Paul the apostle's desire
for Timothy his “son in the faith” was that he be
“nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine”
that he might be a “good minister of Jesus Christ”.
Timothy was to “refuse profane and old wives' fables” and
rather “exercise” himself “unto godliness”.
Paul told Timothy that doing so was “a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation”, and it was for that reason he and
others “labored and suffered reproach” because Jesus
Christ is “the Savior of all men, especially of those that
believe”. In chapter four and verse twelve of his letter to
Timothy, Paul shares the importance of being “an example of the
believers” where we read:
Let no man despise your
youth; but be an example of the believers,
in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
The verse begins, “Let
no man despise your youth; but be an example of the believers,...”
Paul began this verse with the
word “Let” which
means “allow, permit or give permission to” “no man”
which is also included in the Greek phrase “kataphroneō
medies kataphroneō which
means “do not allow anyone to contemn, despise, disdain, think
little or nothing of” “your youth”
or “youthful age”. Paul continued, “But”
which is the
disassociation conjunction meaning what is about to be stated takes
precedence over what was previously said, “be”
or “become, to come into existence, begin to be, receive being,
come upon the stage, of men appearing in public and to be made and
finished” “an example” which
literally means “the mark of a stroke or blow, a print or a
figure formed by a blow or impression” and carries the idea of
“pattern in conformity to which a thing must be made” “of
the believers” or “believing, confiding and trusting people
who are convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead and is the
Messiah and author of salvation”. Timothy was to live his life in
such a manner that people would desire to “imitate” him as he
followed after Christ.
The verse continues, “...in word, in conversation,
in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” After
giving Timothy the instruction to be “an example of the
believer”, Paul listed six
ways he was to fulfill this charge. Paul told him, “in
word” or “what he said and
the doctrine and teachings he promoted”; “in
conversation” or in his
“manner of life, conduct, behavior and deportment”; “in
charity” which is the Greek
word “agape” and means “affection, good will, love,
benevolence, brotherly love and is an unconditional love”; “in
spirit” which literally is
“the vital principal by which the body is animated” and refers to
“the soul or the disposition or influence which fills and governs
the soul of any one”; “in faith”
or “conviction of the truth of anything and in particular the
conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all
things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through
Christ”; and finally “in purity”
which means “sinlessness of life”. Timothy was not to simply
acknowledge the idea of being “an example of the
believer” but was to live his
life in such a manner that everyone around him would know in every
area of his life he had committed himself to God Almighty the one and
true God, and Jesus Christ His Son.
While
we think about these words from Paul, perhaps we have been challenged
in our walk with the Lord. If someone were to examine our lives would
they find us fulfilling the six areas Paul mentioned?
Paul
knew there was a tendency to disdain and treat with contempt someone
who was younger in age who was a pastor, so he instructed Timothy how
to avoid it and guided him to being “an example”
of how to live. We can also examine ourselves and discover whether we
are living as a “stamp or impression” that others would desire to
follow, and should we find ourselves lacking in any area, may the
Lord Jesus attend to weaknesses and help us to be more like Him.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy what to pay attention to before he comes, so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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