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2 Timothy 4:9,21
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: …

Romans 1:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Romans 15:30-32
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me inyour prayers to God for me; …

being.

Acts 20:19,31,37,38
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: …

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

filled.

Psalm 126:5
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Isaiah 61:3
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Jeremiah 31:13
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

I long to see you
Paul's desire to see Timothy underscores the importance of personal fellowship and mentorship in the early church. This longing is not just personal but also spiritual, as Paul seeks to encourage and strengthen Timothy in his ministry. The geographical distance between them, with Paul likely in a Roman prison and Timothy in Ephesus, adds to the poignancy of this longing. The early church placed great value on face-to-face interactions, which were crucial for teaching, encouragement, and the transmission of apostolic authority.

so that I may be filled with joy
Paul's joy is deeply connected to his relationship with Timothy and the mutual faith they share. This joy is not merely emotional but is rooted in the spiritual growth and perseverance of Timothy in the faith. The joy Paul anticipates is a reflection of the joy found in Christian fellowship and the shared mission of spreading the Gospel. This phrase also echoes the broader biblical theme of joy in the midst of trials, as seen in other scriptures such asPhilippians 1:3-5 and1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, where joy is linked to the faithfulness and growth of fellow believers.

Paul begins, “Recalling your tears” (2 Timothy 1:4).

• The tears likely flowed when Paul and Timothy last parted, revealing Timothy’s tender heart for his mentor.

• Scripture never dismisses godly sorrow: David confesses, “Put my tears in Your bottle” (Psalm 56:8), and Jesus Himself “wept” at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:35).

• Such tears demonstrate genuine affection and faith—not weakness but Christlike compassion (cf.Acts 20:36-38, where Paul’s own companions wept at their farewell).

• Remembering those tears stirs Paul’s heart, assuring him that Timothy’s devotion is authentic (compare2 Corinthians 2:4, where Paul writes “out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears”).

Moved by that memory, Paul writes, “I long to see you.”

• “Long” signals deep desire, not casual interest; Paul often expresses this yearning toward fellow believers (Romans 1:11-12;Philippians 1:8;1 Thessalonians 2:17).

• The relationship is spiritual family: Timothy is Paul’s “beloved child” (2 Timothy 1:2). Longing for one another is natural in such family (cf.Philemon 1:12).

• Notice Paul’s circumstances: imprisoned, aging, aware that “the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6). In hardship, fellowship becomes even more precious.

• This longing underscores the value God places on personal presence; letters encourage, but face-to-face contact strengthens and comforts (2John 12).

The purpose clause shows Paul’s motive: “so that I may be filled with joy.”

• Joy flows from shared faith and mutual encouragement (Philippians 2:2;1 John 1:4). Seeing Timothy would lift Paul’s spirit in a Roman cell.

• Christian joy is relational—rooted first in Christ, then expressed in fellowship with His people (John 15:11;Philippians 1:25-26).

• Paul’s joy depends on Timothy, yet remains Christ-centered; the Spirit knits hearts so tightly that another believer’s presence becomes a channel of God’s own gladness (Romans 15:32).

• This joy is not fleeting sentiment; it is a settled gladness springing from the work God is doing in Timothy’s life, a work Paul helped nurture (cf. 3John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth”).

Paul’s simple sentence captures the emotional core of Christian fellowship. Remembering Timothy’s sincere tears, he longs for reunion, confident that their meeting will overflow in joy. The verse models tender pastoral love, highlights the sanctity of godly emotion, and reminds believers that face-to-face fellowship is God’s chosen avenue for mutual encouragement and Spirit-given joy.

Being mindful of thy tears.--Shed probably by Timothy when his aged master had last taken leave of him. It is likely that the clouds of danger which were gathering thickly round St. Paul towards the close of his career had oppressed the brave-hearted Apostle with a foreboding of coming evil, and had invested the last parting with Timothy with circumstances of unusual solemnity. St. Paul had affected others besides Timothy with the same great love, so that tears were shed by strong men when he bade them farewell. (See the account of the leave-taking of the Ephesian elders at Miletus,Acts 20:37-38--"And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more.")

There is no necessity for Hofmann's singular, but rather far-fetched, theory here that the tears were simply an expression for Timothy's intense sorrow at hearing of the Apostle's arrest and close imprisonment, which sorrow St. Paul was made acquainted with in a letter. The tears, according to Hofmann, were those "welche Timotheus brieflich geweint hat."

That I may be filled with joy.--When he meets Timothy again.