2 Timothy 1:1

 2 Timothy 1:1 says, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,  Paul once more identified himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Since Paul had not walked or talked with Jesus physically, some people did not consider him to be equal to those who had, but he said that he was by the calling of God.  None of us walked or talked with Jesus physically, but a Christians, we all have spiritually, and whatever we do for God should be done by His calling us to do so.  

Verse two adds, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  Paul called Timothy his son, I believe because he had led him to Jesus Christ, but he was really Paul’s brother spiritually.  We may feel a physical closeness to someone we have led to the Lord, but we will never be their spiritual parent, since all have the same heavenly Father.  Paul asked that Timothy have grace, mercy, and peace from God since he was now one of God’s children.  We are saved by God’s grace, which always comes first in our relationship to Him, which we can only have by His mercy in providing a way to redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins.  When we accept His mercy and grace, we should be at peace spiritually, no matter what is going on in the world.  

Verse three continues, I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;  Paul said he thanked God Whom he served as his forefathers did.  I believe that Paul was identifying himself as a Jew and also saying that he still put his faith in Jesus Christ with a clear conscience.  He also said that he remembered Timothty in his prayers day and night.   As followers of Christ, we follow the same God that our ancestors did if they were also followers of Christ.  We should serve God with a clear conscience that we are doing our best under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit to the best of our ability.  We may not have a particular fellow Christian that we are praying for day and night, but we should be in prayer for all our fellow Christians every day.  

Verse four says, Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;  Paul said that he was greatly desiring to visit Timothy once more but that didn’t mean that God would grant his wish.  We may greatly desire to do something today that we see as good, but that doesn’t mean that God will allow us to do so.  If He doesn’t, we should continue to pray that His will be done.  Paul said he was mindful of Timothy’s tears, but we aren’t told what had left him in tears.  We can pray for our fellow Christians who are in tears today without having to know why they are crying.  Paul also said that he hoped if he came to see Timothy that he would be filled with joy, not at the fact of Timothy’s tears, but so that he might bring him some comfort, I believe.  Paul’s joy would be in seeing Timothy and not in Timothy’s tears.  We should never have joy in the suffering of other Christians, but we should always desire to lift them up in prayer they would have their joy in life restored as they obediently obey God.  

Verse five adds, When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.  Paul did not question Timothy’s faith because he had been crying about something but commended his faith instead.   He also spoke of the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother.  Followers of Christ ideally will have mothers whose faith in God is commendable.  Of course, they should also have fathers and grandfathers who are known for their faith, but Paul only mentioned Timothy’s mother and grandmother.