Paul previously used three examples:
- Soldier (not distracted)
- Athlete (Following rules)
- Farmer (hard-working)
Here, he cites Jesus as the ultimate example of faithfulness. Paul notes two aspects in particular about Jesus: He is Savior and Messiah
So, the challenge is to Remember Jesus:
- It is the only imperative of this section.
- He is the Messiah who fulfilled the promise of Scripture (Seed of David; raised from the dead).
- He is the faithful Savior who accomplished our salvation (Word of God is not bound; salvation is in Christ; eternal glory).
Then, everything that follows in this passage grows out of the understanding of His faithfulness.
Because He is faithful – that’s the impact of vss. 9 and 10 (“for which,” “for this reason”)
- We can be confident in our salvation through Christ
2:11 – This is one of 5 “faithful sayings” (Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος).
- We find this phrase 5 times in the Pastorals
- 1 Tim. 1:15 – Jesus came to save sinners.
- 1 Tim. 3:1 – If a man desires to become a bishop, he desires a good thing.
- 1 Tim. 4:9 – Godliness is profitable for all things.
- 2 Tim. 2:11 – If we died with Him, we will live with Him.
- Titus 3:8 – Having been justified by His grace, we have become heirs.
2:11–12 – The verb tenses following the four “if” statements are critical.
- If we died (aorist tense), we will also live (future tense)
- See also Rom. 6:8
- See William D. Mounce, Pastoral Epistles, Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000), 516. He argues that the use of “died” in the aorist tense here should be understood to be a past tense event, not a future martyrdom.
- If we endure (present tense), we will reign (future tense).
- This is the present life of the believer.
- If we deny Christ (future tense), He will deny us (future tense).
- The threat here is conditional.
- If we are faithless (present tense), He remains faithful (present tense).
- Here, we see the character of Christ which is unaffected even by our faithlessness.
- God is necessarily consistent to His character, He cannot deny Himself.
- If our being unfaithful would cause God to respond with unfaithfulness, then our actions would cause God’s response,but we can no more cause God to be unfaithful by our actions than we can earn our salvation by our works.
You might title this message: Remember Jesus!
Because Jesus is faithful:
- I know I Can Trust His Word
- I know I Can Trust His Purpose
- I know I Can Trust His Promise
- I know I Can Trust His Nature
