2 Timothy, 1
7. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.
7. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.
Chapter 1 of 2 Timothy presents Paul's exhortation to Timothy so that he will not be ashamed of the testimony of Christ, nor of his sufferings. Paul recalls the sincere faith in Timothy, as well as that of his grandmother Loide and his mother Eunice. The apostle reinforces the importance of keeping the good deposit entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit and not deviating from the truth. Based on these themes, the selected verses are:
Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first of the Jew and also of the Greek." This verse talks about the importance of not being ashamed of the Gospel, just as Paul exhorts Timothy in 2 Timothy 1. The Gospel is the message of God's salvation for all who believe, regardless of its origin.
2 Timothy 2:2: "And what you heard from my part through many witnesses, that gives you to faithful and suitable men to instruct others." Paul asks Timothy to transmit what he learned to other faithful men. This is part of every Christian's mission: conveying the gospel message to other people.
2 Corinthians 1:22: "Who also sealed and has given us the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts." Paul talks about the Holy Spirit, which is the pledge of our inheritance in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to keep the good deposit entrusted to us, just as Paul exhorts Timothy in 2 Timothy 1.
Colossians 2:8: "Be careful, that no one will entangle you with your philosophy and vain subtleties, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to Christ." Paul warns the Christians of Colossus about the importance of not deviating from the truth, just as he exhorts Timothy in 2 Timothy 1. Care must be taken with human philosophies and traditions that can lead to apostasy.
1 Timothy 6:20: "O Timothy, keeps the deposit that has been entrusted to you, with horror of the vain and profane cries and the oppositions of the falsely called science." Paul again exhorts Timothy to keep the good deposit entrusted to him. Care must be taken with false teachings that can lead to perdition.
“Esforce-se, mesmo se for um pouco, mas sempre…” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
