John Calvin 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)

My beloved son: By this designation, he not only testifies his love for Timothy but also procures respect and submission to him; because he wishes to be acknowledged in him as one who may justly be called his son. The reason for this appellation is that he had begotten him in Christ; for although this honor belongs to God alone, it is also transferred to ministers, whose agency He employs for regenerating us.

Grace, mercy: The word mercy, which he employs here, is commonly left out by him in his ordinary salutations. I think that he introduced it when he poured out his feelings with more than ordinary vehemence. Moreover, he appears to have inverted the order; for since mercy is the cause of grace, it ought to have come before it in this passage.

But still, it is not unsuitable that it should be put after grace in order to express more clearly what is the nature of that grace and from where it proceeds; as if he had added, in the form of a declaration, that the reason why we are loved by God is that He is merciful.

Yet this may also be explained as relating to God’s daily benefits, which are so many testimonies of His mercy; for whenever He assists us, whenever He delivers us from evils, pardons our sins, and bears with our weakness, He does so because He has compassion on us.