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Paul and Timothy: Persevering in Suffering

Listen to our friend Mo talk about the letter Paul sent to Timothy to encourage him as he suffered.

Paul wrote his last letter to Timothy from a Roman prison. His execution was imminent. This personal pastoral epistle encouraged Timothy, Paul’s co-worker and son in the faith, in his call to ministry. Paul wrote him as a spiritual father to prepare him for the realities of Christian adulthood and his calling. He reminded Timothy to be prepared for the inevitable persecution and suffering he would face if he held fast to the true faith. At the climax of this letter, Paul wrote, “Everyone who wants to live a life that pleases God through Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12).

Jesus warned his followers about suffering. But he promised his presence in the middle of it (Matt 28:20; Acts 9:24). The early church was keenly aware of the reality of suffering. The Book of Acts and the epistles recount the suffering of Christians in their obedience. Amazingly, they were joyful in their suffering (Acts 5:41; 16:25; 2 Cor 12:10; Col 1:24; Rom 5:3). They knew true prosperity—joy that perseveres in persecution. And Paul’s rich epistle to Timothy continues to be a source of inspiration to the church today to share the gospel and the word of God accurately to the nations even in the midst of suffering.

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If you’d like to read more of Paul’s letter to Timothy about suffering as a follower of Jesus, take a look at 2 Timothy 1:8; 2:3; 3:10–15 and 4:3–8.