As in the other two pastoral epistles, Paul begins his second letter to Timothy with a formal apostolic greeting that lays out the primary motivation for this letter: "for the sake of the promise of life that is in Jesus Christ." It is only that "promise of life" that drives Paul on, despite his imprisonment, infirmities and loneliness. Paul considers these physical limitations to be of little consequence - significant only if they provide a new layer of depth and meaning to his witness.

Because of his complete immersion in an apostolic identity, Paul's personal and vocational lives are intricately intertwined. Thus Paul's personal friendships, while wholly genuine, are also wholly for Christ's sake. When Paul follows the formal apostolic salutation with reference to Timothy as his "belov…