Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, even though it was a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, because he knew whom He believed and he was persuaded that Christ would keep that which Paul committed to him. Christ would not break His covenant with Paul and fail to finish the work He had started in Him. Paul charged Timothy to guard the treasure that had been entrusted to him. To guard is to defend against the enemy. In the context, this meant that Timothy, rather than giving in to a spirit of timidity and fear and cowardice, needed to stand firm and proclaim the gospel that was so hated by so many. Paul speaks of an astonishing "turning away" from him by "all who are in Asia." A large number of professing Christians -- including false Christians but also genuine ones -- from churches possibly including Ephesus (which was in Asia) and Colossae, had turned away from Paul and were ashamed of his chains. How deserted and lonely Paul must have felt, but he was called to suffer with Christ and Christ had also experienced the departure of all His friends.