Monday 8th January
Read 2 Timothy 2:1-2
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (NIVUK)
The risks of mishandling the gospel are real, both in fact and in personnel. Paul encourages Timothy to stand firm, not in his own strength, but in the strength provided by Jesus. Grasping hold of the grace of the gospel provided by Him is the only way to ensure the gospel is preserved – and by trusting in that grace the responsibility ultimately lies with God.
That doesn’t mean that Timothy has nothing to do though! We see here the glorious chain established to preserve the gospel against error. It begins with Paul, who received it from Jesus. Paul passed it to Timothy. Timothy must pass it on to equally reliable people, who must then also identify and pass it on to others. The chain of faithful people is strong.
Two other aspects are noteworthy. One, it is not a secret gospel. There are not privileged folk who get extra special gospel revelation. It is a gospel passed to Timothy in the presence of many witnesses. It is guarded by those witnesses against corruption in any way, either by addition or omission. Second, it is the gospel that is passed on and has authority, it is not the succession of people that needs to be guarded. Ultimately that good news is preserved in the New Testament we are blessed with. We still need faithful people to guard it, but in its written form it is less subject to corruption and change – just misinterpretation and manipulation!
But that doesn’t mean we have no responsibility to grasp it ourselves and wrestle with the revealed, passed down, good news about Jesus.
