1 Timothy 1:2

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith”: There is. definite personal warmth as Paul addresses Timothy. Paul was not Timothy's physical father (Acts 16:3); rather Paul had begotten Timothy spiritually through the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:14; Philemon 1:10). The term “true” means “genuine, legitimately born, sincere”, Timothy was. genuine Christian and he was truly holding to the faith.

1 Timothy 1:2 “In the faith”: This could mean that Timothy's conversion was genuine, his motives were pure, and that he presently was truly following the sound doctrine, unlike others who had abandoned the faith (1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 4:1). “When Timothy taught, his message was the same as his teacher's” (Reese p. 4). Compare with 1 Peter 2:20.

1 Timothy 1:2 “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord”: Paul's usual greeting is “grace and peace” (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2); in the letters to Timothy and Titus the term “mercy” is added. It may mean merciful deliverance from dangers and enemies and. knowledge of such mercy can make. man. better servant of Christ (1 Timothy 1:13; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 2 Corinthians 4:1). “Grace seems to emphasize the unworthiness of the recipients, whereas mercy brings to mind the helpless state of those receiving the blessing” (L.A. Foster). “Not. few writers have noted that ‘grace' was the usual greeting when Greeks met, while ‘peace' was the usual greeting among Hebrews. Paul takes both terms, pours. new, spiritual content into them, and uses them side-by-side because in the church there is no longer distinctions between Jew and Greek-we are one in Christ” (Reese p. 5).

1 Timothy 1:2 “From God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord”: Grace, mercy and peace come from both; Jesus and the Father are co-bestowers of these divine blessings.