The Bible
includes two letters
from Paul to his
protégé, Timothy. Timothy traveled extensively with Paul on his
missionary journeys and sometimes served as his messenger. Timothy is mentioned in several of Paul’s
letters and in the book of Acts.
At the time
of this letter, Timothy was serving as a pastor at Ephesus. Though there were many Christians
in Ephesus, they met in small, home-based groups. In this sense, Timothy was more a pastor to
pastors. Paul wrote to him with encouragement
and instruction.
Paul opens
his letter with a theme that occurs in many others: doctrinal purity and false
teachers. Then, as now, there were people
who wanted to draw followers, fame and fortune to themselves and found an opportunity
in religion. They presented themselves as
scholars discriminating the finer points of the law and engaged in disputations. Mostly, they sold what was selling and lived
immorally, making excuses for themselves.
Paul encouraged his disciple to stick to the Gospel he had received.
Because of this,
Paul gave instructions about who would make suitable leaders in
the church. These were to be mature, of
good character, with orderly lives, especially in their family.
Speaking of
family, Paul was very concerned about relationships,
especially how Christians relate to each other.
He wrote about who Christians should treat each other. He discussed how pastors and congregations
should relate. He wrote about charity to
the poor. He gave direction to masters
and slaves, husbands
and wives, parents
and children.
Though he
doesn’t address it directly in this letter, you can see in his discussion of
relationships Paul’s vision of authority and submission in a context of loving
relationships. God is the model and
source of all authority. Of course, no
human rules with the absolute authority of God; human authorities are trustees
and agents of God, in the church, government and family. God not only rules, He loves. Jesus Christ
suffered agony and death to atone for our sins and give us everlasting life
with Him. No one can repeat what Christ
did, nor is it necessary, but his sacrificial love and submission to His Father
are a mode for human rulers.
On the flip
side, we are all to submit to God. This
submission to God is a model of our submission to authorities, who are all
appointed by God. We love, reverence and
obey authorities just as they love, care for and thoughtfully lead us. The notion of submission is unpalatable to
many, but it is possible, even good, in the context of God’s love and authority
working through people.
Paul’s love
for Timothy comes through the letter. The
terms of affection, the concern for his health, the encouragement to face
problems with calm faith, the reminders of friends and family break up the
teaching sections. Paul himself was a
model for the things he was teaching Timothy.
Paul was an authority and Timothy served him for years. Paul was also a loving friend who cared about
his wellbeing and success. As both an authority
and one under authority, Timothy had a good teacher in the apostle.
Paul also
wrote
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