Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 1:8

"Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;" — 2 Timothy 1:8 (ASV)

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.—Seeing, then—remembering, then, that God gave you and me (notice the beautiful courtesy of the old martyr waiting for death, death the human reward of his fearless life, coupling, as he has been doing, his sorrow-stricken, dispirited friend with himself, whom no danger, no failure had ever affected)—remembering, then, the spirit of power, love, and self-control given to us, do not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord.

This “testimony” of which Timothy was not to be ashamed, of course, includes the sufferings and the shame of Christ. In these, before mocking, scornful men, must Timothy, as an example to the flock, rather glory; but “the testimony” signifies much more than what relates only to the Passion story. The Christian, instead of being ashamed of his “profession,” must show fearlessly before the world that its hopes and its promises are his most precious treasure.

Nor of me his prisoner.—Nor must Timothy, either then or in days to come, be afraid of confessing before men that he had been the disciple and friend of the prisoner St. Paul, who had paid so dearly for the courage of his opinions. Nor must Timothy, nor any Christian, shrink from openly espousing the unpopular cause of the Crucified, or from publicly declaring their sympathy with its hated martyrs.

But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.—More accurately rendered, but rather suffer afflictions for the gospel. But, on the contrary, instead of injuring the good cause by faint-hearted conduct, should Timothy rather be ready to suffer, if need be, with St. Paul, ready to bear some shame with him, ready to incur, perhaps, severe danger for the gospel's sake. And then St. Paul, emphasizing his words and strengthening with a new strength his argument and his exhortation, adds, “according to the power of God”—yes, join with me in suffering, if need be, for the gospel.

Mighty and merciful was God's power toward us: great, surely, in proportion should be our readiness to suffer in return, if He asks this—as He is now doing from you and me—from us.

According to the power of God.—What power of God? has been asked. Not according to the power we get from God, but according to the power which God has displayed toward us in our calling and in our marvelous salvation. In other words, God, with great power, has helped us; surely we may be confident that He will never leave us, never desert us, but in the hour of our most severe trouble incurred for Him will help us and will bring us safely through it.

So Chrysostom, who, while asserting that suffering will be borne, but not in our strength but in God's, says, “Consider how you have been saved, and how you have been called;” inferring that He who has done such great things for man, in his calling and in his salvation, will never let him lack strength.