2 Timothy 1:11

‘Unto which I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.’

These words are central in the chiasmus. It is because of this appointment that he has to suffer. That is why he is in chains. It is the final proof of his Apostleship. For it is the united testimony of the Old Testament that all appointed by God had to face trials and testing, and even death. And how then can he, a proclaimer of the Gospel, an appointed Apostle, and a Spirit inspired teacher, expect to be exempt? Here is the explanation for his chains. He is God’s man. And the world is doing to him whatever it will (John 15:19).

Paul must have paused here for a moment of wonder before he carried on. It was to this wonderful Gospel, the Gospel of life, that he had been appointed as a preacher (herald, proclaimer), Apostle and teacher,. It was so great a privilege for a mere man to have that he could hardly believe it. But he must therefore accept what came with the job.

But this was also a word to Timothy. He was saying, ‘You see Timothy, God has given me a huge privilege, and so I must also suffer, just as you may have to suffer. The two go together. Here I am, a preacher, an Apostle and a teacher acting in God’s Name, and so like Jeremiah of old (Jeremiah 32:2; Jeremiah 33:1; Jeremiah 37:15-16; Jeremiah 37:21; Jeremiah 38:28) I must lie in this dark lonely cell, with few who are willing to stand by me. It goes with the job. But it does not concern me, because I know of One Who even now stands by me. He is the One in Whom I have believed, and in Whom I have the fullest confidence. And He is here with me now. And I know that He will guard what I have committed to Him against that Day. All is safe in His hands. And you, Timothy, you must be ready for it too. For that is what being a preacher and a teacher of the word of God involves.’