2 Timothy 1:1-2--Greeting

2 Timothy 1:1-2
English Standard Version

Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

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These are the beginning of Paul's last words both to Timothy and the churches.  If we didn't know that, this seems like a very standard greeting, but it will become clear as we go through the text of this book that Paul knows that his life is coming to an end.  He is an apostle of Christ Jesus (The Apostle to the Gentiles).  This apostleship is by the will of God, not the will of man, and it is according to the promise of the (eternal and abundant) life that is found only in Christ Jesus.

He writes this letter to Timothy--not only his protégé, but Timothy was like a son to him, and Paul was like a father to Timothy.  In this way, it is like we are looking into the final testament given from a father to his son.  We are used to seeing a greeting of "Grace and peace," but Paul adds "mercy" this time so that he sends greetings of "Grace, mercy and peace."  These come from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (through the Spirit). 

While this letter is written specifically to Timothy (like 1 Timothy), there will be much that is said in the open letter to the Church in general--you will notice some repeated themes about spiritual warfare, the last days, guarding the gospel and having a high view of Scripture (among other things).  These instructions are still for us today, and we should take these lessons to heart.