John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Unto Timothy my own son in the faith , etc.] Not in the flesh, or by natural descent, but in a spiritual sense, in the faith of Christ; for Timothy was not related to the apostle according to the flesh, as some have thought, but the relation was spiritual; though the apostle was not properly his spiritual father, or the instrument of his conversion; for Timothy was a converted person, and a disciple of Christ, and well reported of by the brethren, when the apostle first met with him, ( Acts 16:1,2) but he calls him his son, either because of his age, being a young man; or because of his affection for him, so the Vulgate Latin version reads, a beloved son; or rather, because he was instructed more largely by the apostle into the doctrine of faith; and as a son, with a father, served with him in the Gospel of Christ. It may be rendered a true or genuine son in the faith, in distinction from nominal Christians, formal professors and hypocrites.
Timothy was a real Christian, a true believer, and an hearty and upright professor and preacher of the faith of Christ, as well as truly regenerated by the Spirit of God. Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord ; the Arabic version reads, and Lord Jesus Christ our Lord. The form of salutation is the same as in all the epistles of the apostle, only that mercy is here inserted; and when he wishes grace to Timothy, he may mean a fresh discovery of the love and free favour of God unto him, and an increase of grace in him, and of the gifts of the Spirit upon him; and by mercy he may intend a fresh application of the pardoning mercy of God, through Christ, and all assistance, and success in his work as a minister, and all succour and support under every trial and exercise, and mercy at the last day, or the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life; and by peace he may design peace of conscience through the blood of Christ, and all prosperity, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. And all this being wished for equally from Christ, as from God the Father, is a proof of the proper deity of our Lord.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Jesus Christ is a Christian's hope; all our hopes of eternal life ar built upon him; and Christ is in us the hope of glory. The apostl seems to have been the means of Timothy's conversion; who served with him in his ministry, as a dutiful son with a loving father. That whic raises questions, is not for edifying; that which gives occasion for doubtful disputes, pulls down the church rather than builds it up Godliness of heart and life can only be kept up and increased, by the exercise of faith in the truths and promises of God, through Jesu Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
τιμοθεω 5095 N-DSM γνησιω 1103 A-DSN τεκνω 5043 N-DSN εν 1722 PREP πιστει 4102 N-DSF χαρις 5485 N-NSF ελεος 1656 N-NSM ειρηνη 1515 N-NSF απο 575 PREP θεου 2316 N-GSM πατρος 3962 N-GSM ημων 2257 P-1GP και 2532 CONJ {VAR1: χριστου 5547 N-GSM ιησου 2424 N-GSM } {VAR2: ιησου 2424 N-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM } του 3588 T-GSM κυριου 2962 N-GSM ημων 2257 P-1GP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. My own son in the faith (gnhsiw teknw en pistei). More correctly, "my true child in faith." Comp. Tit. i. 4. With these two exceptions, teknon or uiJov ejn pistei does not occur in N.T. En pistei or th pistei is not come on Paul; see 1 Cor. xvi. 13; 2 Cor. viii. 7; xiii. 5; Gal. ii. 20; 2 Thess. ii. 13. In the Pastorals, nine times. In Paul joined with zhn to live, einai to be, sthkein to stand, bebaiousqai to be established. For gnhsiov true, see 2 Cor. viii. 8; Philippians ii. 20; iv. 3. It means natural by birth-relation, therefore true or genuine. Mercy (eleov). This addition to the usual form of salutation is peculiar to the Pastorals.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:2 {True} (gnesiwi). Legitimate, not spurious. Old word from ginomai, but Pauline only in N.T. (#Php 4:3; 2Co 8:8; Tit 1:4). In #Php 2:20 the adverb gnesiws occurs and of Timothy again. {Christ Jesus} (cristou iesou). So twice already in verse #1 and as usual in the later Epistles (#Col 1:1; Eph 1:1).
