2 Timothy 1:1–2
1 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 1:2To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Section Overview
As in 1 Timothy, the first two verses of 2 Timothy constitute the opening greeting of the letter. In these kinds of first-century letters, the opening would typically consist of three parts: (1) reference to the sender, (2) reference to the recipient, and (3) a greeting. Paul uses this form throughout his letters, and 2 Timothy is no exception, although Paul has put his own spin on the form and adapted it for his own Christian purposes (table 7.1).
TABLE 7.1: Paul’s Three-Part Salutation in 2 Timothy 1:1–2
| Sender | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, |
|---|---|
| Recipient | To Timothy, my beloved child: |
| Greeting | Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. |
The opening contains material that is key to interpreting the rest of the book. Paul Christianizes a standard expression of greeting (chairein) by transforming it into “grace, mercy, and peace” (charis, eleos, and eirēnē).
Section Outline
Response
We need Paul to remind us of his authority because we are facing the very same things Timothy faced—challenges to God’s authority. Paul will command Timothy to hold fast to the faithful Word in the face of false teachers who oppose it. He is telling us to do the same. But our willingness to do so will depend entirely upon whom we recognize as our authority. Before we are able to fight the good fight to which God is calling us, we must settle in our heart now the question of who or what will be our authority.