Paul's desire
was for Timothy to be “strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus”, and because he was the youthful pastor over the church
in Ephesus, he would need to exercise that “unmerited favor” over
and over again. In chapter two and verse two of his final letter to
Timothy, Paul continued his exhortation by adding another important
ministry of which Timothy was to pay particular attention -
“committing” what he heard of Paul “to faithful men”
who would then “teach others” where
we read:
And the
things that you have heard of me among many witnesses,
the same
commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
The
verse begins, “And the things that you have heard of me
among many witnesses,...” Paul
began with, “And the things”
which refers to “whatever words, thoughts and ideas” “that
you have heard” or “attended
to, considered, understood and perceived” “of me”
which refers to Paul and his ministry “among many
witnesses” or “through, in
front of and by way of many spectators, beholders and observers”.
No doubt Timothy watched and listened to Paul as he taught and
demonstrated the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he passed
these ways and ideas down to Timothy. These are the “things”
of which Paul is making
reference, and he knows Timothy possesses them as well.
The verse goes on to
say, “...the
same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
Not only was Timothy to acknowledge “the things”
he “heard among many witnesses” from
Paul, but he was with “the same”
or “with these exact things” to“commit”
or “place beside, set before, deposit and entrust” “to
faithful men” who were
“trusty, reliable, believing and confiding men”. Paul continued
with, “who shall be able”
or “be sufficient in ability, meet, fit, competent and worthy”
“to teach” which means “to
impart instruction, instill doctrine into, enjoin, explain and
expound” to “others also” or “ones who are likeminded
and of the same nature, form, class and kind as well”. In other
words, Timothy was to pass down what he learned from Paul to
“faithful men”, and they would in like kind pass these
things down to others who were “faithful” as well.
When we
meditate upon these words of Paul, we can see the value of passing
the truths of the gospel from one generation to the next. It is like
a relay race where the baton is passed from one racer to the next.
The ideas, thoughts and ways of the gospel of Jesus Christ must be
continued, and when they are passed down to other “faithful”
people, the gospel continues. Let us think about this for a moment
and realize, the reason we have the gospel of Jesus Christ today is
because someone who was “faithful” passed this down to us,
and now, it is our turn. The gospel of Jesus Christ will continue,
and as we hear it's truths and commit it to faithful people, they
also will “teach others” who will are “faithful”
to continue sharing it s well. May the Lord help us to know the value
of “committing” His gospel to others, and may He bless us with
“faithfulness” to hear and obey when He speaks.
Next
time Paul encouraging Timothy to “endure hardness, as a
good soldier of Jesus Christ”,
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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