2 Timothy 1:8 (LSB)

Passage

Therefore do not be ashamed of either the witness about our Lord or me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of either the witness about our Lord or me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

2 Timothy 1:10 but now has been manifested by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "ashamed", "either", "witness", "lord", "prisoner", "join", and "suffering". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "ashamed", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "For God has not given us a..." into verse 9's "who has saved us and called us...", so "therefore" and "ashamed" belong inside that flow. In 2 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "therefore" and "ashamed" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.