“for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” (2Tim 2:9)
I’ve always been a sucker for anything involving Harry Houdini. And why not? The Great Houdini is the greatest escape artist of all-time. He was famous for his not-so-humblebrag, “No prison can hold me. No hand or leg irons or steel locks can shackle me. No ropes or chains can keep me from my freedom.”
Well, as they say, it’s not bragging if you can back it up. The magician would do just that through a series of stunts where he would challenge local cops to lock him up. Handcuffs? No big deal. Shackles? Piece of cake. Jail? Please. You guessed it. He got out. Every. Single. Time.
A couple of thousand years before the Great Houdini, a man named Paul makes a similarly bold statement. He writes to his good friend Timothy that while he might be behind bars, nothing was stopping the message Jesus gave him. The Good News may be the reason “for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” (v9). Paul won’t make it out alive. But the Gospel gets away.
Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.
Unlike the Great Houdini, the apostle is not drumming up media attention or trying to sell tickets. He’s locked up in the first centuries worst slammer, the nefarious Mamertine Prison. Call it Caesar’s SuperMax. Forget all you’ve heard about joints like Alcatraz, Devil’s Island, and even Abu Ghraib. This particular big house was actually very small. A two-cell dungeon where Rome sent those condemned to die.
Paul is on Death Row and knows it (2Tim 4:6-7). As the clock ticks down to his inevitable execution, the apostle furiously writes to his protege Tim for two reasons. First, drop everything and try and see him before his death (2Tim 4:9, 21). Two, encourage the young pastor to keep telling everyone who will listen about the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth, Christ Jesus. While Paul knows he’s probably not seeing the outside again, he has complete confidence that the Gospel is getting out.
Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.
The apostle knows exactly why he’s walking the Green Mile. In the previous verse, he says it’s all because of “my Gospel” (2Tim 2:8). Paul finishes the thought in here in verse nine, that’s the whole reason “for which I am suffering” (v9). This is probably a good time to have a very honest discussion about what it means to follow Jesus. Despite what some people like to believe, placing your trust in Christ doesn’t lead to a life of rainbows, unicorns, and a lifetime supply of Skittles.
The author describes his situation with the Greek word κακοπαθεο. It means to endure pain and affliction or undergo terrible hardship or incredible distress. It’s a compound word meaning to suffer painfully and intensely as the result of evil. Paul is not simply inconvenienced. It’s not like latte didn’t have enough foam. He’s suffering real physical and mental anguish. The term carries the idea of endurance and perseverance. You don’t it enjoy it but also don’t run away. Jesus’ little brother James tells us that God uses these trials to actually grow our faith and make us more like our Savior (James 1:2-3, 12).
Jesus Himself guaranteed His own disciples there was big trouble ahead for each of them in this world (Jn 16:33). Since the world rejected the Son of God, why should His followers expect anything different (Jn 15:18-20). Our Savior goes so far as to say we’re on the receiving end of God’s blessing each time we’re on the business end of persecution. Discrimination for following Jesus on this side of eternity means heavenly reward on the other side (Mt 5:10-12).
Don’t let the proponents of the prosperity gospel fool you. Trusting in God won’t lead to a life full of sweet rides, designer duds, and private jets. Take it from our man Paul. The dude knows what it means to suffer for his faith (2Cor 11:23-28). I’m guessing the prosperity gospel might be a little hard for him to swallow while he was floating in the open ocean for a day and a half after a shipwreck.
The Good News isn’t a some supernatural get-rich-quick scheme. Oh, don’t get me wrong. There is spectacular blessing when you believe in Jesus. But it won’t be easy. It won’t be comfortable. It comes with some level of pain. Some level of discomfort. Blessing, yes. Pain free, no. Paul’s good friend Peter writes that Christ leaves us an example to follow of the right way to suffer (1Pet 2:21). But the former Pharisee wants us to know “these hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepare for us” (2Cor 4:17 The Message).
Paul describes his current suffering to Tim as being “bound with chains a criminal” (v9). Let’s just say he’s wearing the latest in prison jewelry. For whatever reason, Roman authorities have him in some form of restraints. New Testament writers use “chains” (Gr. δεσμος) when talking about imprisonment or restriction in general and handcuffs or any sort of stocks specifically. It’s something binding or physically impeding you from doing what you want. The apostle mentions it not once, but three times in this short letter (2Tim 1:8, 16; 2:9). You can almost hear the clinking of the heavy iron chain while he writes these words. He’s not going anywhere. We could call this is a chain letter. But we won’t.
While Paul knows for sure his days are numbered, he’s also certain the Gospel is nowhere near done. He might be literally wearing a ball and chain. “But the word of God is not bound!” (v9). Sportscaster Dan Patrick drops a catchphrase when describing an athlete who’s red hot, “You can’t stop him. You can only hope to contain him.” The apostle wants us to know God’s Word not only can’t be stopped, but it can’t be contained!
Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.
You stand a better chance of keeping King Kong in captivity than holding back the Gospel. Yeah, neither one’s gonna happen. Just look what went down the last time they tossed Paul in the pokey. “What has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” (Phil 1:13-14). The apostle formerly known as Saul saw firsthand how the very public killing of Stephen only served to cause the message of Jesus to go viral (Acts 8:1).
Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.
God’s number one spokesman may be in custody but God’s Word is on the loose! The Gospel is on the lam. You can’t stop it. You can’t even hope to contain it. It’s like what the resurrected Jesus tells His best friend John. When God’s throws a door open, there’s absolutely no one who can shut it (Rev 3:8). In other words, if Almighty God wants something out, it stays out. The Gospel is a perfect example.
Grace escapes. Every. Single. Time.
Which brings us back to Harry Houdini. He did manage to extricate himself from every single set of handcuffs, every pair of leg irons, and every prison cell. Do you know what did him in? An unexpected punch in the gut ruptured his appendix and killed him. The Great Houdini couldn’t escape death.
But God’s Word can’t be stopped. No grave can hold Jesus. No jail can hold His Word.
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