Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Timothy 1:4

"longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;" — 2 Timothy 1:4 (ASV)

“Long” (GK 2160) is a word expressing intense desire. Recalling Timothy’s tears, probably when they last parted, Paul deeply longed to see his son in the faith, that he might be “filled with joy.” In Paul’s letters we see this man of God’s real humanity. He was a stalwart soldier, but he had a tender heart.