He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not by reason of our works, but by reason of his own purpose and undeserved kindness.”​—2 Tim. 1:8, 9.

6, 7. Was the calling of Paul in the form of a strong inward impulse to take a certain course of action or duty, or how?

⁶ In those words the apostle Paul admits that his being called with a holy calling was not by reason of meritorious works on his own part, but was by reason of the “purpose and undeserved kindness” on the part of God. The same was true in the case of Timothy. The calling in the cases of Paul and Timothy was not in the form of some strong inner impulse toward their particular course of action or duty.

8. What part did the apostle Paul have in connection with the calling of Timothy?

⁸ In Timothy’s case, also, it was not a calling or inviting of him in the form of a mere inward urge accompanied by the conviction of divine influence. There was nothing sentimental about it, but Timothy heard the apostle Paul preach to the congregation in Lystra and he accepted the Kingdom message and got baptized as a Christian. (Acts 14:6-23) The apostle Paul confirmed the Christian calling of Timothy by laying his hands upon him and imparting a spiritual gift to him. Consequently, in his last letter to Timothy, he said to him: “For this very cause I remind you to stir up like a fire the gift of God which is in you through the laying of my hands upon you.” (2 Tim. 1:6) Because of responding to the call as a baptized Christian, the way was opened for Timothy to become a trusted close associate of the apostle Paul in his missionary work. By receiving God’s spirit with its manifestation, both Paul and Timothy knew that they had been called by God by reason of God’s purpose and undeserved kindness.

9, 10. (a) What did Paul’s knowing that he had a calling put into his life? (b) Hence, on what did Paul keep his eyes fixed, like a contestant in what games?

⁹ A person’s knowing definitely that he has a calling or invitation puts purpose in his life. Paul called attention to this fact when, in the course of his second letter, he said to Timothy: “You have closely followed my teaching, my course of life, my purpose, my faith, my long-suffering, my love, my endurance.” (2 Tim. 3:10)