“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:8-12 NASB)
These verses give us a glimpse into:
- The nature of our salvation (“…a holy calling”)
- The method of our salvation (“…not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace”)
- The origin of our salvation (“…which was granted in Christ Jesus from all eternity”)
- The object of our salvation (“…revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus”)
- The benefits of our salvation (“…abolished death and brought life and immortality to light”)
- The missional-nature of our salvation (“…I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle and a teacher”)
- The confidence which stems from our salvation (“…I suffer these things but I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day”)
Good thoughts.
I’d like some more insight on the distinction(s) between “… preacher, apostle and teacher.” Can they be used interchangibly? If so, when and how?
I think the “Apostle” title isn’t so much a problem but the other two are often used synonymously and it appears Paul uses them (at least here) with some degree of distinction.