2 Timothy 1:1-7

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:1-7

Lately, I have been thinking a bit about a part in 2 Timothy 4, so perhaps it would be good to go over 2 Timothy.

This, Paul's second letter to Timothy is more personal than first Timothy, if I remember correctly.  As typical letters begin, we read that it's from Paul and to Timothy.

Paul is an apostle by the will of God.  As you know Paul's story, it wasn't his decision to be an Apostle.  If anything, knowing who he was, you cannot conclude any other answer other than the fact that this was all God's doing.

Not only is Paul an apostle, but he is an Apostle, by the will of God, according to the promise.  His sending or mission or whatever is according to this promise.  What is the promise?  The promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus is the good news of the gospel.  NLT translates it to say, "I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus".  Paul, an apostle, by God's will, according to the promise.  He is sent out to tell others about Jesus, which is what we read that he does.

Timothy is Paul's "beloved child".  There is a special relationship there as perhaps a father is to his son.  We also recognize that Timothy is a younger man, so this father/son relationship makes more sense (it would be weird to be "father" to a "son" who is older than you, wouldn't it?).

Yes, "grace, mercy, and peace" are typical greetings in the introduction of a letter.  Finishing up the introduction we are.

Beginning the middle of the letter, Paul begins with thanksgiving.  He is thankful for Timothy.  Paul really wishes to see Timothy.  I'm sure he misses him, and he wants to see him, "that I may be filled with joy".  This, Paul says, "as I remember your tears".  The memory of Timothy's tears compels him to say that he wants to see Timothy for the purpose of joy.  Perhaps they had some special moments in the past where tears brought immense joy.

One of the things Paul remembers about Timothy is his sincere faith.  This faith is also found in his mother and grandmother.  I guess they seemed to pass this along.  I think of a roast or a wedding speech as one talks about some of the redeeming qualities of a person.  Paul is thinking fondly about Timothy, a person who is very dear to him.  Now, he begins to switch and encourage Timothy.  The encouragement is to "fan into flame the gift of God".  He has a gift and should use it and use it to the fullest.  This is even something that was imparted to him through the laying on of hands.  Why is he to do this and act in such a way?  The verse some of us may be familiar with tells us why Timothy is to use this gift to the fullest, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control".  We are not to be afraid but to be moving forward in God's spirit, which consists of power and love and self-control.