2 Timothy 1:3

‘I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of you in my supplications, night and day,’

As Paul is about to speak highly of Timothy’s parents, he first gives thanks for his own forefathers. It was they, godly Jews, who had taught him to serve and worship the true God in a pure conscience, with heart untainted (‘blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God’ (Matthew 5:8), even though he had not always followed their example. He never despised his Jewish background. Rather he gloried in what it had given him. And he also thanks God because he feels the need to continually pray for Timothy, for it is necessary precisely because of what that young man was accomplishing and what he had become. He needed prayer because of his importance to the church. For the phrase ‘I thank God’ compare 1 Timothy 1:12. For a ‘pure conscience’ compare 1 Timothy 1:5. It was a conscience made clean by the blood of Christ. ‘Unceasing’ is a typical Paulinism (Romans 1:9; Romans 9:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17), especially when related to prayer. For ‘night and day’ see Acts 20:31 (in words of Paul); 1 Timothy 5:5; also 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; .

He describes himself as ‘unceasing’ in remembering Timothy in his supplications. In other words he prays for him at various times in the day. ‘Night and day.’ This might suggest that Paul had regular prayers morning and evening, (or in Jewish terms evening and morning) at which, among others, he fondly remembered Timothy. He prayed for him at least twice daily (how his prayers must have shaken the Roman soldier who guarded him).