2 Timothy: Endure, Encourage, EquipShembull

The uniqueness of endurance

At this point, you might be wondering how Paul can be so bold. He almost seems to expect suffering, but at the same time, he doesn’t resign himself to it. He writes, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).

Suffering is a door we leave open for God to step through. It’s the point when we’re at the end of ourselves. It brings us to the edge of the cliff, but God gives us wings to fly over the chasm. Paul points this out too, how even though he’s literally “chained,” the Gospel is not (2 Timothy 2:9). It has no boundaries. It sets him free, and it sets others free too.

And Christ Himself endured more suffering than we could ever imagine, and in verses 11–13, Paul quotes a passage that encourages us to follow in Christ’s footsteps. Each line is parallel to the one before it, either contradicting the previous statement or adding to it. Each one is closely connected to the other, but one in particular stands out because it breaks the format: “If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12).

There’s something special about endurance because it leads to “reigning with Him.” The more we persevere and push through trials, the more delighted we are when we think of heaven. The more appealing it seems, the more we focus on the heavenly things rather than the earthly things.

These statements demonstrate how you can follow Jesus in and through everything—He knows what you are going through, and He experienced every pain, every worry, every trial before you. You can step into His footsteps with confidence.

Lastly, Paul encourages Timothy not to keep this information to himself but instead to “keep reminding God’s people of these things” (2 Timothy 2:14).

1. What makes endurance different? Why does Paul put so much emphasis on it in 2 Timothy? Why is it necessary?
2. Define endurance in your own words. What did it mean to Paul in this context? What does it mean to you today?
3. Think about a time when you had to endure. What was it like? What emotions were you feeling and what got you through?