Paul's second letter to Timothy overflows in the apostle's great love for his young colleague and his genuine concern about the challenges and hardships Timothy is facing. After a customary salutation in verses 1-2, Paul moves to a series of thanksgivings which reflect these dual interests of love and concern. This thanksgiving section foreshadows much of the content of the rest of Paul's letter - a literary device used also in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and Philippians 1:3-8. Paul's focus throughout this letter is on encouraging Timothy's loyalty, urging him to persevere in the gospel and to stand up to the testing that is to come.

As usual, Paul uses his own life experiences and practices as model examples. He begins in verse 3 by referring to the Jewish tradition of praying at regular interva…