Paul and Timothy

As is often the case at the start of any New Testament epistle the first few verses almost seem inconsequential to us. They seem like mere introductory remarks that can easily be passed over in order to get down to the real matter at hand. However when we do that, we often can miss some valuable information that can help to shine light on the content and purpose for the letter. In a sense the first two verse of 1 Timothy function much like windows on a house. Can a home exist without windows? Certainly. However those windows serve a purpose of adding light and circulation to a home. It can exist without windows but it will not be everything it is meant to be. So today we’re going to build some windows that will help us to view 1 Timothy in it’s proper light by examining Paul’s greeting.

Let’s observe together this morning:

Paul’s calling and credentials. (v.1)

Timothy’s privilege and need. (v.2)

1.) Paul’s calling and credentials. (v.1)

Paul opens the book by calling himself an apostle of “Jesus Christ.”

The word translated as Apostle- “to send off on a commission to do something as one’s personal representative, with credentials furnished” (Kenneth S. Wuest, The Pastoral Epistles in the Greek New Testament, vol. 2 of Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978], 22).

It could also be translated as “envoy”, “ambassador” or “messenger” Someone who goes on a mission bearing the credentials and power of the one who sent him.

In the New Testament there were two types of Apostles

In the broadest sense they were those who were sent to carry the gospel to others. Many in the NT were called this: Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25), Andronicus and Junius (Rom. 16:7), and James the Lord’s brother (Gal. 1:19) all bore the title, though they were not among the twelve chosen by Jesus.

2 Corinthians 8:23 NKJV

23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

Then there is the restrictive New Testament usage of the word; those who were called apostles of the Lord Jesus. There were 12 of those originally. (Substitute Mathias for Judas) Plus Paul. These men were personally chosen by Jesus, taught the gospel directly from him, and were commissioned by Him directly. They were men who were witnesses to his words, acts and resurrection. These men were also gifted by the Holy Spirit to receive and communicate to others divine revelation, cast out demons, heal the sick, preform signs and wonders and miracles as a sign of their apostleship.

Here in v.1 Paul expresses three very specific things about his apostleship:

A.) It was by the command of God

Typically in Paul's letters if he refers to his apostleship he says that it’s by the “will” of God. But here he uses a word that communicates that he’s been given royal orders from a king and is placed under obligation to them. There is a sense of compulsion, force, and necessity behind his orders.

At this point, Timothy had been with Paul serving under him for nearly twenty years, he understood what Paul’s being an Apostle of Christ meant. So, why then is he stressing here to Timothy.

His stressing his command to be an apostle indicates to us that this wasn't just a private letter to his protege, but that it was meant for Timothy to read it to the church at Ephesus he was left behind to pastor. The whole church was to obey what Paul was saying because he had the authority from the King of Kings to say them.

B.) It was because of “God our savior.”

This is a title that only appears in Paul’s writings in the Pastoral Epistles but it has Old Testament roots. Time and time again in the OT God is referred to as “God of my salvation.” God is the source of our salvation. The only reason we have been provided with the way of salvation is because of God’s love for mankind.

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

We must understand that if God didn't love humanity, we could not be saved. There would be no hope of salvation and we would simply just be wiped off of the face of the earth. We would stand completely condemned and without hope. Doomed to damnation for all eternity.

But, God does love humanity, so he provided for us the way to salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel originates and ends in God’s love, he is “God our savior”! Mankind doesn't have to die in condemnation. We can be delivered from wages of sin and the judgement to come by coming to Jesus in repentance and faith.

Paul, understood that his salvation had everything to do with God and nothing to do with him. He was driven by compulsion to carry the glorious message of salvation to the world and Paul knew that God wasn’t just his savior but so to was he Timothy’s savior and everyone else who bowed the knee to the gospel of Christ.

C.) It was because of Jesus Christ, who is our hope.

Human beings tend to long for things that we lack. We hope for all sorts of things:

recognition and acceptance.

Security.

Deliverance from death and to live forever.

But, none of these things can be found outside of the salvation that Jesus brings through his death, burial and resurrection. Christ is our only hope! He was the source of Paul’s hope, the source of Timothy’s hope, and the source of hope for all who place their faith in him.

Colossians 1:27 NKJV

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

2.) Timothy’s privilege and need. (v.2)

Notice that Paul calls Timothy “a true son in the faith:...”

When Paul met Timothy, he was already a christian with a strong testimony and Paul was so impressed by this young mans faith that he arranged for Timothy to join his missionary team. Timothy became like a son to Paul.

1 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

He was so regarded by Paul that Paul even told the Philippian church that Timothy was the only man on his team who had the same mind as himself.

Philippians 2:19–20 NKJV

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

In fact, Timothy seems to have been handpicked by :Paul to be the successor to his ministry.

Philippians 1:1 NKJV

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

From this point on, Timothy is only seen ministering right beside Paul or being sent as Paul’s emissary to struggling churches. He was even side by side with Paul in his first and second imprisonment.

Paul only calls one other person in scripture his “true son” in the faith and that is Titus.

Timothy was nurtured and brought up in the faith by the Apostle Paul. That is a privilege that every christian in this room should strive for. To bring someone along with them in the faith. To nurture and train a younger believer. I wonder, do you have a Timothy or a Titus this morning?

There are three things that every disciple needs to have and they are three things that Paul prays for Timothy to have in v.2

A.) The grace of Christ.

Grace, theologically speaking, is the unmerited favor of God showered on sinful men and women. It is the free gift of God extended toward those who believe in Christ. It is what frees us from the consequences of our sin and delivers us to heaven.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

B.) The mercy of Christ.

If grace frees us from the consequences of sin, then it’s mercy that frees us from the misery that accompanies sin.

Mercy is the feelings of pity, compassion, affection and kindness. It is a desire to bring help and relief to those in need. To tenderly draw to ones side and care for. It is seeing a need and then meeting that need.

Ephesians 2:1–3 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

The mercy of God was demonstrated when Christ bore the judgement for our sins upon himself and died in order to set us free from Judgement. It was the mercy of God toward us that allowed Christ to suffer and die in our place.

C.) The peace of Christ.

To be bound, joined, and weaved together with God and everyone else. To be assured, confident, and secure in the love and care of God.

In this world, a person can only experience true peace as we come to know the Lord Jesus as our savior. Only Christ can bring peace to the human heart.

John 14:27 NKJV

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Application: These three things: grace, mercy, and peace aren't just given to us at salvation. They sustain us throughout the christian life. Im in constant need of the grace, mercy and peace of God.

Conclusion:

In these two short little verses, Paul expresses his Apostolic authority to the Ephesian church as sort of a way to strengthen Timothy’s resolve. Timothy had a tough road ahead of him, no doubt people would question his authority. So, Paul in expressing his Apostolic Authority, places his stamp of approval and throws his full weight behind Timothy’s ministry in Ephesus.

Then, he prayerfully asks God to pour out on Timothy, Paul’s “true child in the faith” the grace, mercy and peace he was going to need to handle the situation he had been placed in.