Structure in 2 Timothy 1 – Part 8

Paul writes really long sentences.  2 Timothy 1:8 – 11 is one sentence.  We looked at the first part of the sentence in verse 8 yesterday.  I was going to skip over this but it is too rich to ignore.

In the last part of verse 8, Paul explains suffering.  It is “for” the gospel “according to” the power of God.  Those are two structural markers we have already seen in verse 5 and verse 1.

Suffering is describes as “for” the gospel, the gospel is the reason we suffer.  The power of God is the basis for choosing to join in Paul’s suffering for the gospel.

Paul then, using particularization, expands his explanation of the power of God giving powerful support for our joining in that suffering.  He notes what God has done through His Power:
Saved us
Called us with a holy calling
Then Paul expands on this calling.  The calling is not “according to” our works but, contrast, “according to” God’s purpose.  Stop and think about what is going on here.  Paul is exhorting Timothy and by extension us to join in suffering for the gospel.  Here he links that suffering to God’s purpose in His calling us.

Suffering for the sake of the gospel is part of God’s purpose.

This Christian thing is not for the faint of heart.

More on this sentence tomorrow.

Posts in this series:
The Influence of Structure
Structure in 2 Timothy 1
Structure in 2 Timothy 1 – Part 2
Structure in 2 Timothy 1 – Part 3
Structure in 2 Timothy 1 – Part 4
Structure in 2 Timothy 1 – Part 5
Structure in 2 Timothy 1 – Part 6
Structure in 2 Timothy 1 – Part 7