Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Timothy 1:2

"to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." — 2 Timothy 1:2 (ASV)

This salutation is similar to the one found at the beginning of 1 Timothy (see comments on 1 Timothy 1:1). Paul adds something here: “according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.” All spiritual life comes to us only “in Christ.” And the more fully and consciously we live in him, the richer that life becomes.

In his first letter Paul greeted Timothy as “my true son in the faith.” Here it is “my dear [GK 28] son.” Paul had a warm affection for his young convert and colleague. The actual greeting (v.2b) is exactly the same as that in 1 Timothy (see comments on 1 Timothy 1:2). Everything we have comes to us from God through Christ.