1:3
We get more of the affection of Paul for Timothy. We also see that the gospel is a continuation of God’s plans as revealed from Genesis 1 onwards. The gospel was not a break from God’s plan, but the fulfilment, or continuation, of it. So Paul says “as my ancestors did”. What did they all thank God for? They thanked Him that His plans were being and would be fulfilled. But while it is God’s plans that are being fulfilled, and are being fulfilled by God in Christ, He involves men and women in those plans in a most intimate way. And Timothy was part of that process, so Paul prays for Timothy.
1:4,5
But Paul does not just pray for Timothy because Timothy is a servant of Christ, he prays for him because he has affection for him. Paul had been separated from Timothy, and Timothy had been deeply saddened by this. We see here that it is fine for men to show emotion. Paul then refers to Timothy’s sincere faith, and to his grandmother and mother. Note that it is female relatives who are referred to. Note also the value of generational faith. Faith is not passed on genetically, but we can spiritually influence our children and later generations by our own faith. At the same time each generation has to take responsibility for its own faith.
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