It is the opening line nobody ever wants to hear: “Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news?” The good news is that there is some gloriously good news. The bad news is that some genuinely bad news goes along for the ride.

That is the good-news/bad-news message brought by Paul in this week’s epistle text. The apostle both prepares his protégée for what he might expect, and encourages Timothy, and future generations of Jesus followers, to persevere.

At the beginning of this section of his letter, Paul implores Timothy, “my child,” to “be strong.” Now he gives his stalwart companion in spreading the gospel some of the “gory details” that staying strong will entail. But before he begins to itemize that cost, Paul enjoins Timothy to engage in the most basic of faith exercises — …