As we embark upon a study of
another book in the Bible, let us turn our attention to the book
named “First Timothy”. “First Timothy” is one of two books
within the Bible which bear the name of a young man whom Paul the
apostle had the privilege of leading to Jesus Christ. “Timothy”
whose name means “honoring god” had a Greek father and a Jewish
mother, and became as a “son in the faith” to Paul. We shall
learn more concerning him as we proceed through this book. For now,
let us imagine that we are charged with the upbringing of a young man
in the faith who will need guidance, instruction, exhortation and
encouragement to be a “faithful minister” to the church located
in Ephesus. Paul the apostle knew Timothy would need his assistance
as he served within the church, and in chapter one and verse one he
introduces himself and the reason he functions as he does. We read:
Paul, an apostle of
Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior,
The
verse begins, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the
commandment of God our Savior,” “Paul” or
“Paulus” in the Greek
means “small or little” and was the name by which this great
apostle was known after his conversion to Christianity. “Paul”,
who was formally known as “Saul”
or “Saulos” which was “Paul's” Hebrew name means “desired”,
was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter”
toward anyone who followed after Jesus Christ, and his desire was to
totally eliminate anyone from having faith in Jesus. However, in
chapter nine of the book of “The Acts of the Apostles” we see the
events that led to “Saul” becoming a Christian himself, and later
became “an apostle”
or “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with
orders” “of Jesus”
which means “Jehovah is Salvation” “Christ”
which is “the anointed Son of God”. Paul had not called
himself to be “an apostle of Jesus Christ” but it was “by
the commandment” or “injunction, mandate and command” “of
God” or “the Godhead” “our Savior” which means
“deliverer and preserver”. In Paul's letters to the churches he
often employed the title of “apostle” when he would write
in authority concerning doctrine and church direction as he brought
forth or answered certain questions or concerns. It is as with the
authority of a spiritual father to his spiritual son in which Paul
writes to Timothy.
The verse continues, “and
Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” Paul
goes on to add, “and the Lord”
which means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about
which he has power of deciding; master” “Jesus” or
“Jehovah is salvation” “Christ” which we have learned
is “the anointed Son of God”. It may seem a bit repetitious for
Paul to refer to Jesus with His title again, however Paul knew that
Jesus “which is our hope” or “expectation of good and
our joyful confident expectation of eternal salvation” was indeed
the only hope for eternal life with God. Jesus became Paul's personal
hope for eternal salvation, and he knew all who put their faith in
Jesus Christ will know of the hope of which he referred.
As we think through this
letter from Paul, it will be helpful for us to think in terms of
three levels of application of the things in which he writes. First,
we may think of ourselves as his “children or students – his
proteges” who sit at his feet to learn as Timothy did. Secondly, we
should think in terms of others who are alongside us and are learning
from this great teacher themselves. These are our colleagues and
contemporaries who are journeying through the Christian faith at the
same level we are. Finally, we should have those within our lives to
whom we become as “spiritual fathers or mothers” and are their
exhorters and encouragers as Paul will be to us. As a side note, this
pattern was exhibited by Paul, Barnabas and Timothy who fulfilled
these roles. Jesus Christ is our hope, and He is the one who calls us
into ministry. As He uses Paul the apostle to instruct young Timothy,
may we glean from the teachings in this book that our Lord Jesus
Christ through His Holy Spirit has inspired.
Next
time we will continue our study in the book of First Timothy and
discover to whom Paul is writing and the blessings he shares toward
him, 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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