2 Timothy 1:1-7 – Mentors and counsel

In this opening paragraph, we are introduced immediately to Paul as the writer, and Timothy as the recipient of the letter. Paul wrote as a mentor to his young protégé. In calling himself an apostle of Christ Jesus, Paul had again ranked himself with the 12 apostles whom the Lord had appointed for the task of advancing the Kingdom of God. He also saw his appointment as part of God’s will, for he only met the Lord Jesus after His ascension. It was at that divine encounter that Paul was commissioned. Here Paul revealed two things concerning his apostleship. Firstly, his appointment was “by the will of God” in the sense that God was the origin of the commission. Secondly, he pointed to the purpose or objective of that call: the promise of life in Christ Jesus. As an apostle, Paul’s commission included formulating and communicating the Gospel that gives life to sinful men, especially the Gentiles.

In verse 2, Timothy is identified. Here, Paul declared the threefold blessing of grace, mercy and peace of God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord upon him. In addressing Timothy as his beloved child, we conclude that he was instrumental for the latter’s conversion. This tells us that Paul was reassuring Timothy. He told him that he was constantly on his mind. Being the grateful person that he was, Paul was thankful to God for the privilege of serving Him. His service to God was rendered with a clear conscience after the tradition of his forefathers. Being the prayerful person whom he also was, he constantly prayed for Timothy day and night. And in his desire to see this beloved son, he would often recall his tender spirit and remember the tears he shed. It kept him joyful.

The aged apostle would also recall Timothy’s sincere faith in God, a spiritual foundation laid in him by his godly grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice. Truly, Timothy had a rich spiritual heritage. Paul then reminded him of the spiritual endowment he received at his ordination. The laying on of hands refers to his ordination. It was then that Timothy had received his spiritual endowment. It appears that he could have neglected his gifting over time. So Paul urged him here to rekindle that gift, take up the ministry mantel and boldly discharge his responsibility. From verse 7, we can see that Timothy was timid. And because of this reticent disposition, Paul had to assertively tell him that God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love and sound mind. 

Timid as Timothy maybe, he had been endowed with a good mentor in Paul and godly parentage in his grandma and mother. His rich heritage were definite assets in the service of the Lord. It is good to have a mentor to guide us and help to regulate our journey. Pray that God will give us one to help us in our journey.