2 Timothy 1 (Small Group @ the Batchelors’)

Bible Study Guide – 2 Timothy 1 (NLT)

Theme: “Faithful and Fearless”

Paul writes from prison to encourage Timothy to stay strong in the faith,
reminding him of his spiritual heritage
and urging him not to be ashamed of the gospel.

Introductory Questions:

1. Can you think of a time when someone believed in you before you believed in yourself? 
2. Who passed faith down to you—whether in your family or in your spiritual life? 
3. What’s something you’ve been entrusted with that felt weighty or important? 

Scripture and Questions

vv. 1–5 – Remembering Your Spiritual Legacy

Greetings from Paul

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.

² I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Encouragement to Be Faithful

³ Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴ I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

⁵ I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

• Why do you think Paul starts with such warm, personal encouragement? 
• In verse 5, Paul mentions Timothy’s mother and grandmother. How have family or mentors shaped your faith? 

vv. 6–8 – Overcoming Fear with Power, Love, and Discipline

⁶ This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

⁸ So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

• How can we “fan into flame” the gift of God today? What does that look like? 
• Verse 7 says God didn’t give us a spirit of fear. Where do you see fear or timidity affecting Christians today? 
• What does it mean to have a spirit of “power, love, and self-discipline”? How do you develop those traits? 
• Paul says, “never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.” What might “shame” look like in our context—at work, school, or in public? 

vv. 9–12 – God’s Purpose and Calling

⁹ For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. ¹¹ And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

¹² That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

• Paul ties our courage to remembering God’s saving work and calling. How does remembering the gospel help us face difficulty? 
• Paul is confident even in prison. What would help us have that kind of boldness and security? 

vv. 13–14 – Guarding the Gospel Deposit

¹³ Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

• Paul tells Timothy to “keep” or “guard” or  what has been entrusted to him. What has God entrusted to you? 
• How can the Holy Spirit help us guard the truth in a world full of conflicting voices? 

vv. 15–18 – Examples of Faithfulness and Abandonment

¹⁵ As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶ May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. ¹⁷ When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.

• What do we learn from the contrast between those who deserted Paul and Onesiphorus who supported him? 
• How do you want to be remembered by those who walk with you in faith? 

Life Application Principles

1. Legacy matters – Your faith can leave a lasting impact on future generations.
2. Fear doesn’t have the final word – God equips us with spiritual courage and strength to stand firm.
3. The gospel is worth suffering for – Real spiritual growth often comes through challenge, not comfort.
4. Faithfulness isn’t flashy – Quiet, consistent encouragement (like Onesiphorus) can make a deep difference.
5. Guard the truth, but don’t hoard it – We’re called to protect the gospel and pass it on to others.

Closing Questions

• What’s one area where you want to grow in courage this week? 
• Who could you encourage in their faith—like Paul did for Timothy?