CHURCH 09 – Spiritual Leadership NT: Timothy

CHURCH 09 - Spiritual Leadership NT: Timothy

Timothy as a teenager                                50 AD                                   age 16y

Acts 16:1-3         Timothy’s town & family

  • Imothy is from Lystra in Galatia, Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).
  • His father is a Greek, his mother is a Jewess, but he was not circumcised.
  • He seems to be one of the early converts at Galatia. The church was only planted in 48 AD, now we are in 50 AD.
  • He is well spoken of in Lystra and Iconium, though the church and he are young.

2 Tim 1:5           I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.

  • His grandmother was named Lois, his mother Eunice. They were both believers before him. They had the same sincere faith as Timothy. We do not know when they were saved, probably just immediately before Timothy.

2 Tim 3:15         and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings

  • Must refer to the Jewish instruction in the OT Timothy got from his grandmother and mother. They must have been Jews that had humility and right understanding, and so immediately responded to the gospel when it was first preached.

2 Tim 3:10-11    Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecution, and my suffering that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.

  • Timothy hears and sees Paul’s life, his suffering (maybe the stoning at Lystra, see Acts 14:19), a realistic picture of what apostleship means, but – though young and shy – Timothy is not put off by this.
  • How old is he when he gets saved or joins Paul’s team? No exact dates but he joins in 50 AD and in 1 Tim 4:12, depending on dating as much as 12 y later Paul still says ‘let no one despise your youth’. He must have been really young, maybe 16?
  • In the short time between the 1st and 2nd missionary journey Timothy becomes a whole-hearted, outstanding believer in his church.
  • He experienced the tensions around circumcision and Paul’s letter ‘Galatians‘ in answer to that. Neither he nor his family seemed to have bowed to the pressure.

1 Tim 6:12         Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

  • Timothy seems to have made some public stand of witness, probably at his baptism.
  • Paul recruits him into the team, possibly he was prayed for and commissioned at that time (or possibly at a later occasion also):

1 Tim 4:14         do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders
2 Tim 1:6           gift in you through laying on of my hands

Timothy as Paul’s co-worker                      50-64 AD                              age 16-30y

Acts 16:3        Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised, because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was Greek.

  • Though just having written the letter ‘Galatians‘ against circumcision, Paul has Timothy circumcised, so that he can minister to Jews. This is not a contradiction: Only if a person ascribes saving power to circumcision, circumcision is forbidden for him (Gal 5:2-3). But as long as Timothy does not ascribe saving power to circumcision, he might as well be circumcised (or not, Galatians 5:15). Timothy sees Paul’s freedom from legalism but also his concession to the ministry context: preaching in synagogues requires circumcision.
  • Timothy quickly becomes a significant part of Paul’s team, being given a number of missions to accomplish for Paul:
    • Acts 17:10              Timothy left behind in Thessolonica when riots force Paul on
    • Acts 17:14-15         Timothy left with Silas in Berea when riots force Paul on
    • 1 The 3:6                Sent to Thessalonica to check on church
    • Probably brings 1 & 2 Thessalonians to Thessalonica, takes back a report
    • Acts 19                   Timothy sent to Macedonia from Ephesus
    • 1 Cor 4:17, 16:10   Timothy sent to Corinth from Ephesus
    • Php 2:19                 Timothy sent to Philippi
    • 1 Tim 1:3                 Timothy left to look after Ephesus
  • Especially with the Thessalonian events is becomes obvious just how well Timothy and Paul complement each other:
  • When Paul and Silas have to leave overnight due to the riots in order to not bring the church into more trouble (Acts 17:10), it’s Timothy who can stay behind, encourage people, teach them, care for them a little longer.
  • Also a bit later when Paul is desperate for news how they are doing, he cannot go himself, but Timothy’s non-threatening teenie-face can go 😉 (1 The 3:6).
  • His tasks included helping to plant churches; take continued care of churches, inquiring about and judging churches’ welfare or situations (1 Th 3:6); seeking to correct doctrine (1 Tim 1:3); dealing with false teachers (2 Tim) and giving word or news of Paul (Php 2:23).
Paul’s descriptions of Timothy and his character
  • Rom 16:21                ‘fellow worker’
  • 2 Cor 1:1, Col 1:1, Phm 1, 1 The 3:2, (Heb 13:23)          ‘brother’
  • 1 Cor 4:17                ‘beloved and faithful child in the Lord’
  • 1 The 3:2                 ‘God’s servant’
  • Php 2:20-22            ‘I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served me with the Gospel.’
  • Paul commends Timothy warmly as a upright, genuinely caring and selfless person
  • Paul, though he was much senior in all regards, simply just loved Timothy brotherly and thoroughly enjoyed his friendship. Theirs – though they were so different – was a close relationship. Paul wasn’t emotionally aloof, as so often is recommended for leaders today. 2 Tim 1:4 shows: “Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.”
  • But Paul also built Timothy’s leadership. As Timothy grew in his ministry, Paul invested increasing authority in him and instructed him:
  • 1 Tim 1:3                 “Charge certain persons not to teach different doctrines”
  • 1 Tim 4:11               “Command and teach these things”
  • 1 Tim 6:2                 “Teach and urge these duties”
  • 2 Tim 2:14               “remind people and charge them”
  • 2 Tim 4:2                 “Convince, rebuke, exhort”
Time line of Timothy’s ministry
Miss. JourneyDateReferenceDescription
1st48-49 ADActs 14:1-23, 2 Tim 3:10-11Timothy meets Paul & Barnabas, hears the gospel, probably becomes a believer.
2nd50 ADActs 16:1-3Timothy is well spoken of. He joins Paul & Silas’ team. He is circumcised by Paul.
50 ADActs 17:14-15Timothy and Silas remain in Beroea
50 ADActs 18:5Timothy and Silas go to Athens, Corinth, join Paul.
50 AD1 The 3:2, 3:6Timothy is sent back to get news of the persecuted church of Thessalonica.
50 AD1 The 1:1Timothy reports to Paul, then co-authors and probably delivers “1 Thessalonians”
51 AD2 The 1:1Timothy reports to Paul, then co-authors and delivers takes “2 Thessalonians”
51-52 AD Timothy works with Paul, Silas, Prisca, Aquila in Corinth.
52 AD Timothy goes with Paul and Silas to Ephesus, Jerusalem, Antioch.
3rd53 AD Timothy goes with Paul and team to Ephesus and ministers there.
?Acts 19:22Paul sends Timothy with Erastus to Macedonia.
55 AD1 Cor 4:17 1 Cor 16:10Paul sends Timothy to Corinth after hearing a troubling report
55 AD2 Cor 2:1Timothy brings back a bad report from Corinth, causing Paul to go on a quick visit.
 

56 AD

2 Cor 1:1Paul and Timothy go to Troas, Macedonia, waiting for Titus, co-authoring “2 Corinthians”
57 ADActs 20:4-5Timothy returns with Paul to Macedonia, Troas, Jerusalem
 57-62 AD nothing mentioned, maybe with imprisoned Paul in Caesarea, Rome
4th?62 ADPhp 1:1, Col 1:1, Phm 1Timothy with Paul in Rome, co-authors “Philippians”, “Colossians”, “Philemon”
62-64 AD1 Tim 1:3Timothy left behind in Ephesus by Paul?
 64 AD2 Tim 4:9Paul asking Timothy to come before he dies, taking things from Carpus in Troas.

 

64 AD?Heb 13:23Timothy imprisoned and released. (where?)
 81 ADtraditionTimothy clubbed to death at a pagan feast in Ephesus.
Timothy’s personality
  • 1 Cor 16:10 Paul commands the church at Corinth to receive Timothy with respect, so he would be put at ease among them and would have nothing to fear by them.
  • This, together with instructions in 1 & 2 Timothy suggests that Timothy by personality was definitely not a natural pioneer or leader, an alpha animal, go-getter, happy-go-lucky, entertainer type person. Rather Timothy was probably introverted, a bit timid and holding back, definitely not intense nor pushing himself forward. Paul gives him the following instructions: –
  • 1 Tim 4:12            “Let no one despise your youth”
  • 1 Tim 4:13-15      “’Practice preaching, teaching, public reading, these duties” “Do not neglect the gift”
  • 2 Tim 1:6             “rekindle the gift”
  • 2 Tim 1:8             “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of Spirit of power, love and self-control”
  • 2 Tim 2:15           “approved worker, rightly explaining the word of truth”
  • 1 Tim 5:23 Maybe Timothy’s stomach problems were due to a ‘feeling responsible’ and associated worry. Paul would have definitely prayed for Timothy, but seems to not have been able to make the stomach problems go away.
  • It seems that Timothy heeded Paul’s word in 2 Tim 1:8 to ‘share in suffering’, for he later manages to get jailed himself.
Timothy during Paul’s last days                       64-65 AD                         age 30-31 y

2 Ti 4:9-16                Do your best to come to me soon, 10 for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you … I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. … bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments … 16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me.

  • Paul writes his last letter (2 Timothy) to his faithful long-term co-worker Timothy.
  • Paul well knows his days are numbered (2 Ti 4:6-7) and that this imprisonment will lead to him being executed (under Nero by beheading, the church St. Paolo commemorates the spot till today).
  • The letter has the quality of writing to someone you can say everything to, the difficult (people leaving), the good (the work going forward), the practical (bring items) and the not to be refused ‘do your best to come’.
  • Paul just really wants Timothy by his side, to spend his last time, for yet still things could be accomplished (papers, parchments) and people sent to needful situations (Mark).
  • The letter of 2 Timothy has the quality of a ‘staff handed over in a relay race’. The once timid teenager is entrusted by Paul with the churches and to carry on so much of Paul’s work. It’s to Timothy that Paul hands over his legacy.
Timothy’s later life                                       65-81AD                                age 31-47 y
  • The letter to the Hebrews mentions the good news of Timothy being released from prison (Heb 13:23) as a sign of hope to the suffering readers (64-67 AD).
  • We do not know how he finished his life. Church tradition says he died a martyr’s death in 81 AD in Ephesus, being clubbed to death at a pagan festival.

Summary

  • It is amazing to see just how different Paul and Timothy are, how close a relationship they have and how well they work together.
  • Paul truly loves Timothy, truly enjoys working with him, truly appreciates his so very different giftings, truly releases him into his kind of ministry and truly trusts him.
  • This is all true for Titus as well, and Luke, but with Timothy the personality contrasts seem sharpest, and the complementing co-work the more beautiful.
  • Timothy never got ‘squashed’ by his dominant leader, or he didn’t let himself to. Though Paul was so strong, it is clear that Timothy found his calling and gifting, though so different from Paul. He flourished in settings with Paul and in settings that Paul could not have done.
  • His example shows that Biblical leadership is totally independent of personality type. All types must lead.
CHURCH