2 Timothy 1:8
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul calls Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul's chains, but to share in suffering for the gospel by God's power.
What Does 2 Timothy 1:8 Mean?
With Paul in prison, association with him carried social danger and shame. Paul urges Timothy not to shrink back from the Lord's testimony or from Paul himself, but to embrace a share in the gospel's afflictions.
Shame is a powerful force, quietly pulling people away from costly commitments. Paul meets it head-on, naming his chains without apology and inviting Timothy into the same hardship. Crucially, the suffering is borne not by human grit but according to the power of God. The gospel may cost something, yet the One who calls also supplies the strength to bear it. For readers tempted to hide their faith when it grows unpopular, this verse calls them to a courage that is not their own but God's, given freely for the task.