保罗的最后一封书信
提摩太后书一章1至7节
1奉神旨意，照着在基督耶稣里生命的应许，作基督耶稣使徒的保罗，
2写信给我亲爱的儿子提摩太：愿恩惠、怜悯、平安从父神和我们主基督耶稣归与你！
3我感谢神，就是我接续祖先用清洁的良心所事奉的神。祈祷的时候，不住地想念你，
4记念你的眼泪，昼夜切切地想要见你，好叫我满心快乐。
5想到你心里无伪之信，这信是先在你外祖母罗以和你母亲友妮基心里的，我深信也在你的心里。
6为此我提醒你，使你将神藉我按手所给你的恩赐，再如火挑旺起来。
7因为神赐给我们不是胆怯的心，乃是刚强、仁爱、谨守的心。
信息分享
不过，这封书信却包含很多耳熟能详的重要经文，由个人的确信，以至圣经的默示，对所有信徒都非常有价值。
我们透过第3节，再一次看到保罗的祷告生活。他告诉提摩太，他如何常常为他祷告，即使是在监中，仍不断切切祷告。它提醒我们，我们即使有种种限制，不能在很多方面服侍基督，但祷告之门总是向我们敞开的。
我们在此也知道提摩太的成长背景。他的外祖母和母亲都是基督徒，实在是他的一大福气。不过，保罗最关心的，是他要继续运用神给他的恩赐，竭尽所能地服侍基督。在教会事奉，有时免不了会感到灰心。这听起来好像令人难以接受，却是可悲的事实。事奉的道路经常要面对困难和孤单。我们要从基督而非人那里支取力量。
保罗在第7节指出，神给每位信徒的恩赐。毫无疑问，保罗指的是圣灵。他提到圣灵所赐的能力──住在每个信徒心中的圣灵，不单帮助我们除去胆怯的心，还加力给我们参与事奉。保罗还提到仁爱和谨守的心。爱是圣灵充满的首要标记，也是圣灵所结果子的特质之一，因此，每个信徒的生命都应该彰显爱。
第7节提到圣灵内住在信徒心中的最后特质，可以有不同的翻译。引伸本圣经提出四个解释：冷静和平衡的思想、自律和节制；也许可以用「稳定」概括起来。信徒的生命必须稳定，并持守信仰，从而反映圣灵掌管他整个生命。这样的生命必能荣耀基督。
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.