​As the name of this epistle suggests, Timothy was the recipient of Paul’s deeply personal letter.  Notice the title Paul ascribes to Timothy.  He doesn’t say “Timothy, bishop of Ephesus” or “Timothy, missionary” or “Timothy, church leader.”  Paul uses a tender, personal, loving title for his protégé.  He writes, “Timothy, my beloved child” or as some translations put it, “Timothy, my dear son.”  Obviously, Paul and Timothy shared a special connection that went beyond serving together in ministry.  Paul was more than Timothy’s teacher; he was Timothy’s spiritual father.
 
But who was Timothy?  What was his story?  How did he get involved in Paul’s life and why was he separated from the Apostle at the time of this letter?

​Welcome to a new Bible study!  I am excited to dive into the book of 2 Timothy together and mine out the great treasures God has for us in this special letter.  To get started, we’re going to explore the background of this letter and get an overview of what this letter is all about before diving into the rich verses.  So let’s begin by looking at the author of this powerful book.