2 Timothy 1:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

NIV: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

NASB: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

CSB: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus:

NLT: This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.

KJV: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

NKJV: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

Paul begins with his name, his title, and the authority behind his ministry. He was then known as Paul, though his birth name was Saul, a name he had left behind during his first missionary journey (Acts 13:9).

Paul calls himself "an apostle of Christ Jesus." In most of his letters, Paul stresses his servant relationship to Christ, using the Greek word doulos, translated as "slave" or "bondservant." Here, though, Paul emphasizes his authority. This is the same title Paul used of himself in his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:1). Paul serves according to the plans of God, not his own designs.

Paul often speaks of "promise" in association with Christ, especially in Ephesians 3:6: "This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." When referring to death, Paul elsewhere spoke of life in Christ: "it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death" (Philippians 1:20). For Paul, life and Christ were so intertwined that they were often spoken of together.

Second Timothy 1:1–2 introduces Paul's last letter in the New Testament. This opening features many of Paul's customary phrases. This greeting also clearly identifies Timothy as the letter's intended audience. Timothy is often mentioned in the New Testament as one of Paul's closest and most loyal friends. Paul is waiting in jail for his execution by the Romans, making this possibly his last chance to send a written message to his longtime friend.

Paul introduces himself, then recaps Timothy's path to becoming a minister. He reminds Timothy of how his family brought him up in the faith, and then how Timothy served faithfully with Paul in the past. Paul then focuses on two primary ideas. First, that Timothy's background in the faith should give him the courage to stand fast against hard times. Second, that Timothy should use that courage to defend the truth of the gospel message. Paul will use these points and examples as the foundation for the rest of his letter.

Chapter 1 establishes Timothy's spiritual background. Paul expresses gratitude for Timothy, by reminding him of his past, in order to set the stage for later teachings. Paul first expresses gratitude for Timothy's prior faithfulness, and reminds him of how God called him into ministry. From that point, Paul encourages Timothy to be brave and to guard the truth of the gospel message. Later chapters will explain why Paul feels these traits are necessary, both for the sake of the world and for Timothy in general.

Second Timothy is the last New Testament letter written by Paul. Paul writes these words while awaiting execution by Rome. At this time, around AD 67, Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him. Paul is facing the worst of all hardships: his own impending death. So, he encourages Timothy to stand strong in his faith, with a reliance on the written Word of God. This letter echoes many of the themes Paul uses in his other letters.