Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, 2 Timothy 1:1-14                 

2 Timothy 1:1-14

As I was reading through the epistle lesson for the week I had one of those “look at that” moments I sometimes have when reading a familiar text. In total, Paul’s instructions to his “true son in the faith” are wonderful to read and consider past the mere reading. But one of his statements to young Timothy really grabbed my attention. In the revealing of God’s Son he has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (v. 10b). In another place Paul writes of the gospel “.... it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16b).

In short, the glory of the gospel is that it reveals our Savior-his beauty, his power, and his indestructible mercy for sinners. Sinners such as we are, blessed beyond measure by the goodness of Christ Jesus. How great is the gospel? Words cannot express it. But oh good it is to ponder.