2 Timothy – Week 1 – Day 1

READ 

2 Timothy 1:1-2 

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. 

As the custom was in those days, the writer described who the letter was from at the beginning. Paul also listed some of his credentials. He had been sent to tell others about life through faith “in Christ Jesus.” The expression “in Christ” is used only of New Testament believers. God had chosen him and he was an apostle of Christ Jesus. Paul also addressed to whom he was writing: “Timothy, my dear son.” Paul asked Jesus to grant Timothy “grace, mercy, and peace.”  

REFLECT 

Have you ever seen so much mentioned in the early lines of a letter? Try writing this much about yourself at the beginning of one of your letters. 

RESPOND 

Paul referred to Timothy as “my dear son.” The Greek word he used was actually “child.” There is no record that Paul led Timothy to the Lord, or was his actual father, but it is clear that Timothy was dear to the apostle through this affectionate greeting. With a friend, read Acts 16:1-5 for Paul’s first meeting with Timothy on Paul’s second missionary journey.