to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace, mercy, and peace: According to The Pulpit Commentary, the insertion of "’mercy’ in the salutation is a peculiarity of the epistles to Timothy. There is invoked grace on him as unworthy, mercy on him as exposed to suffering, peace on him as a result of his being graciously and mercifully dealt with" (Hervey XXI: 22).