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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith." This too is encouraging. For if he evinced such faith as to be called peculiarly Paul's "own" son, he might be confident also with respect to the future. For it is the part of faith not to be cast down or disturbed, though circumstances occur that seem contrary to the promises. But observe he says, "my son," and even "mine own son," and yet he is not of the same substance. But what? was he of irrational kind? …
Theophylact of Ohrid
That is, begotten by me through faith. The preposition "in" – εν – means "through," as the apostle also says elsewhere: "I have begotten you in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:15). And praising him, he calls him not only a son, but also a "true" one – true, because Timothy more than others preserves a likeness to him in faith, and because the apostle Paul sincerely loved him. Very wisely he added: "in faith," so as to encourage Timothy all the more toward it. …
Oecumenius
To Timothy, a genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. a genuine child. Wow! The faith that Timothy demonstrated, that even through it he became a genuine child of Paul! For nothing changed according to the faith. Grace, mercy. Here mercy is prayed for, not as usual, showing both the desire towards it, and that teachers need more mercy. On the guidance into the love of God, which is not required by legal necessity.
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
He describes the person greeted from three viewpoints: first, from his name, when he says, to Timothy: there was a certain disciple there named Timothy (Acts 16:1); second from his love, when he says, his beloved: for I have no man so of the same mind who with sincere affection is solicitous for you (Phil 2:20); third, from his sonship, when he says, son in faith, i.e., converted by him: I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord (1 Cor 4:17). …
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