The Apostle's Address and Greeting
T. Croskery 2 Timothy 1:1, 2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,… This Epistle, which has been well described as "the last will and testament" of the apostle, written as it was under the very shadow of death, opens with a touching evidence of personal interest in Timothy. I. THE ORIGIN AND DESIGN OF THE APOSTLESHIP. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God." 1. He was an apostle. (1) Not by the will of man, even of other apostles. (2) Nor by his own will; for he did not take this honour upon himself. (3) Nor was it owing to his personal merits; for he always speaks of it as "the grace of apostleship." (4) He was an apostle by the will of God, whose "chosen vessel" he was for this purpose. 2. The design of his apostleship was "according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. Its design was to make known this promise. (1) It was life eternal; (2) promised in Christ Jesus, because (a) it was promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2); (b) in Christ, who is the Prince of life, who procured it, who applies it by his Spirit. II. THE PERSON ADDRESSED. "To Timothy, my beloved son." Not, as in the former Epistle, "my true son," but a son specially dear to him in view of the approaching severance of the earthly tie that bound them together. III. THE GREETING. "Grace, mercy, and peace." (See homiletical hints on 1 Timothy 1:2.) - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, WEB: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,