Paul’s second and final letter to his “son in the faith” Timothy gives evidence of the tender feelings the aging apostle had for the young man. The letter was the last Paul wrote, and was penned shortly before his death.
He noted Timothy’s tears on his behalf, and expressed his desire to see him. It is believed that Paul wrote this letter from prison, perhaps only a few months before he died.
Despite Paul’s circumstances, he expressed joy because of the genuine faith of Timothy. That faith had its genesis in the instruction Timothy received from his mother and grandmother. (This shows the wisdom of Paul’s exhortation for fathers to bring up their children in the “training and admonition of the Lord” – Eph. 6:4).
After this well deserved compliment, Paul encouraged Timothy in the use of the spiritual “gift of God” given him through Paul’s hands. Timothy was not to be timid in utilizing this gift, despite the potential of persecution amply demonstrated by Paul’s own chains.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (vs. 7).
