2 Timothy 1:1-7 -3:14-17
It is very interesting to study Paul’s friendships. Evidently he was a man of very warm and tender heart, with deep sympathies. He needed Christian companionship and his heart hungered for love. In the Acts and Epistles we can trace the story of many of his friendships. None of them is more beautiful than that with Timothy. Timothy was a young man who had been brought to Christ by the apostle and who was his companion and helper during many years. In this passage we have glimpses of the strong affection that bound this young man to the old apostle’s heart.
“Paul… to Timothy, my dearly beloved son.” We all like to get letters from our friends. Letters are so common now that they are not prized as they used to be when they were rare. We can imagine Timothy receiving this letter from his old friend in Rome. It was written from a prison. It is full of loving counsel. It contained the last words of Paul that have been preserved to us.
“I thank God… that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers.” It is a noble thing to live so that people thank God for us. Parents are very happy when they can thank God for their children. Sometimes they cannot do so – sometimes children live so as to bring great sorrow to the hearts of their parents. It is beautiful, too, to find that Paul prayed so earnestly for his young friend Timothy. It is a great privilege to be remembered in prayer by good people.
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