2 Timothy 1
Paul had mentored his nephew Timothy as a teen. Paul wrote this letter to encourage Timothy in the work of the ministry.
Paul knowing the Jewish Hebrew law customs raised Timothy up as Bishop over the 100 plus congregations across the city state of Ephesus.
Historians say that at the time Paul the Apostle and the Council of Apostles appointed Timothy as Bishop of Ephesus he was only 22. Hebrew cultural laws and tradition decreed that no male was to hold a position of authority or leadership until they reached the age of 30.
They had to have a parental command before they could speak or act on their own in public.
This is why Jesus said in Cana of Galilee to his
mother in John 2:3-5
" And why they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come"
His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it "
Jesus knew that because he was not yet 30 he needed a parental command in order for those servants to listen to him.
Paul knew the persecution and turmoil that Timothy was suffering as a result of his age so he encouraged Timothy to exercise his spiritual gifts.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. "
God had commanded Paul in the past to lay hands upon Timothy and when he did Jesus granted Timothy various giftings by the Holy Spirit to empower him to accomplish what God called him to do.
Timothy was being tested by older men and women who knew all the laws and customs, his own feelings of inadequecy and with how he dealt with the coordination of all the physical benevolences.
There was a strain that was placed upon Timothy to prove himself even though he clearly had Paul's backing. Think of the management and coordination that had to occur between 100 Pastors of separate scattered congregations across a vast City State much larger than New York. He had to prove himself to be mature to every one of those "Older Pastors,Teachers, Deacons, Rabbis and their wives and their Elder's wives.
In 2 Timothy 2:1-4 Paul begins to give Timothy his operating instructions. These instructions are not just for Timothy but they are for us today.
" You therefore,my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."
All scripture is for instruction and reproof. We too as believers can take Paul's admonition and relate it to our lives giving us tools to become overcoming Christians. As we deal with our tests and trials in life are we not called Sons of God through the working of Christ Jesus? Does not scripture say we are grafted into the vine of God the Father?
Paul had mentored his nephew Timothy as a teen. Paul wrote this letter to encourage Timothy in the work of the ministry.
Paul knowing the Jewish Hebrew law customs raised Timothy up as Bishop over the 100 plus congregations across the city state of Ephesus. Historians say that at the time Paul the Apostle and the Council of Apostles appointed Timothy as Bishop of Ephesus he was only 22. Hebrew cultural laws and tradition decreed that no male was to hold a position of authority or leadership until they reached the age of 30.
They had to have a parental command before they could speak or act on their own in public.
This is why Jesus said in Cana of Galilee to his
mother in John 2:3-5
His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it "
Jesus knew that because he was not yet 30 he needed a parental command in order for those servants to listen to him.
Paul knew the persecution and turmoil that Timothy was suffering as a result of his age so he encouraged Timothy to exercise his spiritual gifts. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. "
God had commanded Paul in the past to lay hands upon Timothy and when he did Jesus granted Timothy various giftings by the Holy Spirit to empower him to accomplish what God called him to do.
Timothy was being tested by older men and women who knew all the laws and customs, his own feelings of inadequecy and with how he dealt with the coordination of all the physical benevolences.
There was a strain that was placed upon Timothy to prove himself even though he clearly had Paul's backing. Think of the management and coordination that had to occur between 100 Pastors of separate scattered congregations across a vast City State much larger than New York. He had to prove himself to be mature to every one of those "Older Pastors,Teachers, Deacons, Rabbis and their wives and their Elder's wives. In 2 Timothy 2:1-4 Paul begins to give Timothy his operating instructions. These instructions are not just for Timothy but they are for us today.
" You therefore,my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."
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