II Timothy 1:8 · Bible study
2 Timothy 1:8 Commentary: Not Ashamed
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
An exegetical study of 2 Timothy 1:8. Paul calls Timothy to reject shame and suffer for the gospel through the power of God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Refuse the shame of identifying with Christ and His suffering people, and endure hardship for the gospel through divine power.
- Key words: ἐπαισχυνθῇς (aorist subjunctive: a specific decision not to be ashamed), συγκακοπάθησον (aorist imperative: suffer hardship together with/for the gospel).
- Main debate: The precise force of “with” (συν): suffering with Paul, with the gospel personified, or for the sake of the gospel?
- Theological theme: The inseparable link between the head and the body of Christ in suffering; divine enablement for costly witness.
- Best use: A rallying cry for Christians facing social marginalization, called to identify publicly with the gospel and its community.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,
KJV King James Version 1769
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;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
therefore thou mayest not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but do thou suffer evil along with the good news according to the power of God,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but suffer evil along with the glad tidings, according to the power of God;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but labour with the gospel, according to the power of God.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por tanto no te avergüences del testimonio de nuestro Señor, ni de mí, preso suyo; antes sé participante de los trabajos del evangelio según la virtud de Dios,
Portanto não te envergonhes do testemunho do nosso Senhor, nem de mim, que sou prisioneiro dele; em vez disso, participa das aflições do Evangelho segundo o poder de Deus.
N’ aie donc point honte du témoignage à rendre à notre Seigneur, ni de moi son prisonnier. Mais souffre avec moi pour l’ Évangile, par la puissance de Dieu
Darum so schäme dich nicht des Zeugnisses unsers HERRN noch meiner, der ich sein Gebundener bin, sondern leide mit für das Evangelium wie ich, nach der Kraft Gottes,
Schaam u dan niet der getuigenis onzes Heeren, noch mijns, die Zijn gevangene ben; maar lijd verdrukkingen met het Evangelie, naar de kracht Gods;
Non aver dunque vergogna della testimonianza del Signor nostro, né di me che sono in catene per lui; ma soffri anche tu per l’Evangelo, sorretto dalla potenza di Dio;
Przetoż nie wstydź się za świadectwo Pana naszego, ani za mię, więźnia jego, ale cierp złe z Ewangieliją według mocy Bożej.
Итак, не стыдись свидетельства Господа нашего Иисуса Христа, ни меня, узника Его; но страдай с благовестием Христовым силою Бога,
你不要 以給我們的 主 作見證 為恥，也不要 以我 這 為主被囚的為恥；總要 按 神 的能力，與我為福音 同受苦難。
Have no feeling of shame, then, for the witness of our Lord or for me, his prisoner: but undergo all things for the good news in the measure of the power of God;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Timothy 1:8
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Paul calls Timothy to a decisive break with the social stigma attached to Christ and His imprisoned apostle. The aorist subjunctive μὴ ἐπαισχυνθῇς ('don't be ashamed') suggests, in Cambridge Bible's phrasing, 'the taking up or not taking up a particular line of action' rather than a general fearfulness. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown adds that this implies Timothy had not yet exhibited such shame but was being guarded against the possibility. Barnes and Gill stress that the 'testimony of our Lord' is the entire gospel message, which the world views as foolishness, while Paul's chains compound that stigma. The positive command, συγκακοπάθησον ('suffer hardship with'), is a compound verb only used here and in 2 Timothy 2:3. Vincent notes the prefix συν can mean 'with me', while Cambridge argues the dative τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ ('with the gospel') personifies the gospel as a fellow sufferer. All agree the final clause, 'according to the power of God', anchors this endurance in divine enablement, not human resolve. Clarke writes that 'God will take care that if a faithful discharge of thy duty shall expose thee to afflictions, his power manifested in thee shall be in proportion to thy necessities.'
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Suffering with Paul: The immediate context identifies Paul as 'his prisoner'. Vincent argues the συν- prefix means 'with me'.
- Suffering with the Gospel: The dative τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. Cambridge Bible notes the personification of the gospel as a partner in trial.
- Suffering for the Gospel: The natural sense of enduring affliction for the sake of the gospel. Clarke and Barnes use this language.
What is clear: Timothy must not let social fear or stigma prevent him from identifying with Christ and Paul, and he must rely on God's power to endure the hardship that comes.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Object of Shame | The shame is social and relational, not moral. Christians must not be ashamed of Christ or His suffering people. | Is the primary source of shame the message of a crucified Lord, the chains of Paul, or the general risk of association with a despised minority? |
| Force of the Aorist Command | The aorist tense implies a specific, decisive point of action rather than a continuous state. | Does it imply Timothy had shown hints of prior timidity (JFB mulls this possibility) or is it strictly a preventative warning about the future (Cambridge leans this way)? |
| Object of Suffering | The hardship is directly related to the gospel. | The dative case and the συν- prefix: 'suffer with the gospel' (Cambridge, personifying the gospel), 'suffer with me for the gospel' (Vincent), or simply 'suffer for the gospel' (Clarke, Barnes)? |
| Source of Power | God's power is the sole source of strength for endurance. | Does 'according to' (κατά) mean 'in proportion to' the power God gives (Clarke), or 'in keeping with' the great power displayed in salvation (Chrysostom, quoted by JFB)? |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes from a Roman prison, likely his second imprisonment under Nero shortly before his execution. He identifies himself as δέσμιον αὐτοῦ, 'his prisoner', a man bound not for crime but for Christ. Timothy is in Ephesus, a cosmopolitan city where Christian confession brought real social and economic risk. In the honor-shame culture of the Roman world, to associate with a condemned criminal was to share his disgrace. A prisoner's friends usually kept their distance.
The phrase 'the testimony of our Lord' recalls Jesus' own witness before Pilate (1 Timothy 6:13) and the apostolic testimony to His resurrection. Paul is forging a single identity between Christ's cause and his own chains. To be ashamed of one is to be ashamed of the other. The connection is meant to be unbreakable. Supporting Paul, a prisoner who had once been a rising star in Judaism, required Timothy to abandon any concern for his own reputation. The surrounding context reinforces this: the 'spirit of fear' (v.7) is precisely what opposes such costly confession. Paul's own example in verse 12 ('I am not ashamed') provides the counterpoint, showing the pattern Timothy is to follow.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse.
Reception History
This verse has been a cornerstone of Christian courage. Chrysostom, commenting on the passage, emphasized that the power of God which saved us is the same power that carries us through affliction, calling it a greater miracle than creation itself. In the Reformation era, the Geneva Bible notes framed the verse as a call to bold witness against all worldly shame. Across church history, 2 Timothy 1:8 has comforted martyrs and sustained missionaries in hostile fields. The pairing of Christ's testimony with Paul's chains taught believers that loyalty to the gospel means loyalty to the whole company of the redeemed, especially those in bonds.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Danger of Shame. Christians face pressure to downplay or hide their identity with Christ and His suffering people. Paul anticipates this as a specific decision point, marked by the aorist tense.
- The Demand of Solidarity. No divide exists between devotion to Christ and devotion to His people in chains. Partnership in suffering is not optional for serious discipleship.
- The Source of Strength. The power of God is not an abstract concept but the concrete enablement given to those who suffer for the gospel. Clarke calls it grace in proportion to need.
Five-point outline
- Linking Christ and His messenger: why Paul's chains are the gospel's cause.
- Not ashamed of the testimony: confessing Christ publicly regardless of cost.
- Not ashamed of the prisoner: standing with those who suffer for the faith.
- Suffering hardship with the gospel: treating the gospel as a living companion in trial.
- Living 'according to the power of God': the only sufficient resource for gospel endurance.
Illustration hooks
- A young professional realizes her workplace considers her faith naive or embarrassing. She must decide in the moment whether to speak of Christ or stay silent.
- A Christian family discovers a neighbour has lost their job due to their faith. The invitation to stand with them risks the same social cost.
- The contrast between public shame and private pride: an athlete hides their faith from teammates but is bold among friends. The aorist imperative calls for a clean break.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if I am being ashamed of Christ vs. simply being private about my faith?
- If I am not facing persecution, does this verse still apply to me?
- How do I support a Christian who is suffering for their faith without risking my own comfort or safety?
Leading a Discussion
Paul ties shame of the gospel to shame of its messengers. This passage tests our willingness to identify with Christ and His people, especially when doing so costs us something. The good news is that the command to endure comes with the promise of God's power.
Discussion questions
- Why does Paul link 'the testimony of our Lord' with 'me his prisoner'? What does this connection reveal about the nature of Christian witness?
- How does verse 8 connect to verse 7? What does the 'spirit of power, love, and self-control' have to do with not being ashamed?
- What might 'suffering hardship with the gospel' look like in a comfortable, modern context?
- Why is it important that the aorist tense here implies a decisive moment rather than an ongoing feeling?
- What does it mean to endure hardship 'according to the power of God'? How is this different from positive thinking or simple human grit?
- Share a time when it was easier to stay silent about your faith than to speak. What was the outcome?
- How can a small group or church family help one another resist the temptation to be ashamed of the gospel?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 19:7 | Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple. |
| Psalms 119:46 | I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed. |
| Isaiah 8:20 | Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them. |
| Isaiah 51:7 | “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Don’t fear the reproach of men, and don’t be dismayed at their insults. |
| Mark 8:38 | For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” |
| Luke 9:26 | For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. |
| John 15:27 | You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. |
| John 19:35 | He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that Paul wrote to Timothy because he sensed the young man might be tempted to shrink back from openly confessing the gospel when it meant facing persecution. Paul calls Timothy not to be ashamed of either the gospel’s message or Paul’s own imprisonment for it, and to endure suffering by relying on the strength God supplies, not his own.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the Greek imperatives here are aorist, focusing on a particular future decision rather than any past failure. Suffering hardship with the gospel means entering a fellowship that includes Christ, the gospel message, and Paul himself—all one partnership. The command rests on God’s
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Be not therefore ashamed of the testimonie of our Lord, neither of me his prisoner: but be partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel, according to the power of God,
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the testimony believers might be tempted to hide is the Gospel itself, which is so true and glorious that no one has reason to be ashamed of it. He also presents the Gospel as a person who suffers afflictions, and calls Timothy to share those sufferings patiently by relying on God's enabling power.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB focuses on the Greek verb tense Paul uses, arguing it implies Timothy has not yet shown shame but needs warning because of his natural timidity. He links shame directly to fear: if fear is conquered, false shame disappears. Paul and Onesiphorus serve as examples of fearless witness that overcomes shame.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that even the most faithful Christians need reminders to stir up their spiritual gifts, comparing it to reviving a fire hidden under embers. He insists that the gift God gives must be actively exercised, not just possessed, because using it is what increases it.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent clarifies that when Paul calls himself “his prisoner,” he means literal imprisonment for Christ’s work, not a figurative belonging. The call to “share afflictions” means suffering alongside Paul himself, strengthened by God’s power to endure.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that when fear is gone, the wrong kind of shame vanishes too. The cause of God’s servants cannot be separated from God’s own cause, so Timothy must not be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul. The power of God enables believers to share in afflictions endured for the faith.