LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM TIMOTHY
LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM TIMOTHY
Timothy is one of the great heroes of Christianity. Hopefully we can learn something from Timothy. His name means “dear to God”. He was well named! Timothy was not only “dear to God” but also dear to the Apostle Paul and many others. Paul said about him: “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.” (Phil. 2:19-23).
Out of all the outstanding Christians who worked with Paul, Timothy was the best. There was no one else like Timothy. Surely we can learn something from him!
WE LEARN BY IMITATION
Little children learn by imitation. In fact, we all learn by imitation. This is the way we learn to speak a language, tie a knot, drive a car, play a musical instrument, or serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible word for “imitate” is “mimeomai” from which we get the word “mimic”. Some versions translate this word as “follower”. It is always used in a good sense in the Bible. Here are some uses of this word in the Bible:
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The Thessalonians were told to “follow” Paul’s example (2 Thess. 3:7).
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The Hebrews were told to “imitate” the faith of their spiritual leaders (Heb. 13:7).
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3 John 11 reminds us “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good”. •
Paul told the Corinthians “Imitate me” (1 Cor. 4:16), and “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).
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The Ephesians we are told: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1).
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To the Hebrews: “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Heb. 6:12).
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“You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6).
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“For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews” (1 Thess. 2:14).
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Etc.
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Since Timothy was such an outstanding Christian, surely there is something about him worthy of imitating.
TIMOTHY’S FAMILY
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Timothy’s father was a Greek and apparently was an unbeliever (Acts 16:3). •
Timothy’s faith, therefore, did not come from his father as it should have.
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Timothy’s faith was first in his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5).
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Lois and Eunice taught Timothy the Scriptures from the time he was an infant (2 Tim. 3:15). •
The Bible word translated as “infancy” in 2 Tim. 3:15 is “brephos”. This word always refers either to an unborn child as in Luke 1:44, or to a baby who was just born as in Luke 2:16. •
Thus Lois and Eunice began teaching Timothy before he was even born and continued to do so from the moment of his birth.
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These godly women were able to pass on their faith to young Timothy without the helpful influence of a godly father.
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Surely we can learn something from Timothy’s family.
TIMOTHY’S NEIGHBORHOOD
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Timothy lived in Lystra (Acts 16:1). This was a bad neighborhood.
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Lystra was known for idolatry and the temple of Zeus was just outside the city (Acts 14:13). •
When Paul healed a man who was lame from birth the foolish crowd at Lystra assumed that Paul and Barnabas were gods (Acts 14:8-11).
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They thought Barnabas was the god Zeus and since Paul was the chief speaker they thought he was the god Hermes (Acts 14:12).
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These gullible pagans even wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:14-18). •
Paul and Barnabas rushed into the crowd insisting that they were not gods, but only men. Even with this they had difficulty keeping the crowds from sacrificing to them (Acts 14:18). •
Lois and Eunice raised Timothy in the midst of these pagans, but were still able to pass on their faith to him in spite of the bad neighborhood in which they lived.
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Surely we can learn something from this!
TIMOTHY’S TEMPTATION TO FEAR
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Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you” (1 Cor. 16:10).
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This unusual request provides insight into Timothy. He apparently was tempted to fear. •
Perhaps his temptation dates back to when he first met Paul. Timothy was very young at the time and was present when Paul was stoned and left for dead. Note! Timothy heard Paul preach, and then saw him stoned. Remembering this would obviously have an affect on Timothy’s life as a preacher (Acts 14:19-20).
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Paul remembered Timothy’s tears (2 Tim. 1:4). When did Paul see these tears? Some believe that Timothy’s weeping face was the first thing Paul saw after he awakened from being stoned. •
Paul reminded Timothy of these memories in 2 Timothy 3:10-12. This was a special to Timothy as it was Paul’s last inspired letter. Soon after writing this letter Paul would be executed by the Emperor Nero. Please consider Paul’s solemn warning to Timothy: “You, however, know all about my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:10-12).
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Paul also explained to Timothy that a bad kind of fear does not come from God, “For God did not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7 KJV).
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There are several Greek words translated as “fear” in the Bible. The bad word for “fear” in 2 Tim. 1:7 is “deilia”. It means to be a “coward” and is never used in a good sense.
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Some fear is good for “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”, but godly people are never cowards.
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In spite of persecution, however, Timothy was not a coward. He overcame the temptation to fear and never quit preaching. That’s why he was Paul’s most valuable helper. Some believe that Heb. 13:23 indicates that Timothy was in prison because of his faith. No matter how much he was persecuted, Timothy was not a coward.
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Surely we can learn something from this.
TIMOTHY’S HEALTH
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In addition to his problems with the temptation to fear, Timothy also had problems with his health.
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Paul wrote to Timothy: “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (I Tim. 5:23).
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The fact that Timothy was frequently sick did not keep him from constantly traveling. Eating foreign food, as you know, makes many people sick.
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Drinking water in foreign countries, as you also know, often leads to stomach problems. •
Lesser men would have used “frequent illnesses” as an excuse to stay home.
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Timothy, however, still traveled for Christ to many different countries even though he suffered from “frequent illnesses”.
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Surely we can learn something from this!
TIMOTHY’S CALLING
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It is not unusual for the Holy Spirit to give Christian workers a specific calling.
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Peter said: “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:10-11). •
Barnabas and Saul were “called” to their first missionary journey by the Holy Spirit. They were set apart to this “calling” by the laying on of hands, fasting and prayer (Acts 13:1-3).
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Prophets, as you know, played an active role in founding the church. Remember! God’s household is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).
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Agabus, for example, was a prophet who predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. This came to pass during the reign of Claudius (Acts 11:28). Knowing this in advance helped the church to prepare for the famine and use it for the glory of God. •
Agabus also predicted that Paul would be bound and handed over to the Gentiles (Acts 21:10- 11). This also came to pass!
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It is clear that Paul led Timothy to Christ. Paul described him as “my true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2). In 1 Cor. 4:17 he called him “my son, whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord”. As our text indicates, Timothy worked with Paul as a son works with his father.
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We should not be surprised, however, that prophets played a role in the “calling” of Timothy.
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Paul wrote: “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight” (1 Tim. 1:18).
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Surely Paul considered these “prophecies” made about him before he decided to take Timothy with him on his journey (Acts 16:1-3). Since the Jews in the area knew Timothy’s father was a Greek, Paul had him circumcised to avoid being a stumbling block to them.
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For many years Timothy was Paul’s constant traveling companion.
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Paul, as an apostle, gave Timothy a supernatural gift and told him to “Fan into flames the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Tim. 1:6).
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This supernatural gift was apparently given to Timothy in association with prophetic messages. •
It is logical to assume that Paul laid hands on Timothy at the same time he was ordained by the laying of hands by a body of elders (1 Tim 4:14).
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God’s “calling” was important to Timothy, and our “calling” should also be important to us! •
Surely we can learn something from the “calling” that Timothy received from God!
TIMOTHY’S PRIORITY
A famous businessman once said that the secret to success was “doing things in the order of their importance”. Paul gave this same advice to Timothy: “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” (1 Tim. 1:3-7). Obviously love was the goal of the law and also a top priority of Timothy!
Please note that the commandments of God are not an end in themselves, they are a means to an end. Paul taught Timothy that the goal of God’s command is love. If you bring your gift to the altar but don’t love you brother, you are “first” to be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift (Matt. 5:23-24). The Corinthian church did not lack any spiritual gift, but Paul insisted that love was the most important spiritual gift of all. In fact, it was the “most excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31).
Paul therefore taught Timothy to make love a priority and we should also do the same!
Please consider:
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The law is good if it is used properly, but can be divisive when used by men who do not know what they are talking about (1 Tim. 1:5-11).
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The goal of the law is to produce love, not arguments (1 Tim. 1:5).
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Some at Ephesus had wandered away from love and promoted controversies rather than God’s work (1 Tim. 1:4).
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Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to warn certain men to love one another and not teach false doctrines any longer (1 Tim. 1:3-4).
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When we love one another as Christ loved us, the world will know that we belong to Jesus (Jn. 13:34-35).
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As we have said, love was a priority to Timothy and it should also be to us!
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Remember! Paul warned the elders at Ephesus that out of their own number men would arise like savage wolves to divide the church and draw away disciples (Acts 20:28-31).
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Years later the Apostle John would write a letter to the church at Ephesus and rebuke them because they had left their first love (Rev. 2:4).
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Surely we can learn from Timothy to make love a priority!
TIMOTHY HELPED PAUL IN PRISON
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Paul wrote four inspired letters during his first imprisonment in Rome. The are: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Timothy is mentioned in three of these letters as being with Paul when he wrote those letters (Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; Philemon 1:1).
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It must have been a great help to Paul to have Timothy with him while he was a prisoner. •
When Paul realized that he was going to be released he sent Timothy to Philippi (Phil. 2:19). •
The Bible confirms that Paul was released from prison and travelled at least to Macedonia, Asia, and Crete. He even asked Philemon, who lived in Colosse, to prepare a guest room for him (Col. 4:9; Phile. 22). Though it is not mentioned in the Bible, some think Paul also went to Spain and Britain.
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After several years of freedom Paul was arrested again. In his first imprisonment in Rome he was chained to a soldier in his own hired house (Acts 28:30). His second imprisonment was in a dungeon. At this time Paul realized he was going to be executed. (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
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The “bad news” is that at Paul’s first defense no one came to his support, but all men deserted him. The “good news” is that the Lord stood by his side and gave him strength (2 Tim. 4:16- 18). It is comforting to know that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). •
In these dire circumstances Paul urged Timothy: “Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.” (2 Tim. 4:9-13).
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As winter approached, Paul urged Timothy: “Do your best to get here before winter” (2 Tim. 4:21).
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In those days it was too dangerous for ships to sail in the winter. Remember that Paul suffered a shipwreck because the pilot and owner of the ship foolishly left a safe port at Fair Havens and tried to make it to Phoenix to spend the winter there (Acts 27:9-12).
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Now, as his execution was drawing near, Paul urged Timothy to come before winter. If Timothy waited until next year it would be too late!
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Paul told Timothy to bring Mark to help him, his cloak to keep him warm, and his scrolls and parchments to feed his soul. As we have said, Paul knew that if Timothy did not come before winter it would be too late.
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While the Bible is silent about how and when Paul died, history indicates that he was beheaded in Rome by the Emperor Nero.
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Timothy faced a dead line. Come before winter or never!
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There are also many times when we too face a dead line. Sometimes we do not get a second chance to do something for a friend.
- Surely we can learn something from this!
DO IT NOW!
So, if there is something about Timothy worthy of imitating, DO IT NOW! We have no guarantee of tomorrow! Wise King Solomon said: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge or wisdom” (Eccl. 9:10).
The point is, once you die it is too late to do anything. SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT TIMOTHY WORTHY OF IMITATING, DO IT NOW!