timothy 2:8-13

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by Randy White Ministries Friday, Oct 15, 2021

2 Timothy Verse by Verse


Session 4 | 2 Timothy 2:8-13


2 Timothy 2:8-10 | Paul's Gospel Suffering

  • Verse 8 --

    • The Pauline Gospel (here referred to as my gospel) has the same grounding as the Gospel of the Kingdom: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    • Here Paul notes that Jesus is of the seed of David, reminding us that our Savior and the Jewish Messiah are one and the same, though Jesus is our Savior and their Messiah. This is one of many things in which both Gospels share substance though they are different Gospels.

    • It is interesting that Paul says that the resurrection was according to my Gospel.

      • How can this be since Paul's Gospel was an unrevealed mystery even at the time of the resurrection, and certainly at the time of prophecies concerning the resurrection?

      • One must realize that the underlying Greek word translated according to should“along which the action proceeds" (see The Companion Bible, Appendix 104.x.2).

        • κατά [kata], and when used as a prefix it intensifies the root word to the ultimate degree.

        • “the end of which is [the accusative noun].


  • Verse 9 --

    • Because of the Pauline Gospel he endured trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds. These words let us know that Paul is in prison as he writes this letter.

    • Paul then gives the encouragement that the word of God is not bound.

      • Here he refers to God's expression in general, including Scripture.

      • All we know of the word of God is given to us in Scripture.


  • Verse 10 --

    • It is because the word of God is not bound (v. 9) that Paul endures all things. He does this for the elect's sake, desiring their salvation.

    • One must acknowledge that the elect have not obtain[ed] the salvation which is theirs. Paul is enduring suffering so that they will obtain the salvation.

      • If there“unconditional election" (as proposed by Calvinism), must Paul suffer in order that they obtain salvation?

      • What if (as I propose) the elect are not people whom God has chosen to provide His salvation by grace, but rather the Jewish nation, called for a specific purpose with the reward of the Davidic Kingdom?

      • Which of these would be more in line with the Word of God, and with Paul specifically?

        • Paul said in Romans 9:1-3 that he had a great heaviness and continual sorrow (Rom 9:2) for the Israelites; to whom pertaineth the matters of election (see Rom. 9:4-5).


    • Which salvation is this?

      • It is specified as the one in Christ Jesus, which could refer to either the mystery salvation or the prophetic salvation (i.e.: grace or kingdom).

      • It is further specified as the one with eternal glory.

        • Typically (though likely outside the ability to prove categorically) glory is associated with the Second Coming of Jesus.

        • “with glory age-during." That is, “with the glory of the age." The “age" in reference would be the “age of the Kingdom" which is the age of glory.


          2 Timothy 2:11-13 | Paul's Analysis of His Suffering


  • Paul introduces verses 11-13 as a faithful saying.

    • We only know of this to be said by Paul in Romans 6:8, which is an almost exact quote of verse 11. Romans 8:17b is an almost exact quote of 12a.

    • It looks like a saying of Paul and not an ancient Christian hymn or quote from someone else.

    • Paul uses the same Greek phrase which is here translated a faithful saying in four other places, and all of them are wholly Pauline (1 Tim. 1:15, 3:1, 4:9, and Titus 3:8).


  • I have chosen to designate this passage as green text with the exception of verse 12, which I have kept black text.

    • The elect are the subject of verse 10, thus I believe that is who Paul is talking about.

    • Furthermore, Paul uses the third person plural we in these three verses, and this is the only time he uses that pronoun in all the epistle.

      • Who are we? Since Paul is talking about the elect (of whom he is one), then we must be the elect, and therefore not the church.


  • If we were to take this as a faithful saying for the body of Christ, then verse 12 becomes problematic.

    • Every passage that teaches of a joint-reign with Jesus require replacement theology (substituting the church for Israel).

    • When that replacement is made, then works become required for this joint-reign (If we suffer...).

    • Furthermore, it is true that Christ denies Israel when Israel denies Him, but it is not true for the individual believer.


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