2 Timothy: Intended Readership

The second letter to Timothy is one of the “pastoral letters”. These letters, according to the opening, are directed to Paul’s close co-workers: Timothy and Titus. But these letters always have teachers of the generation after Paul in mind. This is apparent from the subjects that are dealt with in the letters.

These teachers provide leadership for the communities, but they cannot (any longer) ask for advice from Paul and his co-workers. They are given clear guidelines in the pastoral letters. The personal-sounding warnings and advice to Timothy and Titus are in reality directed to them (for instance 1 Timothy 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Titus 2:7-8).