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Serve (v.3) may also mean worship and describes an act of service performed for God. As [Gk., “from”] my forefathers (v.3) suggests the continuity of faith in God from Judaism to the full revelation of God in Christ in Christianity. Remember (v.3), or a similar concept, occurs three other times in this paragraph—recalling (v.4), reminded (v.5), and remind (v.6). The repetition underscores the importance of using our minds and memories for spiritual purposes. Your tears (v.4) is a reference to Timothy’s sadness when they parted. Sincere [Gk., non-hypocritical] faith (v.5) links with 1Ti 1:5. For more on Eunice see Ac 16:1. Persuaded (v.5) means to become convinced by reason (see v.12). Now lives is not in the Greek; Paul simply asserts that such faith is in Timothy.
Fan into flame (v.6) is Paul’s metaphor to suggest Timothy’s tendency to neglect or depreciate his grace gift from God (see 1Ti 4:14). For when the body of elders laid their hands on you, see 1Ti 4:14. V.7 gives us a commanding triad. The placement of the verse indicates that Timothy had difficulty being bold (see v.6 and 1Ti 4:12-14). Timidity (Gk., deilias) is a very good translation since this is not the usual word for fear (phobos). Deilias means cowardly and is never used positively in the Bible. This fear is not from God. Spirit has been interpreted as either human spirit or the Holy Spirit, but given the context of God’s gift (v.6) and God’s giving this spirit, Holy Spirit is preferred. Like Timothy, we must affirm and activate the Spirit’s resources to be God’s workers. This is a main tenet of Wesleyan doctrine.