“Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;”
As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy — the poignant reference to Timothy's tears (dakryon) and Paul's longing (epipotheō) humanizes pastoral relationship: affection and emotional depth characterize apostolic mentoring. Reunion promises mutual joy.
Church Fathers on 2 Timothy 1:4
“'I thank God,' he says, 'that I remember you,' so much do I love you.” This is a mark of excessive love, when a man glories in his affection from loving so much. “I thank God,” he says, “Whom I serve”: and how? “With a pure conscience,” for he had not violated his conscience. And here he speaks of his blameless life, for he everywhere calls his life his conscience. Or because I never gave up any good that I purposed, for any human cause, not even when I was a persecutor.…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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