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Articles
Paul and Timothy
The relationship between the apostle Paul and Timothy is a beautiful thread, woven in the narrative of Acts and the epistles of Paul. Timothy was the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek (Acts 16:1). While Timothy’s father may have been absent from influencing and raising a godly son, his mother and grandmother were commended for instilling within him, a sincere faith and a firm understanding of the sacred writings (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15). Timothy was a young man who was well spoken of by the brethren in Lystra, and ultimately he became one of Paul’s closest confidants, friends, brethren, and son in the faith.
The apostle Paul was introduced to Timothy at the beginning of his second missionary journey. He and Silas were returning to the churches established during his first missionary journey. In Lystra, Paul was introduced to Timothy. Almost immediately, the writer Luke records – “Paul wanted this man to go with him” (Acts 16:3a). We will never know what initially occurred when Paul met Timothy, but we can necessarily infer that Paul was able to see strength and a uniqueness in Timothy. Timothy had made an impression upon Paul and from that point forward, Timothy’s life would be changed.
Timothy traveled with Paul to Philippi and would have been evident of Paul preaching to the women who had assembled at the riverside for prayer (Acts 16:11-13). Timothy also witnessed the arrest, beating, and imprisonment of Paul and Silas by the angry mob in Philippi. He would have also been told of their release and the salvation extended to the household of the jailer (Acts 16:40). Can we even begin to imagine the impact the apostle Paul was having in the life of Timothy? Timothy, by all accounts, did not have a strong male influence in his life, but had finally found one in Paul.
Timothy traveled with Paul to Thessalonica and again witnessed the uproar caused by the preaching of the gospel. He saw the strength of Jason’s household which was attacked for harboring Paul and Silas. He observed the faithfulness of the Berean Jews who “received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). In trial after trial, Timothy traveled with the apostle Paul and watched as the gospel turned the world upside down. The apostle Paul never denied anyone the opportunity to hear the gospel, but spoke with boldness the salvation of mankind through Jesus Christ. Timothy traveled with Paul to Corinth, Macedonia, Miletus, Ephesus, Jerusalem, Rome, etc. In every place, Timothy observed the character and mannerisms of an apostle of Jesus Christ who was saved by the grace of God. What an amazing life it must have been to have walked along side the apostle Paul!
We live in a different time with very different environments, but the same need for the preaching of the gospel and investment in our young men/women is sorely needed. There are no living apostles who can be used to train, educate, and influence our young people, but there are plenty of older Christians who have the wisdom, patience, and time to reach those who are younger. The apostle Paul wrote to Titus for the older men to instruct the younger men, and older women to teach the younger women. This need of mentoring our younger generation did not end with the death of Paul, Titus, or Timothy, but rather it is still required of each generation represented in the Lord’s Church. We have young men and women who are in need of being mentored by their older brothers and sisters. These young Christians need your wisdom to stand faithfully against the pressures of everyday life. These young Christians need your strength, prayers, and knowledge to help make some of life’s greatest decisions. Young brothers and sisters take every opportunity to spend time with your older brethren. They may move slower and not like your style of music, but they can offer you words of encouragement that is worth far more than anything found among your peers and own age group.
The apostle Paul was introduced to a young man and he rose to the challenge of instructing, influencing, and impacting his life for the better. How many of my older brothers and sisters can/will do the same today? How many of my younger brothers and sisters will humbly submit themselves to learning from an older brother/sister? All of our lives will be different, but there is one common need among each of us – We need our brothers and sisters in Christ! May God bless us with hearts to serve one another and help one another prepare for heaven.
