1 Timothy 1:1–2 (ESV)
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ
Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
This letter was written by Paul to Timothy. He calls Timothy “my true child in the faith.” Many have taken this to mean that Timothy is Paul’s natural
son. This is not the case. Timothy is his son “in the faith” in the same way I may say you are my brother in Christ. I only have one natural brother and that is Bruce. Now I have tons of brothers in Christ. All Christians
are my brothers and/or sisters in Christ. Timothy is young understudy of Paul. What do we know about him? He is a native of Lystra and had a Gentile father and a Christian mother. Timothy is going to carry on Paul’s ministry while
Paul is in prison or when he dies. Timothy was a young man with a powerful faith.
I pray: O Lord, teach us to regard the servants of Your Church not according to their individual strengths and
weaknesses but as Your spokesmen, called to serve sinners with Your gifts of forgiveness and life. Amen.