2 Timothy 1:6 Meaning: Rekindle the Gift
For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.
For which cause I remind thee to stir up the gift of God that is in thee through the putting on of my hands,
For which cause I put thee in mind to rekindle the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to stir up the gift of God? Paul’s gentle reminder to Timothy carries a question for every believer.
Context
Paul is writing from a Roman prison, near the end of his life. His young friend Timothy is in Ephesus, overseeing the church there. The letter is personal and urgent. Paul has just recalled Timothy’s sincere faith, faith that first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Now, out of that memory and affection, Paul gives a gentle but serious nudge: do not let the fire of God’s gift burn low. The gift was given when Paul and the elders laid hands on Timothy, setting him apart for ministry. But the gift does not run on its own. It needs attention, like a fire that must be stirred to keep blazing.
Key Words
The Greek verb Paul uses is anazōpureō. It means to kindle again, to rekindle, to blow on a fire that has died down to embers. The word carries the picture of a coal still glowing under ash, waiting for a breath of air to burst back into flame. Timothy’s gift had not gone out. It was still there. But it needed stirring.
The word for “gift” is charisma, a gift of grace, something given freely, not earned. It is God’s own enablement, a particular work of the Holy Spirit in Timothy for ministry. Paul does not tell Timothy to earn it or invent it. He tells him to stir up what is already there.
Finally, “laying on of my hands” uses epithesis, the act of imposition. This was not a private ceremony. Paul and the elders together set Timothy apart. The gift came from God; the hands were the channel and the sign of the church’s commissioning.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a call to active faithfulness in the gifts God gives. Many Protestant commentators, like Matthew Henry and Gill, see the laying on of hands as a public ordination that accompanied the impartation of the gift, but they agree that the gift itself is from God and must be exercised. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the verb anazōpureō can mean either “kindle into flame” or “rekindle,” and suggests Timothy may have grown despondent under Paul’s imprisonment. Some traditions, especially those that emphasize apostolic succession, see the laying on of hands as the means by which grace for ministry is transmitted. Others emphasize the presbytery’s role, noting that Paul was one among the elders. Both sides share the conviction that Timothy received a real spiritual enablement, and that he was responsible for using it.
A common misunderstanding
Some people read this verse and think: “Timothy’s gift must be fading or in danger of being taken away.” But Paul is not scolding or warning Timothy that he is losing his gift. He says “I remind you to stir up the gift.” The image is of a fire that is still alive but needs fresh air. The gift has not left. It has just grown quiet. The mistake is to hear a threat when Paul is offering encouragement. He is saying: what God gave you is still in you. Fan it.
Living This Out
Think of one area where you have felt less alive, serving, praying, teaching, helping. Not because you lost the ability, but because the daily grind has covered it. You do not need a new gift. You need to stir the one you have. That might mean setting aside time this week to pray with a friend, or reading something that first made you fall in love with God’s work, or simply taking a small step of obedience you have been avoiding. The fire is there. Breathe on it.
Main takeaway: God gives gifts by grace, and we are called to actively kindle them, the fire is His, but the stirring is ours.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul told Timothy, “Stir up God’s gift in you.” It is like a fire that needs someone to blow on it so it burns bright. God gave you a gift. You can use it and make it grow.
For ages 9, 12
Think of a skill you have, maybe drawing, helping others, or playing music. That ability is a gift from God. But you have to use it, practice it, or it doesn’t grow. Paul told Timothy that God had given him a special gift for serving the church, but he needed to “stir it up,” like fanning a flame. Even Timothy, a leader, had to keep tending his gift. You can do the same.
Questions People Ask
What does 'stir up' mean in the original language?
The Greek word is anazōpureō, which means to rekindle, to kindle again, or to blow on a dying fire. It pictures embers still hot under ash, needing fresh air to burst into flame.
Was the gift given through Paul's hands alone or through the church?
In 1 Timothy 4:14, Paul says the gift was given through prophecy 'with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.' Here he says 'through the laying on of my hands.' Most commentators see Paul as one of the elders, the primary one, but not acting alone. The gift came from God through the whole church's commissioning.
Does this verse apply to all Christians or only to ministers?
Paul is directly addressing Timothy as a minister and evangelist. But the principle applies more broadly: every believer has gifts from God, and each is responsible for using and developing them. The metaphor of a fire needing stirring works for any spiritual gift.
How can I know what my gift is today?
The verse does not directly answer that, but the surrounding passage points to sincere faith (verse 5) and the gifts of power, love, and self-control (verse 7). Often gifts are discovered through serving, asking others what they see, and noticing what brings life to you and others when you do it.
Can a spiritual gift be lost if you don't use it?
The verse implies that a gift can become dormant but not necessarily lost. Paul says the gift 'is in you', it still exists. He urges Timothy to stir it up, not to replace it. But the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) suggests that failure to use a gift can lead to losing the opportunity. So the call is to active stewardship, not fearful hoarding.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study