<p>1:2 <i>To Timothy, my beloved child. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord- </i>Although Paul had not converted nor baptized Timothy, he had played a huge formative part in his spiritual life, to the extent he could address him as his child in the faith. This is the significance of the relationships we an build up now through our spiritual interaction with and efforts for each other. Paul's increasing perception of sinfulness is shown by the way in which in his earlier letters he uses the greeting &quot;Grace and peace&quot;; but in Timothy and Titus, his last letters: &quot;Grace, <i>mercy</i>, and peace...&rdquo;. He saw the overriding, crucial importance of God's grace and mercy, and he wished this on all his brethren.</p>