Timothy's First Task

After first preaching the Gospel, establishing a church in the formerly pagan city of Thessalonica, Paul and Co. got run out of town.

Got run out of Berea

Ended in Athens—from which Paul sent Timothy back

His feelings for the Thessalonians were so strong that he allowed himself to be left alone in Athens (v.1) and send Timothy back

NOTE: Silas had been apparently sent back to Macedonia as well at some point as Paul was then alone in Athens (Acts 18)

Curriculum Vitae

First encounter between Timothy and Paul

Seems to be in Acts 16

Acts 16:1 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

Jewish mother, Greek (Gentile) father

Brought to Christ via testimony of his mother and grandmother

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Follow-up: circumcised by Paul

Acts 16:3 ESV

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

He was now Paul’s brother

God’s coworker in the Gospel

Interesting that his mixed ancestry is noted…the knowledge of both his cultural backgrounds probably played to his advantage

Timothy would go on to become Paul’s assigned pastor to Ephesus

Task

To establish and exhort in their faith

May we say confirming the joy or “polishing the crown” Paul & co expected to present?

Trust

Trust comes with an expectation of result

…in the result of Timothy’s labors

He sent Timothy with this purpose

1 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

…assuming that he would accomplish the task

There was the understanding that life would not be easy as believers

Apparently, Paul had warned them, from his history and from the words of Jesus Himself

Matthew 5:11 ESV

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

They saw how the missionaries had been treated

The return visit by Timothy would encourage and built up the church

Within this affliction would have been the conflict between the pagans and the Jews

Pagans were against them as they didn’t worship Caesar

Jews would have been enticing them to Judaism as it was a “legal” religion

A Christian could be neither...

The linguistics suggest that they had already seen it played out in their presence

Tempter

Even Paul was worried about Satan’s ability to deceive and destroy

If he could not take away the salvation, he could destroy the testimony; play havoc with the effectiveness of the church

Paul was well aware of the “devils schemes”

He would ultimate write to the church in Ephesus about them; describing the spiritual warfare and its weapons

This was not something experienced by Paul only; Peter had seen it play out, thus

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The nuances of the language indicate Paul’s believe that the tempter has already tried; but the Thessalonians had held fast to the faith

Timothy’s presence, and his teaching, would bolster the faith where it may have been weakening

WITFM?

What Is our Task?

Boils down to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission

Mark 12:30–31 ESV

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Primary thing is making disciples…starts with sharing the Gospel…starts with knowing it ourselves

Baptism is a result of obedience to the directives of Jesus Himself

Believers should be baptized—PERIOD

Let’s talk about follow-up; the process of making the disciples is not ended with salvation—that’s just the beginning

I am still being discipled! Many men speak into my life on a regular basis…it’s never ending, at least for the time we’re on this earth

Are We Worthy of the Trust?

Timothy had proven himself to Paul

The process would have been to trust him with small things of little consequence, then progressively larger, more consequential tasks

…finally a task of supreme importance the building up of believers who were under oppression of various kinds

So many believers are long on want to,

…long on going to...

…short on get to...

…short of follow-through...

Sadly, leaders have to set hopes at one level, expectations somewhat lower

…applies in multiple settings, including the church

Here’s a suggestion

Colossians 3:17 ESV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:23 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Are We Wary of the Tempter?

Do you recognize the danger of the roaring lion?

Do you know that sometimes he masquerades as an angel of light?—sure looks like a good guy!

…much discernment is required

Are you fully equipped with the armor for spiritual battle ref. Eph 6:11 ff.

Those weapons of warfare only come with salvation—the first piece of armor.