True and False Apostles
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. (1:1)
Paul is writing with tremendous spiritual authority. He is writing as an ‘apostle’, literally, ‘a sent one’ of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ actually sent Paul out by divine revelation. Paul has learned to know the voice of the Lord, and the Lord has entrusted Paul with a lot of responsibilty. Paul is not an apostle because he wanted to be, but because God chose him to be. It was the will of God.