Paul’s Affection for Timothy

Paul wrote the Second Letter of Paul to the Apostle Timothy to Timothy while Paul was imprisoned for the last time and right before his death, approximately 68 A.D. Second Timothy is known as a letter of encouragement to Timothy and to all Priesthood Leaders within the Church. Second Timothy also warns against spiritual apostasy while at the same time standing as a witness of Paul’s great and unwavering faith!

The book of Moroni in the Book of Mormon contains letters exchanged between Moroni and his father, Mormon. In these letters Mormon demonstrates feelings of concern and love for his son by saying things like, “…mindful of you always” (Moroni 8:3) and “May Christ lift thee up…” (Moroni 9:25). Paul also demonstrates these feelings for Timothy by saying things like, “My dearly beloved son…” (2 Timothy 1:1-7). Both Mormon and Paul also show great reverence for the faith of their correspondences by saying things such as, “I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved…” (Moroni 9:22) and “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee…” (2 Timothy 1:5).

What is interesting to note is that in 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul makes mention of the great faith of both Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Why? I think he mentioned this to demonstrate to Saints then and Saints now the power that a mother’s faith and testimony can have on their children. Because of the strong faith of Eunice, Lois was greatly affected and because of this had great faith, which soon became an example to Timothy!

Paul also tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.” How comforting! What this tells me is that fear does not come from God so it must come from Satan. Satan wants us to be afraid because when we are afraid our power as God’s children and reminders of Heavenly Father’s love for us are stripped away, leaving us vulnerable to spiritual attack.

In 2 Timothy 1:15-18, Paul speaks of a man Onesiphorus and asks the Lord to act mercifully toward his household. He did this because Onesiphorus took care of him and was not ashamed to be helping a Saint of the Lord Jesus Christ, even though he was not a member. I want to be more like Onesiphorus and help others without a thought because when I help others it is as if I am helping the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:35-40)! How awesome that is! I am going to try to find one person to help this week. I will pray that they will be brought into my path!

The “yoke,” “chain,” or “cross” that is mentioned through out the New Testament as well as the Book of Mormon refers to the action of taking the name of the Lord Jesus Christ upon you and acting as his representative and doing the things you think he would do. Matthew, Jacob and Paul all speak of this and this is something that I believe every Saint has to choose to do!