2 Timothy Chapter 1
Of forefathers and fear, pattern and power
The source of faith is God the Father. Like a river, faith flows through channels carved over years and those who are downstream, the sons and daughters, receive the faith through the forefathers.
To Timothy, a beloved son (v.1)
I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did (v.2)
… the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. (v.5)
But the sons sometimes fear to maintain the course of faith and Timothy was in that situation when Paul wrote this epistle (v.7-8). The situation had been exacerbated by Paul’s imprisonment and sufferings (v.8). In the same manner, sometimes Christians falter in their faith when they see the weaknesses or sufferings of their seniors.
One clear “weakness” of the True Jesus Church—as to be expected since we are the revival of the Apostolic church—is the lack of worldly power and wisdom:
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. (I Cor 1:26)
We do not have many (more likely, any) presidents, billionaires, celebrities, eminent scientists or top theologians in our congregation.
Paul, in both I Corinthians and II Timothy, encourages enlightenment through looking to the source of our faith, God the Father.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (I Cor 1:27-29)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (v.7)
And then back again with renewed confidence to the forefathers through whom God has channeled His faith to us.
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (v.6)
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (v.13-14)
In today’s world, many young people spend a lot of time on social media. Unfortunately, the values of social media are often in opposition to the Bible. The resulting echo chamber actually plays out as a temple of worship for the ungodly and their antichrist values.
Young Christians instead should find their faith in the pattern of sound words from the forefathers.
The traditional teachings of the True Jesus Church were revealed by God through simple inspired men. These teachings were found to be Biblically based and attested by God with signs and miracles (Mark 16:20). For the faith to continue to flow strongly to future generations and to the end of the age, the source and the early channels cannot be continually challenged and impeded with arguments that presumptuously claim equality with the inspiration of the forefathers.
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. (II Tim 2:14)
As Paul urged the young Timothy, so also the writer here in his senior years encourage Christian youths to defend the faith of our forefathers with wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit:
That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (v.14)