8提摩太后书的主题是对召会败落的预防剂。……〔在二章一至十五节里有〕给预防者的五个特别称呼。……我们若仔细读这些经文,就会看见,保罗认为提摩太和他其他的同工该是教师、精兵、竞赛者、农夫和工人。……基于保罗〔在一章〕……所写给提摩太的,他现今接着鼓励提摩太要在基督耶稣里的恩典上得着加力。保罗在这里不是嘱咐提摩太要在知识或恩赐上得着加力,乃是嘱咐他要在恩典上得着加力。……这恩典是神在生命中的供备,使我们活出祂的定旨。保罗即使在监狱中也不沮丧,反而在恩典上得着加力(提摩太后书生命读经,二五至二六页)。
8The subject of 2 Timothy is inoculation against the decline of the church… [There are] five specific titles given to the inoculator in 2:1-15…If we read these verses carefully, we will see that Paul regarded Timothy and his other coworkers as those who should be teachers, soldiers, contenders, farmers, and workmen…Based upon what he has just written to Timothy [in chapter 1], Paul now goes on to encourage him to be empowered in the grace which is in Christ Jesus [2:1]. Paul did not charge Timothy here to be empowered in knowledge or in gifts. He charged him to be empowered in grace…This grace is God’s provision in life given to us that we may live out His purpose. Instead of being discouraged, Paul was empowered in grace, even though he was in prison. (Life-study of 2 Timothy, 2nd ed., p. 21)