The sender: “Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the command of God our savior and Christ Jesus our hope.”

The receiver: “Timothy, Paul’s true son in the faith.”

The prayer: “The grace, mercy and peace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The names of God in verses 1-2:

God our saviour, Christ Jesus our hope

God the Father, Christ Jesus our Lord

1. Right teaching produces right living. Therefore, the gospel must remain at the centre of everything (3-4)

2. Whereas false teaching results in meaningless speculation, proper apostolic teaching – founded on and flowing from the gospel - results in practical good behaviour, rooted in love (5)

• Those who profess faith but do not demonstrate any progress and godliness should question their spiritual state.

3. The doctrine that Paul approved for Christian use must produce whole Christians. It must be founded on and flow from the gospel, and it must bear the apostle’s seal (6-11)