2 Timothy 1:6

διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν, for the which cause, sc. on account of the unfeigned faith inherited and possessed by Timothy, of which the Apostle has just been reminded. The phrase διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν does not occur in St Paul outside the Pastorals (2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 1:13 : cp. Hebrews 2:11).

ἀναμιμνήσκω σε, I put you in remembrance. It has been supposed by some that here and throughout the Epistle we have allusions to weakness and timidity on the part of Timothy which had come to St Paul’s knowledge; but the evidence does not seem sufficient to establish anything more than a very natural anxiety on the part of the older man lest the younger one should faint under his heavy burden. Paul does not here tell Timothy of any new gift; he reminds him of that which was already his, and which Timothy knew to be his. See Introd. p. xliii.

ἁναζωπυρεῖν κ.τ.λ., that you kindle into a flame the grace of God &c. The Divine χάρισμα is a fire which may be extinguished through neglect; cp. 1 Thessalonians 5:19, τὸ πνεῦμα μὴ σβέννυτε (of the despising of prophesyings). The verb ἁναζωπυρεῖν does not occur again in N.T., but it is found twice in LXX. (Genesis 45:27; 1Ma 13:7, being used intransitively in both cases) and was a common Greek word. Cp. Clem. Rom. 27; Ignat. Ephesians 1.

τὸ χάρισμα τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅ ἐστιν κ.τ.λ., the gift of God which is in thee through the laying on of my hands. Cp. carefully 1 Timothy 4:14 and the note thereon. The χάρισμα is not an ordinary gift of God’s grace, such as every Christian may seek and obtain according to his need; but is the special grace received by Timothy to fit him for his ministerial functions.