Free Bible Commentary
“2 Timothy 1:1-5”
Categories: 2 Timothy“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”
---End of Scripture verses---
“The promise of life in Christ Jesus” (verse 1). There is nothing more precious than the eternal life that God promises to those who live their earthly lives faithfully “in Christ Jesus”. There is no doubt that this promise brightened Paul’s life as he penned this letter in his dreary prison cell, and that it had much greater significance to him knowing that he was about to depart from this earth and enter into “that which is life indeed” (1 Timothy 6:19). Paul wrote near the end of this letter, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (4:7). “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (4:18).
“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (verse 2). While it is true that this is a typical type of greeting that Paul opens many of his letters with, there is nothing ordinary about the blessings of “grace, mercy and peace from God.” This is a reminder that God’s “promise of life” is purely a gift, given my His grace, and that we do not deserve the indescribable prize of life everlasting that He grants to His faithful children. God forgives us of the unpayable debt of our sins by the grandest act of mercy, which is an expression of His undying love for us. The peace of mind that comes from God’s saving grace and loving mercy “surpasses all understanding, and will guide” our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
“I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy” (verse 4). Life is often paradoxical. Sometimes our eyes leak when we are happy. The thoughts of the tears that Timothy shed as an expression of his love for his mentor and father in the faith brought comfort to the wearied apostle in his lonely prison cell. But what he really longed for was “to see” Timothy one more time. Friends, we can take great comfort in knowing that we will see all of our faithful brethren in Christ again. If not on this side of eternity, most certainly in the great After Awhile. There will be the grandest of reunions in heaven of the dearly departed faithful, and I want to make certain that I do not miss out on that one.
I have never attended any of my high school reunions, nor have I had the desire to do so. But no prize or pleasure that this world has to offer is worth forfeiting that great reunion in the air! “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (2 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
Please read 2 Timothy 1:6-7 for tomorrow.
We would like to invite you to worship God with us today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ.
We assemble at 3741 Taylorsville Road in Louisville Kentucky.
9:30 AM Bible classes for all ages. 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM worship services.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
- Louie Taylor
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