保羅的最後一封書信
提摩太後書一章1至7節
1奉神旨意，照著在基督耶穌裡生命的應許，作基督耶穌使徒的保羅，
2寫信給我親愛的兒子提摩太：願恩惠、憐憫、平安從父神和我們主基督耶穌歸與你！
3我感謝神，就是我接續祖先用清潔的良心所事奉的神。祈禱的時候，不住地想念你，
4記念你的眼淚，晝夜切切地想要見你，好叫我滿心快樂。
5想到你心裡無偽之信，這信是先在你外祖母羅以和你母親友妮基心裡的，我深信也在你的心裡。
6為此我提醒你，使你將神藉我按手所給你的恩賜，再如火挑旺起來。
7因為神賜給我們不是膽怯的心，乃是剛強、仁愛、謹守的心。
信息分享
不過，這封書信卻包含很多耳熟能詳的重要經文，由個人的確信，以至聖經的默示，對所有信徒都非常有價值。
我們透過第3節，再一次看到保羅的禱告生活。他告訴提摩太，他如何常常為他禱告，即使是在監中，仍不斷切切禱告。它提醒我們，我們即使有種種限制，不能在很多方面服侍基督，但禱告之門總是向我們敞開的。
我們在此也知道提摩太的成長背景。他的外祖母和母親都是基督徒，實在是他的一大福氣。不過，保羅最關心的，是他要繼續運用神給他的恩賜，竭盡所能地服侍基督。在教會事奉，有時免不了會感到灰心。這聽起來好像令人難以接受，卻是可悲的事實。事奉的道路經常要面對困難和孤單。我們要從基督而非人那裡支取力量。
保羅在第7節指出，神給每位信徒的恩賜。毫無疑問，保羅指的是聖靈。他提到聖靈所賜的能力──住在每個信徒心中的聖靈，不單幫助我們除去膽怯的心，還加力給我們參與事奉。保羅還提到仁愛和謹守的心。愛是聖靈充滿的首要標記，也是聖靈所結果子的特質之一，因此，每個信徒的生命都應該彰顯愛。
第7節提到聖靈內住在信徒心中的最後特質，可以有不同的翻譯。引伸本聖經提出四個解釋：冷靜和平衡的思想、自律和節制；也許可以用「穩定」概括起來。信徒的生命必須穩定，並持守信仰，從而反映聖靈掌管他整個生命。這樣的生命必能榮耀基督。
AN OLD MAN’S LAST LETTER
2 Timothy 1: 1-7
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, a beloved son:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,
5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Message
But it also gives us many tremendous verses, some of which have become well known to all believers. They range from personal assurance to the inspiration of the Scriptures.
Once again Paul’s prayer life is seen as he tells Timothy how often he prays for him - see verse 3. Even though in prison he maintained a continuous prayer ministry. It reminds us that even if we may be shut in or unable to do very much for Christ, the ministry of prayer is always open to us.
Timothy’s background is also mentioned. What a heritage a Christian mother and grandmother. But Paul is concerned that Timothy will continue serving Christ to the best of his ability and in the light of his God-given gifts. It is so easy to become discouraged when serving in a church. That almost sounds like a contradiction but is sadly true; the way is often hard and lonely. Our encouragement must be in Christ and not in others.
God’s gift to every believer is mentioned in verse 7. Without a doubt Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit here. He speaks of a spirit of power that could only be the Holy Spirit who is living in every believer to set us free from fear as well many other ministries. Paul also mentions love and self-discipline. Love is the first mark of the Spirit-filled life, one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit which should be seen in every believer’s life.
The last result of the Spirit’s indwelling mentioned in this verse can be translated by various terms. The Amplified Version gives four of them - a calm and well-balanced mind, discipline and self-control.
Perhaps stability could sum it all up. A believer’s life needs to be stable, consistent with his profession, reflecting the control of the Spirit over his entire personality. That kind of life would certainly glorify Christ.