2 Timothy 1:1-2

Summary retelling of 2 Timothy 1:1-2

As usual, Paul introduces himself at the beginning of the letter.  He says that he is an apostle of Christ, by the will of God, and according to the promise of life in Christ.  Paul also addresses the letter to Timothy, Paul’s beloved child.  He then extends grace, love, and peace for both God and Jesus.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul introduces himself.  This might seem a little funny, especially since they didn’t have a postal service back then.  This letter got to Timothy by being carried from Paul to Timothy by someone who knows both of them.  The deliverer could have merely said to Timothy, “This is from Paul.”  However, it is important for Paul to identify himself because of the testimony.  It is important for Paul to say, “I am taking ownership of this letter” and “These words are my words.”

Why is it important for us to take ownership of our words?  Why is it important for us to be willing to attach our name to our testimony?

Second Thought:

Paul again says that he is an apostle; but he also tells us that his work is by the will of God and according to the promise of life in Christ.  These last two concepts are extraordinarily important to our work as Christians.  As we have learned all along in the Bible, nothing done outside of the will of God will last.  It should be the will of God that drives us to our work.  As for the hope of life in Christ, that should be the goal of our work.  We should be living and working through this life because of the hope of eternal life in Christ.  Eternal life should be the dream to which we aspire.  Thus, Paul gives us the motivation and the goal of our work.

 When you do things, are you always doing them because it is the will of God?  When you do things, are you always doing them with eternal life as the goal?  How can we keep those two things more central in our life?

Third Thought:

Paul tells Timothy that he is his child.  As I said when we began 1 Timothy, this does not mean that Timothy was Paul’s literal spiritual child.  Rather, this is a designation that is spiritual in nature.  Paul taught Timothy the faith (or at least picked up where his mom and grandmother left off).  Paul was the one who walked with Timothy, answered his questions, and inspired him into the position that he is in.  Paul is reminding Timothy that they have a special relationship and it is not just a relationship of authority but a relationship of meaning as well.

As I asked when we began 1 Timothy, who are your spiritual parents?  Who are the people in your life that have inspired you to greater spiritual depths?  Would you like to one day have “spiritual children?”  What do you have to do in order to position yourself to accomplish God’s will for you in that regard?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Timothy 1:3-7