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"To Timothy, a beloved son..."

Text: 2 Timothy 1:2

A TENDER LETTER

That this letter was meant to be a tender and personal letter written by the apostle Paul may be clearly seen in the following text.

“To Timothy, a beloved son:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:2

1. “To Timothy, a beloved son”

a) Timothy’s relationship with the apostle Paul.

i) He was a keen and faithful young man when Paul first met him   (Acts 16:1-3).

ii) He was well-spoken of by many in Lystra and Iconium.

iii) Paul invited him to join his team   (Paul and Silas; Acts 15:40).

b) Ministering faithfully alongside:-

i) Timothy went on to travel with Paul.

ii) He proved himself to be a good and faithful fellow-labourer.

iii) In time Paul regarded him as a spiritual son.

c) A beloved son

i) Paul grew to love Timothy as a son.

ii) He was now addressed as “beloved son”.

iii) Timothy must have endeared himself to the apostle Paul over the years.

2. “Grace, mercy, and peace”

a) These three words were arguably the most significant words in Paul’s theological vocabulary.

b) Their significance:

i) Theological

ii) Personal

iii) Effective

3. “From God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord”

a) Timothy would need “grace, mercy, and peace” for both life and ministry (in Paul’s experience).

b) Theological and personal wishes were blended perfectly.

c) The source of these blessings was acknowledged gratefully by Paul. Indeed all these blessings come from God the Father and also from the Lord Jesus Christ.