2 Timothy 1:13-18·~1 min

Holding to Sound Teaching

Paul tells Timothy to hold to the pattern of sound teaching he heard from him, with the faith and love found in Christ Jesus. He must guard the good deposit entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit who dwells in believers.

H¹³old on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Paul says everyone in Asia turned away from him, including Phygelus and Hermogenes, but he asks mercy for the household of Onesiphorus, who refreshed him and was not ashamed of his chains. In Rome he searched diligently until he found Paul, and Timothy knows well the service he rendered earlier in Ephesus.

¹⁵You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains. ¹⁷Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me. ¹⁸May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.

Section summaryPaul tells Timothy to keep the pattern of sound words he learned from him and to guard the treasure entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit. He notes with sorrow that many in Asia turned away, yet he prays mercy on Onesiphorus, who refreshed him, sought him out in Rome, and was not ashamed of his chains. The section ends by setting faithfulness and desertion side by side in Timothy's memory.

Role in the chapterThis closing section narrows the chapter's broad exhortation into Timothy's specific responsibility. The entrusted truth must be guarded in the Spirit, and the examples of desertion and courage make the choice before Timothy vivid.