Thomas Aquinas Commentary 2 Timothy 1:11-18

"whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher. For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto [thee] guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me (the Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day); and in how many things he ministered at Ephesus, thou knowest very well." — 2 Timothy 1:11-18 (ASV)

1. Above, Paul urged Timothy to preach Christ earnestly; here he presents himself as an example.

   • First, he gives the example.
   • Second, he urges Timothy to follow it, at hold the form.
   • Third, he states why he must follow this example, at you know this.

   Regarding the first point, he does three things:

   • First, he mentions his office.
   • Second, he narrates what he has suffered in performing that office, at for which cause I also suffer these things.
   • Third, he states the certainty of his hope, at for I know.

2. First, therefore, he describes his office from three viewpoints. He declares that he is appointed a preacher to raise the moral standard: preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2); preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Second, he is an apostle, to govern the Church, because the apostles were prelates of the Church: He who worked in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked in me for the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8). Third, he is a teacher of the Gentiles to teach the holy faith and the knowledge of God: a doctor of the Gentiles in faith and truth (1 Timothy 2:7); O children of Zion, rejoice and be joyful in the Lord, your God, because He has given you a teacher of justice (Joel 2:23).

   But he says, wherein I am appointed, and he lists three things:

   • First, that he did not take it upon himself, but was appointed to it by another: no man takes the honor to himself, but he that is called, as Aaron was (Hebrews 5:4).
   • Second, that in the appointment his duties are outlined.
   • Third, firmness, because he was appointed according to the order of reason and has remained firm: I have appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain (John 15:16); the stars remaining in their order and courses fought against Sisera (Judges 5:20).

3. Then when he says, for which cause I also suffer these things, he shows what he is suffering as a result of being faithful to his office, saying, I suffer these adversities, namely, chains and weariness, and this for the faith of Christ: I labor even unto bands (2 Timothy 2:9). And he says, for which cause, because suffering in itself is not praiseworthy, but only when it is for a just cause: blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10). That is why I am not ashamed, because it is no shame to suffer for the sake of justice: let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief... but if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name (1 Peter 4:15); and they went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41).

4. Then when he says, for I know whom I have believed, he affirms the certainty of his hope, which enables him not to be ashamed. This certainty is in the fulfillment of God’s promise; hence he says, whom I have believed.

   Note that in one sense, “to believe” is an act of faith. His meaning, therefore, is this: I know that the One who promised is faithful and able to bestow the eternal life which He promised to everyone who remains faithful.

   But this seems to indicate that knowledge and faith are the same, and that the thing known and the thing believed are the same, whereas it is the nature of the known to be seen, and that of the believed to be unseen.

   I answer that there are two things in faith: that which is believed, and the One who is believed. There cannot be knowledge of that which is believed, because that would destroy the nature of what is believed. But there is knowledge of the One who is believed, because there is the clearest evidence that God is faithful. And so he says, I know whom I have believed: believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, if they be of God (1 John 4:1); the innocent believes every word (Proverbs 14:15).

   In another sense, believing refers to the faith placed in a person, to whom one entrusts something; and this is the truer meaning. It is as if to say: I have entrusted myself, my labors, and my sufferings to God; and I know that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him, against that day.

5. Note that the thing that is committed, namely, the “deposit,” can be understood in two ways. First, it can refer to what I have deposited. This is how a person deposits or commits his salvation to God when he dedicates himself entirely to God: casting all your care upon Him, for He has care of you (1 Peter 5:7); cast your care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you (Psalms 54:23). Second, a person deposits their works when they receive their reward not immediately, but later. This is how people who act well commit their reward to God against that day, when He will judge the hidden things of humanity, to whom God will render the wages of their labors : say to the just man that it is well, for he shall eat the fruit of his doings (Isaiah 3:10).

   Alternatively, that which I have committed refers to the office entrusted to me, namely, to work for the Gospel: this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). And God is able to keep His apostle until death.

6. Then when he says, hold the form, he exhorts him to follow his example. There are two versions of the text: one says, hold and the other, holding. If we accept holding, then:

   • First, he states why it is fitting for Timothy to imitate the Apostle’s example.
   • Second, he urges him to imitate him, at keep the good thing committed to your trust.

7. But the Apostle was worthy of imitation in two respects: his learning and knowledge, hence he says, of sound words; and his power, hence he says, in faith and in the love.

   He says, therefore: You cannot excuse yourself if you are not prepared to suffer even to the point of chains, just as I suffer, because you hold the form of sound words, which do not have the weakness of being false: speak the things that befit sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). And it is called sound doctrine and not weak, because it makes us sound. Then he adds, which you have heard of me. It is as if to say: You have not been deceived, because I delivered to you what I heard from Christ: I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered to you (1 Corinthians 11:23); he who hears you, hears Me (Luke 10:16).

   And this is in faith and in love, because if a person knew all the sound words but refused to believe, he would not be strong in faith. Nor would he love, because he would easily slip from true doctrine when faced with either adversity or prosperity: without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6); he who does not love, abides in death (1 John 3:14). And this is in Christ Jesus, because the true faith is concerned with the things Christ taught, and true love is found in Christ, who gave the Holy Spirit through whom we love God.

8. Therefore, having these things, keep the good thing committed to your trust. This refers to what I have entrusted to you: the office of preaching. Never depart from the truth or give up the office of preaching at any time because of fear: with all watchfulness keep your heart (Proverbs 4:23); O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust (1 Timothy 6:20). And keep this with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16).

   According to another version, he urges him to maintain sound doctrine and to persevere in it.

9. Then when he says, you know this, he shows why this admonition was necessary: because some are becoming lax while others are progressing. For when a person sees some of his associates making progress and others slowing down, he strives to imitate the good ones.

   • First, therefore, he reminds him that some are slowing down.
   • Second, that some are making progress, at the Lord gives mercy.

10. Therefore, he tells him what to avoid in order to stay out of danger: he that thinks himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). Therefore, he says, all they who are in Asia are turned away from me. On this, a gloss says: “They were full of deceit; for they pretended to sympathize with the Apostle, but only to obtain information with which to slander him.” Therefore, they who are turned from me are now in Asia: among them were Phigellus and Hermogenes, who were converted by James.

11. Then when he says, the Lord gives mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, he shows the progress others are making, especially a certain Onesiphorus, stressing in particular the good works he performed for the Apostle in Rome and then in Asia. In regard to the first, he calls three things to mind:

    • First, he asks for God’s mercy on him.
    • Second, he shows the merits that earn mercy.
    • Third, he mentions the time for mercy.

    He asks for the first when he says, the Lord gives mercy, because the present life is one of misery: man born of a woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries (Job 14:1). He says, to the house of Onesiphorus, that is, not only to the person but to the family, because the goodness of one draws down grace upon the whole family: if that house be worthy, your peace shall come upon it (Matthew 10:13).

    The merit that earns mercy is the mercy he showed the Apostle; hence he says, because he has often refreshed me, namely, by giving him rest: blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7); shall not the dew soothe the heat? ; the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother (Philemon 1:7). And of my chains: I labor even unto bands as an evildoer (2 Timothy 2:9). He has not been ashamed, but when he came to Rome, he carefully sought me, as a friend does: if you would get a friend, test him before you take him ; he that is a friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17).

    He wishes him mercy in the age to come when he says, in that day. This is the day in which the Lord will judge us all, a time when mercy will be needed. For his service not only in Rome, but at Ephesus, he is deserving of God’s mercy.