We are starting a series of studies of Paul's letter to a younger Christian worker, Timothy. In this letter, Paul is stirring up Timothy to serve Christ more confidently. So this letter is useful to all Christians – that we might be fully committed to successfully completing the purpose for which God put us here in life. It is also useful to us as a church, because it describes how the church grows itself so that not only can it do a good job of bringing the good news to people now – but it is strong enough now to grow forward into the next generation.
2 Timothy 1.1-7
1.1-2 Paul introduces this letter by gives his credentials.
He is an apostle of Christ Jesus. That is, he is Jesus' messenger to the churches. His task is to plant churches and deliver the Bible teaching necessary to get them established and make them grow.
He is an apostle by the will of God. This is not something granted to him by others nor something that he took up for himself. God willed it - and the remarkable complete transformation of his life supports his claim. He was an enemy of Christ and the Church and became its biggest supporter.
Paul's calling to be an apostle aligns with (is in accordance with) the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. This means that what Paul did as an apostle is evidence of Christ's life and energy at work. He is an apostle according to the promise of life in Christ – that is, his apostleship is a demonstration of the life that is promised to those who receive Christ. Here is the point: Paul's life demonstrates what he teaches. Paul doesn't just say “I am an apostle, so you should do what I say.” He gives evidence of what he teaches in his own life. You must do the same.
Paul refers to Timothy as his 'loved child', because he had raised him to spiritual manhood. Paul was closely involved in seeing Timothy grow up into an effective Chrsitian worker.
To Timothy my loved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul was was very confident that his message to Timothy came with the weight and value of God's Word to him. He believed that what he wrote in his letter actually brought grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord to Timothy. He wasn't just 'wishing' these things as abstract 'blessings' on Timothy. His teaching was full of God's grace, mercy and peace and he was passing it on to Timothy in the written word.
We also should receive his words as God's Word to us - grace, mercy and peace. We should also speak it confidently to one another as God's grace, mercy and peace. These are at the heart of what Paul is teaching Timothy and why God preserved his letter for the Church over the past 1,900 or so years since it was written. Paul's letter is God's Word. And by studying it you can receive grace from God, mercy from God and peace from God.
1.1-2 Paul introduces this letter by gives his credentials.
He is an apostle of Christ Jesus. That is, he is Jesus' messenger to the churches. His task is to plant churches and deliver the Bible teaching necessary to get them established and make them grow.
He is an apostle by the will of God. This is not something granted to him by others nor something that he took up for himself. God willed it - and the remarkable complete transformation of his life supports his claim. He was an enemy of Christ and the Church and became its biggest supporter.
Paul's calling to be an apostle aligns with (is in accordance with) the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. This means that what Paul did as an apostle is evidence of Christ's life and energy at work. He is an apostle according to the promise of life in Christ – that is, his apostleship is a demonstration of the life that is promised to those who receive Christ. Here is the point: Paul's life demonstrates what he teaches. Paul doesn't just say “I am an apostle, so you should do what I say.” He gives evidence of what he teaches in his own life. You must do the same.
Paul refers to Timothy as his 'loved child', because he had raised him to spiritual manhood. Paul was closely involved in seeing Timothy grow up into an effective Chrsitian worker.
To Timothy my loved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul was was very confident that his message to Timothy came with the weight and value of God's Word to him. He believed that what he wrote in his letter actually brought grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord to Timothy. He wasn't just 'wishing' these things as abstract 'blessings' on Timothy. His teaching was full of God's grace, mercy and peace and he was passing it on to Timothy in the written word.
We also should receive his words as God's Word to us - grace, mercy and peace. We should also speak it confidently to one another as God's grace, mercy and peace. These are at the heart of what Paul is teaching Timothy and why God preserved his letter for the Church over the past 1,900 or so years since it was written. Paul's letter is God's Word. And by studying it you can receive grace from God, mercy from God and peace from God.
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