The Grounds of His Joyful Confidence Under All His Sufferings
T. Croskery 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed… I. HIS APOSTLESHIP WAS THE CAUSE OF HIS SUFFERINGS. "For which cause I also am suffering these things" - imprisonment, solitude, the hatred of Jew and Gentile. He estranged the Jews by preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, and he offended the Gentiles by denouncing their idolatries and undermining their lucrative superstitions. II. HE OWNS NO SHAME IN THE GOSPEL. It may be an offence to the Greek and a stumbling block to the Jew; but he is not ashamed of it, because he is not ashamed: 1. Of its Author. 2. Of its truths and ordinances. 3. Of his own faith in it. 4. Of his sufferings for it. III. THE REASON WHY HE IS NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL. "For I know whom. I have trusted, and am persuaded that he is able to keep my deposit till that day." 1. He knows his Redeemer through faith and love and experience. It is "eternal life" to know him (John 17:3). It is not that he merely knows of him, but he knows him - what he is, what he can do, what he has promised to do - and therefore he can trust him. 2. His trust is in a known Person. (1) The apostle would have been very foolish to trust an unknown person. We distrust strangers. We will only entrust that which is dear to us - our children or our money - to those known to us. (2) There are foolish people who think it a wiser, as well as a more meritorious thing, to believe without knowledge; like the Spanish Jesuit who said, "I believe in this doctrine, not in spite of its impossibility, but because it is impossible." The apostle held a very different view. (3) There are some people of whom we may say that the mere they are known the less are they trusted. A fuller experience discovers flaws in their character forbidding confidence. But our Saviour is One who is trusted the more he is known, in all the various circumstances of human life. 3. The apostle has placed his soul, as a precious deposit, in the hands of Christ, with the assurance of its perfect safety. "I am persuaded that he is able to keep my deposit till that day." Several circumstances enhance the significance of this act of the apostle. (1) The value of the deposit. What can be more precious than the soul? (Mark 8:37). (2) The danger of its loss. The soul is a lost thing, and but for grace eternally so. (3) The sinner feels the deposit is not safe with himself. Man cannot, any more than man's brother, save his own soul. (4) Who will take charge of this deposit? Many shrink from responsibility in cases of a difficult and delicate nature. But Jesus Christ has undertaken for us; he will take us completely in charge; he will keep our deposit till the day of judgment. (5) Mark the limit of time as to the safety of the deposit - "till that day." No day short of that - not even the day of death; for the completed glory is reserved for the day of judgment. That will be the day for the bestowal of the crown of life. 4. Mark the assurance of the apostle as to the safety of his deposit. "I am persuaded that he is able to keep my deposit." This shows (1) that assurance is a possible attainment (1 John 5:13); (2) that it is a cheering and sustaining experience. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. WEB: For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.