2 Timothy 1:12 I Know Whom I Have Believed

2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV)  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 

As an apostle and as a preacher, according to the command of Christ, Paul preached the gospel, and souls were saved, nevertheless, he suffered imprisonment. Though life was hard, he lost his freedom. But he has no regrets, no bitter thoughts, no misgivings. He says “I am not ashamed”, for I know whom I have believed.

The verb “know” literally means “to see”. The word “oida” is not the word “ginosko” which means inception or progress in knowledge. This comes from the verb which means “to see”. The word “oida” that the Apostle Paul used here means “fullness of knowledge”, that is, “I know Him perfectly”. There is a certainty to what he saw. Recall he was blinded at his conversion when he met Christ on the road to Damascus. He saw the risen Christ. Christ restored his sight. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and he received sight forthwith and arose and was baptised. He was filled with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit that indwells this new man in Christ gave him spiritual sight.

The Holy Spirit bears witness in the Apostle Paul’s heart to the truth of Christ and his salvation in Christ and his commission to make Christ known.

He knows, “he sees with the eyes of faith, he was given spiritual sight to the veracity of his work that would impact souls for eternity” and he is persuaded, he is being persuaded, he is being given that fullness of confidence, to live as he was living now, in prison!

He is persuaded that the God who calls him to this work will also perform to the day of Jesus Christ. What was he persuaded of “He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. The safekeeping of his soul and the work which Christ has called him to do and the souls that have been won to Christ.

May the Apostle Paul’s example be our guide for His glory. Amen.