Paul has been called the apostle of faith. Because more than one-third of the New Testament uses of χαρά (21 out of 59) are found in Paul’s writings, he might also be called the apostle of joy. Even when he is writing from prison, with an impending execution, Paul finds joy in the Lord, in the Lord’s people, and in the Lord’s work.

^1.1 Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ κατʼ ἐπαγγελίαν ζωῆς τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ  ² Τιμοθέῳ ἀγαπητῷ τέκνῳ· χάρις, ἔλεος, εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν.

Translation: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, beloved son: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul emphasizes two characteristics of his being an apostle of Christ Jesus: first, this appointment is by the will of God; second, the purpose and intent of this appointment is God’s promise of life through the Savior, the Messiah. A death sentence will not prevent Paul from proclaiming life in God’s Son. In fact, this letter written from prison has helped bring life to death-sentenced sinners around the world throughout the New Testament era.

Timothy is Paul’s son in the faith. While he still can, Paul will proclaim upon him the greatest blessings any human being could receive from God—grace, mercy, and peace. God’s undeserved love includes all his good gifts, but especially his merciful heart for miserable sinners and his rescuing assistance to them. God’s grace and mercy bring wholeness and wellness to God’s people—peace.

Pastor, know that Paul’s blessing spoken upon Timothy is also his blessing upon you as you serve in your corner of God’s kingdom. Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. These precious gifts are yours. From your heavenly Father, from the Savior who lived, died, rose, and ascended into heaven for you.

³ Χάριν ἔχω τῷ θεῷ, ᾧ λατρεύω ἀπὸ προγόνων ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει, ὡς ἀδιάλειπτον ἔχω τὴν περὶ σοῦ μνείαν ἐν ταῖς δεήσεσίν μου, νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας  ⁴ ἐπιποθῶν σε ἰδεῖν, μεμνημένος σου τῶν δακρύων, ἵνα χαρᾶς πληρωθῶ  ⁵ ὑπόμνησιν λαβὼν τῆς ἐν σοὶ ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως, ἥτις ἐνῴκησεν πρῶτον ἐν τῇ μάμμῃ σου Λωΐδι καὶ τῇ μητρί σου Εὐνίκῃ, πέπεισμαι δὲ ὅτι καὶ ἐν σοί.

Translation: I give thanks to God whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clean conscience, as I remember you in my prayers unceasingly, night and day, longing to see you, remembering your tears, in order that I might be filled with joy, remembering your sincere faith which dwelled first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am convinced dwells also in you.

God gave Timothy great gifts. God used humble means: an imprisoned apostle, and, before that, the humble, everyday efforts of his believing grandma and his believing mom. This same God has given you faith in Jesus and equipped you to serve as a shepherd under him. God used the theological training of our synod’s schools to equip you, and, likely, before that, he used the humble service of your mother and other family members to plant faith in you and shape you as a child of God. We celebrate the blessings God provides through mothers throughout the year and throughout our lives.

Paul loved Timothy. He remembered Timothy in his prayers constantly. This time spent in reflection and prayer led Paul to give thanks for Timothy’s saving faith (handed down from his mother and grandmother) and his heartfelt love, expressed memorably through the tears he shed as he said farewell to his father/mentor in the faith.

Paul, the apostle on death row, could serve God with a clear conscience up until the very end. Pronounced guilty in a Roman court, Paul stood innocent in God’s court. Timothy could continue to serve God with a sincere faith, with the support of Paul’s prayers, and even after those prayers ceased.

A clean conscience and a sincere faith. We want those too, don’t we? God provides us with a conscience like Paul’s and a faith like Timothy’s, as we live lives of repentance, working out our salvation with fear and trembling, meditating on his Word, asking him for every spiritual blessing, and running repeatedly to our heavenly Father and his dear Son in all our struggles.

Oratio. Meditatio. Tentatio. Those were in the job descriptions of the Apostle Paul in prison and his beloved son Timothy in Ephesus. These are our daily tasks too, no matter where and under what circumstances we serve.

For the pastor who prays, meditates, and learns in the Lord’s school of suffering, joy remains, and that joy cannot be taken away.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I know so many faithful church workers and believers in whom you have planted saving faith and with whom I enjoy a loving relationship. I thank you for every one of them. They contribute to my Christian joy. Make me a blessing to them, even as they have been a blessing to me. Be with the Seniors and Middlers of our Seminary, and their loved ones, as they offer themselves for service in your kingdom; through Christ Jesus, my Lord. Amen.