Paul always wished “grace and peace” to the people receiving his letters. In his letters to Timothy, he added “mercy”.

And no wonder, because whether you’re keeping the faith in the Twenty-First Century or you’re keeping the faith in the First Century, you’ll need mercy as well as grace and peace.

For example, when Paul wrote “[t]o Timothy my dear son”, Paul said, “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:2).

Why did Timothy need mercy as well as grace and peace? To keep the faith.

This letter captures Paul’s feelings and thoughts as he was about to be executed for proclaiming that Jesus is Lord (rather than that Caesar is Lord). (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3).

As Paul put it, “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is at hand.” (2 Timothy 4:6).

Nevertheless, Paul did not despair.

He told Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).

He reassured himself and Timothy, declaring: “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8).

How did Paul find such peace as he prepared to be beheaded?

Grace and mercy.

How can Timothy (and all of us who long for the appearing of Jesus) find such peace in all circumstances, including imprisonment and death?

Grace and mercy.

Paul said, God “saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace . . . given to us in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:9).

This recognition that we are saved by grace—and not because of anything we have done—frees us to mentor others, as Paul mentored Timothy.

Why?

Because we don’t need to do everything ourselves.

We don’t need to take all the credit when something good happens.

And we don’t need to blame somebody else when something bad happens.

This recognition that we are saved by grace—and not because of anything we have done—frees us to rely on “the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make [us] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15).

Why?

Because “[a]ll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that [we] the servant[s] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

This recognition that we are saved by grace—and not because of anything we have done—frees us to show mercy to those we mentor and rely upon.

Paul said, “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus.” (2 Timothy 1:16). “May the Lord grant that he will find mercy on that day” when “the Lord, the righteous Judge”, will award “the crown of righteousness” “to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Why?

[B]ecause [Onesiphorus] often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard until he found me. . . . [Furthermore,] [y]ou know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.” (2 Timothy 1:16-18).

This recognition that we are saved by grace—and not because of anything we have done—challenges us to extend mercy to those who failed us.

Mark—the author of the gospel of Mark—had failed Paul years earlier.

How?

Mark set out with his Uncle Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. But after experiencing the first of their many hardships, Mark did not continue with them in the work. Mark deserted them! (Acts 13:5,13; 15:38) (Mark’s full name was “John Mark” (Acts 12:25; 15:37) and, therefore, he is called “John” in Acts 13:5,13).

Paul did not soon forget Mark’s fickleness.

When Barnabas and Paul were planning their next missionary journey, “Barnabas wanted to take . . . Mark with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them [before] and not continued with them in the work. [Indeed,] [t]hey had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” (Acts 15:37-39).

Barnabas took Mark. Paul took Silas. Later on this missionary journey, Paul chose Timothy to join him.

Now, Paul told Timothy: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11).

And so, as he prepared to die, Paul put aside any hard feelings. He extended grace and mercy and peace to Mark.

Evidently, Mark was working with Paul, Luke and Timothy to prepare and preserve “the things they . . . heard [Paul] say in the presence of many witnesses [to] entrust [them] to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (Timothy 2:2).

Luke was already with Paul, and Paul wrote Timothy “to come to me quickly” bringing Mark and Paul’s “scrolls, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:9,11-13).

Presumably, these scrolls and parchments were portions of what became the gospels of Mark and Luke. If so, these scrolls and parchments, together with Paul’s letters that were preserved and cherished, became about half of what we call the New Testament.

And so, Paul, Luke, Timothy, and Mark succeeded in “guard[ing] the good deposit that was entrusted to [them]—guard[ing] it with the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:14).

The Holy Spirit guarded the good deposit of Scriptures that preserve Paul’s “pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:12).

The Holy Spirit guarded the good deposit of Scriptures that preserve Paul’s “teaching, his way of life, his purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions [and] sufferings.” (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

The Holy Spirit guarded the good deposit of Scriptures that “are able to make us wise for salvation in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15).

The Holy Spirit guarded the good deposit of Scriptures that are “God-breathed and [are] useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Holy Spirit guarded the good deposit of Scriptures that reveal the grace, mercy and peace of God.

The Holy Spirit guarded the good deposit of Scriptures that empower us:

   —to fight the good fight;

   —to finish the race;

   —to keep the faith!

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To learn more about grace and peace, please read my blogs “Grace and Peace—Galatians”, “Grace and Peace—Thessalonians”, “Grace and Peace—Corinthians”, “Grace and Peace—Romans”, “Grace and Peace—Ephesians”, “Grace and Peace—Philippians”, “Grace and Peace—Colossians”, “Grace and Peace—Philemon”, “Grace and Peace—Titus”, and “Grace, Mercy and Peace—First Timothy”.

To learn more about Timothy, please read my blogs “Timothy: A Good Teacher”, “Timothy: A Good Shepherd”, and “Timothy: A Good Team Player”.

To learn more about the authority, application, accuracy, and reliability of the Scriptures, please read the Appendices “How to Apply the Word of God Authoritatively”, “How to Apply the Bible to Specific Matters”, “The Accuracy and Reliability of the Bible”, and “The Spirit in Which to Study and Apply the Bible” in my book The Promised Land, at pages 153-184.

To learn more about the authorship and chronology of Second Timothy (and of other letters traditionally attributed to Paul), please read endnote 1 to the chapter “Paul Teaches Believers How To Behave” in my book Lighting the World, at pages 194-196.

To learn more about the authorship and chronology of letters traditionally attributed to James, Peter and John, please read the endnotes to the chapter “James, Peter and John Fellowship with Paul” in my book Lighting the World, at pages 191-192.