Chapter One
2 Tim. 1:1. Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.
Immediately, at the very beginning, he encourages the soul. Do not point me, he says, to the misfortunes of this life. They procure for us eternal life. We became apostles in order to die and live forever. So that Timothy, instead of being comforted, would not be more grieved upon hearing that his teacher is in danger, he consoles him with this at the very beginning. If life is a promise, then do not seek it here. This is the life in Christ Jesus, that is, with Christ, because He gives it to us and sustains it. For bodily life is sustained by food and drink, but spiritual life is sustained in Christ: He is everything for us.
2 Tim. 1:2. To Timothy, beloved son.
One can be a son, yet unloved. Meanwhile, Timothy was beloved, and without doubt, for his virtue. By this, therefore, the apostle shows that he is leaving him not because he was angry with him or despised him for anything: no, you, he says, are beloved to me; but force and necessity compel him to leave him.
2 Tim. 1:2. Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord.
What he previously prayed to God for in the First Epistle, he prays for him now as well. So, regarding this passage, read the First Epistle.
2 Tim. 1:3. I thank God.
Do you see the extraordinary love? I thank God, he says, for the fact that, loving you, I remember you. This is true love, when someone marvels at their own love for another.
2 Tim. 1:3. Which I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience.
How is it "with a pure conscience," when in the beginning he did not know Christ? Yes, he says — either by conscience understand here his life: for although he Judaized, in life he was blameless — or because when he persecuted the Church, he persecuted out of zeal and not from any human motives, as some stand for heresy for the sake of glory, fully aware of its rottenness. He speaks of all this as if to say: do not suspect that I have one thing in mind and another in words. My conscience is pure, as always, so also now. Therefore, I do not lie when I say that I love you and always remember you.
2 Tim. 1:3. That I unceasingly remember you in my prayers night and day, and desire to see you.
I thank God that I remember you. And not simply, but in my prayers, both night and day, asking God on your behalf, that my desire might be fulfilled — the desire to see you. Therefore, how would I voluntarily deprive myself of such pleasure, if only I could come? But why does the apostle not openly speak of the reason, that he is detained by Nero? So as not to suddenly grieve him. But toward the end he reveals this reason.
2 Tim. 1:4. Remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy.
Arrange the words thus: longing to see you, that I may be filled with joy; then the middle words "remembering your tears." For even if I were by nature utterly unfriendly, your tears, having come to my memory, would still be sufficient to incline me toward you. Probably Timothy, when parting from Paul, wept more than a child taken from its nurse.
2 Tim. 1:5. Calling to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee.
I desire to see you, not only remembering your tears but also your unfeigned faith. For this is the most important reason for you to be loved by me.
2 Tim. 1:5. Which formerly dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.
Another praise: Timothy was born not of unbelieving parents, but of believing ones, though they were Jews. However, his father was a Greek. See how the law began to be undermined by the existence of such unions.
2 Tim. 1:5. I am confident that it is in you as well.
Since the virtues of our ancestors, if we are like them, glorify us; but if not, they serve rather for our condemnation. Therefore the apostle says: I am convinced that the faith of your ancestors is also in you. So then, you have a sincere faith, established from your ancestors and unable to waver.
2 Tim. 1:6. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God.
Since, he says, I know that you have an unfeigned faith, I urge you that the grace of the Spirit, which you received for leadership in the Church, for the working of signs, and in general for every service proper to a bishop — to fan into flame this grace, that is, to make it always living and flourishing. For just as fire needs fuel, so also the grace of the Spirit needs zeal, attentiveness, and watchfulness in order to always burn brightly. If these are absent, it is quenched, as the apostle also says elsewhere: "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19).
2 Tim. 1:6. Which is in you through my ordination.
There is in you this grace, which you received together with the laying of my hands upon you, when I ordained you as bishop. But make this fire stronger. The word which you received, fill with boldness and courage: stand courageously.