Paul commends Timothy for his faith and emphasizes that Timothy must not slack off but must make use of God's Spirit. Timothy was highly reliant on Paul because of fears about future challenges and dangers. The main purpose of both epistles is to reassure Timothy as he faces what lies ahead. Timothy became weakened and uneasy because of fear of the unknown and of what he was to face. Paul had to explain to Timothy why he could not let fear freeze him in place. Paul praised Timothy for his faithfulness and then explained the reason for that praise. Paul was in prison and Timothy began to wonder what would happen to him if Paul were to be executed and how Timothy would face alone the challenges emerging in the church and the persecution that was starting to appear. Paul had to be quite firm with Timothy and told him what he must do and must not do. Paul told Timothy to rely on God's Spirit to strengthen him and to be able to face possible sufferings in the future. Fear of the unknown was at the heart of Timothy's problem at that moment. Paul reprimanded Timothy because Timothy was now gripped by fear. Paul had to tell Timothy to stir up the gift of God. Timothy did not need any new spiritual ingredients to overcome his fear. All Timothy had to do was stir up what he already had. Paul called Timothy a very faithful person as was his grandmother and his mother. The apostle Paul seemed to have recognized in Timothy the human tendency to fear the unknown and death. Paul tells Timothy how to overcome those fears and his advice is to think of others, consider the sad shape of those who are perishing from their sins, and forget himself.