Biblical Leaders: Timothy

In comparison to other people from scripture I’ve written about, not nearly as much as known of Timothy. We know he had a Greek father and a Jewish mother and joined Paul on one of his missionary journeys. He served as Paul’s messenger or representative to several churches (1 Corinthians 4:17, Philippians 2:19) and eventually pastored the church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). In fact, the epistles that bear his name weren’t written by him but by his mentor, Paul.

We also know Timothy had a legacy of faith in his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:1-5) and Paul encouraged him to live out the “genuine faith” he had been shown. So we can definitely see that Timothy was a leader in the early church but what is the leadership lesson we can take from his life? in my opinion, Timothy knew his place and knew his role. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul said,

“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

In his book, “Tally Ho, The Fox,” Herb Hodges talks about this verse. He uses the idea of attending a high school reunion. At a ten year, you’re going to get asked if you're married, what you do for a living, do you have any kids. Come twenty years they will for sure ask about kids. At thirty, forty, and beyond the conversations will probably move towards grandchildren. Herb describes an image of heaven in which God may ask something similar; do you have spiritual children, grandchildren, great grandchildren? There are four generations to discipleship!

Timothy had Paul pouring into him and then, as Paul taught him, entrusted “faithful men” to continue with the mission. The obvious question for all of us is who is our Paul? Who is it that is pouring into us?

There’s been times in my life where I didn't feel that I had that Paul role in my own life. Sometimes it was because they weren’t there and other times is because I chose not to see them.

Timothy knew who his mentor was and lived in that well but in knowing his place he knew that he had to now be “Paul” to his “Timothy.” For us, even if we didn’t have the best Paul or even a Paul in our lives, we have to fulfill that role for those we lead. A friend and mentor of mine says,

“we have to do for those we lead what wasn’t done for us.”

Timothy’s legacy was ultimately Paul’s legacy which was ultimately Christ’s legacy (1 Corinthians 11:1). My hope is that I will hear from and be led by the Pauls in my life and that I will speak into my Timothys in my life. I must do this for their growth and the health of my ministry. As Herb Hodges said,

“there are four generations to discipleship.”

If it ends with me or even those I lead, is it really discipleship?

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash