This letter was written around 67 A.D., about three years after his first letter to Timothy and shortly before his martyrdom. At the time he wrote this letter, Paul was in prison and because he was fully aware that the Emperor Nero was leading a full-out persecution of Christians, Paul was apparently aware that he would be executed soon. In this letter, he made it clear that he was at peace and satisfied that he had done his best for Jesus. Some 35 years after he was knocked off his horse and blinded, Paul exhorts Timothy, whom he calls his "son in the faith," to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, to stand against false doctrine, and be a model of virtue. Timothy himself would face persecution shortly after this letter was delivered.