Rev. E. Anderson
A YOUNG PROTÉGÉ
Reading 2 Timothy 1
INTRODUCTION
In viewing and studying the life and ministry of Timothy one certainly gets the strong idea and impression that he was a young man that was divinely primed and timed by God to serve his day and generation.
GOOD NAME: His name has a meaning of immense worth that merits consideration. It implies ‘honoured of God’. He was not only honoured and valued by the apostle, Paul; he had a good standing and relationship with God. He had, as his life reveals, a wholesome accord with heaven that caused him to be spiritually primed and time to serve heaven’s interests on earth. He was a young protégé with a praiseworthy name. LASTING WITNESS: From the New Testament Scriptures, the Acts, Epistles and the letters to Timothy from Paul, there is a permanent record of this young minister who graced the infant Church and played an important role in it. What has been left on sacred record makes it possible to get a true image and understanding of this individual who conducted a vital ministry at a needful time in the Christian Church alongside his mentor, the apostle Paul. He was a young protégé that was to carry and convey enduring testimony to his life and ministry which has touched the whole of Christendom. WORTHY CHARACTER: What is stated of him gives the good impression that he was truly a person of quality nature and that he did manifest godly influence at a crucial stage in his life. He certainly was encouraged by Paul in this but he was ready to respond to wholesome teaching and direction – see 1Timothy 4:12. He was able to set the standard and tone for others and graced the Church in a manner that revealed that he was inspired and motivated by God. FULFILLED MINISTRY: From what is written and recorded of him in the Scriptures, it appears that he was able to function with the apostle in a noble service to Christ, the apostle and the churches in a positive, quiet and distinguished manner. Paul had great confidence in him and his abilities to do a good job, leaving him to establish new believers in Christ and help the churches in many ways. RIGHTLY PRIMED AND TIMED: Reviewing the documentation concerning him it is possible to note the many folks that contributed to his priming and timing. Quite a number of people were at hand at important periods of his life to impart helpful factors that would make him and his ministry.
1/. THE INPUT AND INFLUENCE OF A GODLY GRANDPARENT – 2 Timothy 1: 5; 3: 15;
Mention is made of the fact that he had known the blessing and service of a godly grandmother by the name of Lois. She not only knew the Lord herself and the Scriptures, but sensed the responsibility and need to make sure that her grandson was properly tutored from the earliest moment. She sowed sacred seeds of divine truth within his young mind and heart which evidently took root very early that was to bring forth a greater harvest later on. This older, lady believer knew that her grandson needed to be primed as soon as possible in the knowledge of God and His word, sensing he had a destiny to fulfil of note.
‘Lois, the grandmother, appears to have been the first convert to Christianity: she instructed her daughter Eunice, and both brought up Timothy in the Christian faith; so that he had a general knowledge of it before he met with St. Paul at Lystra’ – A. Clarke
2/. THE INPUT AND INFLUENCE OF A GODLY MOTHER – 1Timothy 1: 5
She simply added to what her mother had taught her and he was in the situation where he was prepared to be both nurtured naturally and nourished spiritually. He was ready to be primed from the one that valued him immensely. Lois believed that her son was not only special to her but to the Lord and that she had a charge to fulfil in seeing he was made aware of the Lord and of the importance of the Holy Scriptures in coming to appreciate Him and His ways. Possible the best teacher that any child has is its mother because she knows and understands her child better than any other and it is usual that most children have enormous respect for this loving guardian. The close connection was used to telling spiritual effect.
‘The pains, which these two worthy persons took to impress the mind of their son in his childhood with sentiments of piety and virtue, is a fit example for the imitation of all mothers; who, if they take the same pains with their children, may hope that by the blessing of God their care will be followed with the same happy effects’ - Dr. Macknight.
3/. THE INPUT AND INFLUENCE OF A GODLY SERVANT – Philippians 2: 22; Romans 6: 21; 1 Timothy 1: 2
The time came when he met the apostle Paul and in a mutual manner both responded and rightly reacted to one another in the will and purpose of God – Acts 16: 1-3. Paul found a person who could be taught and trained and made into a travelling associate who would be able to serve Christ, him and the fellowships wherever they went. He would be a humble, teachable protégé and student that would grace Christ’s Church for good and profit. Timothy discovered a man of God who would be an outstanding father - mentor both to his life and work and so there was immediate fusion of spirits that was to remain constant to the end. He was ready at all times to receive godly instruction and be directed by this honest and honourable servant of Christ. This great apostle did everything with his power to prime and time him for a key role as can be noted in the letters wrote to him.
4/. THE INFLUENCE OF A GODLY PRESBYTERY – 1Timothy1: 18; 4: 14
Other leaders and elders of churches were to have a shaping and moulding impact upon him. He would meet numberless people who were equally called to exercise a role of leadership within the Christian community and he would be blessed by them. It is apparent that as he commenced his spiritual career and ministry that such did minister in a divine and positive manner that which was to serve as an encouragement for a lifetime’s service – 1 Timothy 1: 18; 4: 14. Through the prophetic he was divinely primed for the work ahead.
‘Some think that the foregoing prophecies, refer to revelations which the apostle himself had received concerning Timothy; while others think that the word is to be understood of advices, directions, and exhortations, which the apostle had previously delivered to him’ – A. Clarke
CLEMENT OF ROME [Epistle to the Corinthians], states it was the custom of the apostles “to make trial by the Spirit,” that is, by the “power of discerning,” in order to determine who were to be overseers and deacons in the several churches planted. So CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA says as to the churches near Ephesus, that the overseers were marked out for ordination by a revelation of the Holy Ghost to St. John.
5/. THE INFLUENCE OF GODLY CHURCHES – Philippians 2; 19-23; Colossians 1: 1
Certainly, those churches that he helped to plant and visited with this great apostle-missionary had some service to render to him that helped him in his early ministry. It would seem that Paul encouraged the church at Philippi to render him support and so enable him to a great work amongst them. For some time it appears he had charge in Ephesus and that he had a vital teaching ministry to exercise and he required the churches to respond – 1 Timothy 1: 3. They were in the business of priming him for the work God had for him especially went Paul was taken.
CONCLUSION
There is still the need for the older and younger generation of leaders to be spiritually bonded together so that the Church of Christ will benefit as a whole. The younger should be prepared to be mentored aright so that they are in position to fill the gaps that are created by the home-call of God’s choice servants.
