NOTES for 2 Тим 2:8-15
In the Second Letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul probably quotes the words of one of the Christian hymns (2 Tim 2:11-13). He writes of these lines, “The saying is trustworthy,” as though adding his signature to their content. Indeed, in their construction they resemble verses that convey so much meaning in so few words. They touch upon what matters most in human life: its meaning and, as a result, how this life should be lived and what should be remembered. If we bind our life to Christ’s life so closely that we give our life to Him, then He, our Lord, has the power to restore our life in full by raising us from the dead. We then read about the content of this bond with God: to endure with Him, sharing His sufferings, and to remain faithful. The fearsome words about His denying us in response to our denying Him mean only His acknowledgment that the bond with the Creator has been broken. It has been broken on our side. And He can respond in only one way: with His faithfulness, “for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13).