<p>1:12 <i>For which cause I suffer also these things. Yet I am not ashamed-</i> Paul is asking Timothy to copy his example of suffering hardship&nbsp; and not being ashamed. The wonder of being saved, and knowing that all our witness work is extending the calling to others and bringing them to the real possibility of eternal life and glory to God... all this empowers us to suffer and not be ashamed for the sake of the Gospel.</p><p><i>For I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard what I have committed to him against that day- </i>As we along with Paul have committed our &quot;all things&quot; to Him, so He commits the &quot;all things&quot; of the Gospel to us (2 Tim. 1:12 cp. 14; 1 Tim. 6:20). There is a mutuality here between us. But some manuscripts offer an alternative, to the effect that He is able to guard what <i>He </i>has committed unto <i>me</i>. The gift of the Spirit, through which God's power / ability &quot;is able&quot; operates, will enable us to hold on to the ministry we have received from Him. And Timothy is then urged in :14 to use the power of the Spirit to maintain the ministry which <i>he</i> had received.</p><p>&quot;I know Him&quot; clearly speaks of relationship, rather than mere theological awareness, no matter how pure. It is the knowledge of Jesus, the mutual relationship with Him, knowing His presence in the Spirit, which makes us not ashamed. &quot;That day&quot; is the appearing of the Lord Jesus at His return, when death shall be abolished (see on :10). Paul's persuasion that he would be 'guarded' until that last day is another way of saying that he knew that he really now had the Spirit as an earnest / guarantee of future salvation. For His 'ability', <i>dunatos</i> (&quot;able&quot;), is through the <i>dunamis</i> of the Spirit which we have been given.</p>