Glory to God! The Lord God Almighty has been good to each of us for the past week and the Lord has blessed us with a new week and a very vibrant Scripture passage to read, study, and meditate upon in order to receive renewed spiritual strength and guidance for us to live on in this week and beyond. Reading, studying, and meditating the Scripture is very much important for one’s spiritual growth as well as fruitful ministry. After the death of Moses, God commanded Joshua to Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8; also refer to Matthew 5:17-19). As devout followers of Jesus Christ, we need to keep on reading, studying, and meditating the Scripture, so that we will be able to continually refill the needful spiritual power for spiritual stamina and guidance for our pilgrimage on earth. We also ought to store up such spiritual power by continuously reading, studying, and meditating upon Word of God, through the dwelling of the Holy Spirit within us, through guidance and advice by the ministers of the gospel, through spiritual fellowship with one another, especially those who are mature in Christian discipleship, through the wisdom words from elderly believers, and so on. From the Scripture, we can understand that during Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, He was fully engaged in teaching, training, and equipping His chosen disciples for the ministry they were called to do. After His ascension to heaven, the disciples also did the same with all those who came to believe in Jesus Christ through their ministry. Ever since, from generation to generation, the same pattern of teaching and training is going on among the followers of Jesus Christ, which will definitely continue until the day of Christ’s return.

The main focus of the passage we chose for our meditation (1 Timothy 4:12-16) also highlights a similar teaching and training (spiritual instructions/guidance) that Apostle Paul gives to young Timothy, the leading minister in the church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). From the writings of Apostle Paul, we can understand that there was a very close spiritual relationship between Apostle Paul and young Timothy. The book of Acts talks about Timothy’s family background, his father was Greek and his mother Eunice was a Jewess and a believer in the Lord, and his grandmother’s name was Lois (Acts 16:1-2; Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15). Timothy’s family lived in Lystra and the believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him (Acts 16:1-2). Ultimately, we can understand that the entire household of Timothy was a godly family. Apostle Paul took him along with them during their missionary journey (Acts 16:3-4). For Apostle Paul, Timothy was his spiritual son (Philippians 2:22a); a true son [dear son] in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2, 18; 2 Timothy 1:2; 2:1); beloved son and faithful child (1 Corinthians 4:15, 17); a faithful fellow gospel worker (Romans 16:21; Philippians 2:22b); a devout man of God (1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 1:5); an obedient disciple of Paul (Acts 16:1; Philippians 2:19a); a missionary journey companion (Acts 16:1-5); a trustworthy minister of the gospel (1 Timothy 4:6; 3:14-15); and an expert-learner of the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-15). Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son and fellow-minister of the gospel and an obedient disciple of Christ Jesus, and so, Apostle Paul had every authority to instruct and guide young Timothy in the right path in order to make him a productive minster of the gospel. Like a parent or a teacher or a trainer/coach, who wishes for his/her child or student or trainee/athlete to do their best in everything they undertake, Apostle Paul also wanted young Timothy to excel in his relationship with Jesus Christ and in the ministry he was called to carry out (2 Timothy 3:14-15). For instance, (i) almost every parent wants their children to become better and greater than themselves in their life and professional achievements, so they work hard and provide all that their children need for success in life; (ii) almost every teacher wish their students to become someone greater/better than themselves, so they provide the needful resources and teach them limitlessly to expand students’ learning capacity; and (iii) almost every coach wants their trainee athletes to excel in sports and games and win prizes for the institution/country, so they teach and train them tirelessly and timelessly to stretch out their athletic potential beyond their limits. Similarly, Apostle Paul, as a herald and an apostle and a teacher of the gospel (2 Timothy 1:11), gives so many specific spiritual lessons (instructions) to young Timothy (as well as believers at large) to enhance his spiritual walk with the Lord. Let us focus on some of those spiritual lessons Apostle Paul instructed to Timothy:

• • … to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands (2 Timothy 1:6)
  • … to take to heart and keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13)
  • … to Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (2 Timothy 1:14)
  • … to endure hardships like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3-4; 4:5)
  • … to remind God’s people the spiritual lessons you received (2 Timothy 2:14; 3:10)
  • … to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)
  • … to avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly (2 Timothy 2:16)
  • … to flee the evil desires of youth (2 Timothy 2:22a)
  • … to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22b)
  • … to continue in what you have learned from the Holy Scriptures and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it (2 Timothy 3:14)
  • … to keep your head high in all situations (2 Timothy 4:5a)
  • … to engage in the work of the evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5b)

Apostle Paul gave such spirit-filled and life-changing lessons to young Timothy because he loved him as his true [dear] son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2, 18; 2 Timothy 1:2; 2:1) and a faithful fellow-minister [co-worker in the Kingdom of God] serving Jesus Christ their Master and Lord (Romans 16:21; 2 Corinthians 6:1; Philippians 2:22b; 2 Timothy 2:15). Apostle Paul wants Timothy to excel in his relationship with Jesus Christ and in the ministry for which God has called him. For Apostle Paul, everyone who faithfully serves God is God’s fellow-workers (2 Corinthians 6:1) – whether it is ministers like high-ranking apostles or super-apostles (2 Corinthians 11:5) such as Peter or John or those who are already regarded as the higher level gospel ministers, proven through their faithfulness to God and fellow ministers and believers OR young ministers like Timothy or Titus or Silas who are striving and preparing themselves to excel in their ministry like apostles Peter or John or Paul who are serving their Master and Lord Jesus Christ to the full-extent of their capacity. As Apostle Paul teaches and trains young Timothy in a godly manner for fruitful ministry, he encourages him to be bold and courageous in carrying out the ministry responsibilities:

… the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:7-10)

As part of Apostle Paul’s instructions and guidance, Paul urged young Timothy not to engage in any ungodly things, as it is mentioned: Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly (2 Timothy 2:16), or entertain any evil desires: Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22), because the evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). As a messenger of the gospel, we ought to continue to learn from the Holy Scriptures, as it is mentioned to be equipped as a good minister of the gospel and a person God wants us to be, as it is mentioned here:

Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Let us focus on the passage we have chosen for our meditation (1 Timothy 4:12-16). If we pay close attention and study the passage analytically, we can understand that Apostle Paul was giving very specific spiritual instructions to young Timothy. Paul instructed young Timothy saying:

• • Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young (4:12a)
  • Paul urged young Timothy to set an example in the following characters (4:12b):
    • Set an example for the believers in speech (4:12b1)
    • Set an example for the believers in conduct (4:12b2)
    • Set an example for the believers in love (4:12b3)
    • Set an example for the believers in faith (4:12b4)
    • Set an example for the believers in purity (4:12b5)
  • Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture (4:13a)
  • Devote yourself to preaching of the gospel of salvation (4:13b)
  • Devote yourself to teaching the Word of God (4:13c)
  • Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you (4:14)
  • Be diligent in using/keeping the spiritual gifts you received (4:15a)
  • Be diligent in keeping the doctrines you received (4:15b)
  • Give yourself wholly to the spiritual gifts and doctrines, so that everyone may see your progress (4:15b)
  • Watch your life and doctrine closely (4:16a)
  • Persevere in what is true and right and save both yourself and your hearers (4:16b)

Almost all epistles of Apostle Paul are filled with untold number of godly instructions for everyone who follows Christ wholeheartedly, which includes individual believers and ministers, family and church, community and nations. In addition to the instructions we have already discussed above, Apostle Paul gave some more specific instructions to Timothy, which are noted in 1 Timothy 6:11-21, they are as follows:

• • Flee from all foolish and harmful desires (6:11a)
  • Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (6:11b)
  • Fight the good fight of the faith (6:12a)
  • Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called (6:12b)
  • Keep good testimony of the good confession you made in the presence of many witnesses (6:12c)
  • Believe that God is faithful who gives life to everything (6:13a)
  • Believe that Jesus is faithful who redeemed your life from death by giving His very life (6:13b)
  • Keep all commands without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (6:14)
  • The Lord God Almighty is the only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords (6:15)
  • The Lord God alone is immortal (6:16a)
  • The Lord God lives in unapproachable light (6:16b)
  • The Lord whom no one has seen or can see is sovereign over all (6:16c)
  • Glory and honor and might belongs to God forever (6:16d)
  • Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain (6:17a)
  • Command those who are rich in this present world to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (6:17b)
  • Command those who are rich in this present world to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share (6:18)
  • Command those who are rich in this present to store up their treasure for themselves in heaven (6:19a)
  • Command those who are rich in this present world to good in the sight of God and take hold of the life that is truly life (6:19b)
  • Guard what has been entrusted to your care (6:20a)
  • Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge (6:20b)
  • Learn from the examples of those who ran after acquiring worldly knowledge and wandered away from the faith in Jesus Christ (6:21)

In the light of all that we have discussed here, we can notice one thing: that Apostle Paul was very much keen in giving godly instructions to young Timothy. When we see what great passion and enthusiasm Apostle Paul showed while he was instructing young Timothy, we can positively assume that Apostle Paul was training and preparing young Timothy to be an extraordinary minister of the gospel, perhaps Paul (knowing that his life and ministry was coming to an end) was training him to take up the spiritual leadership of the churches they planted and cared for. Keeping this factor in mind, if we read certain passages from the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, we can notice that Apostle Paul spent a good amount of time with Timothy and gave him specific instructions for life and ministry. For instance:

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 (Philippians 2:19-23)

The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible (Acts 17:14-15)

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila … with his wife Priscilla … he [Paul] was a tentmaker as they [Aquila and Priscilla] were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 18:1-5)

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge (1 Timothy 6:20)

You [Timothy] then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1-3)

Taking all that we have discussed above in consideration, we can confirm that Apostle Paul was intentionally training and preparing young Timothy to take up the leadership of the churches after his death. That could be one of the reasons that Apostle Paul urged young Timothy to guard everything that had been entrusted to his care, as it is mentioned: Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care (1 Timothy 6:20a). At the end of Paul’s life and ministry, he gave the following charge to young Timothy:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Dear fellow-members in the household of God, we have learned that young Timothy (as a child/son, as a fellow-believer, as a disciple of Christ Jesus, as a minister of the gospel, as a companions of some of the great ministers/preachers of the gospel in the first century AD, as a leader in the church, and so on) received the spiritual energy and direction through reading, studying, and meditating on the Holy Scripture and strictly following the instructions and guidance that his spiritual mentors like Apostle Paul and others gave him. Similarly, let us also hold on to the spiritual revelation we receive while we read, study, and meditate on the Holy Scriptures and let us also strictly follow the spiritual instructions and guidance we receive from our spiritual leaders, such as our parents, godly people, elders and pastors in the church, and so on. If we do this, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will enable us to excel in everything we say and do because Jesus knows the desires of our hearts and He will hear and answer our prayers. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us to be submissive to His will as well as the will of our heavenly Father as Jesus was submissive to His heavenly Father. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!