Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Timothy 1:6

"For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands." — 2 Timothy 1:6 (ASV)

Because of his sincere faith and spiritual heritage, Timothy is urged to “fan into flame the gift [GK 5922] of God” that was given to him when Paul laid his hands on him (see comments on 1 Timothy 4:14). This would most naturally be taken as the time of Timothy’s ordination. The tendency of fire is to go out and it must be stirred occasionally. This provides a spiritual metaphor of what believers must do with God’s gifts to them.