Paul …
Summary: As we begin to explore Paul’s first letter to Timothy, it is interesting to note the relationship between Paul and Timothy. Paul’s adoption of Timothy as a son colors everything we will read here.
Paul begins his letter to Timothy in the formal style of his day. If you squint your eyes when you look at his letter, it really isn’t much different from our letters today.
A standard letter today has the writer’s name and address in the upper right corner, and then, before the text of the letter, the name and address of the person getting the letter.
Paul begins the same way!
From: Paul
To: Timothy
Of course, he adds his credentials and flourishes to the letter. Paul is not just “Paul.” He is an ambassador (apostle) of Christ Jesus by the command of God. Nor is Timothy just plain “Timothy.” Paul addresses his letter to “my true son in the faith.”
This is important information.
Paul has no biological children (1 Corinthians 9:5). He is, in a sense, married to his job. His passion for serving God, originally as a Pharisee, and now as a servant of the Lord Jesus, has claimed his entire life. He is fully devoted to the work of the Lord.
Paul is writing to Timothy, not as a “brother in the faith” but as his son. Paul is writing as if he were Timothy’s father.
It will be helpful as we go through the text of Paul’s letter to keep this in mind.
The relationship between father and son can be a special one.
I say, “can be,” because in this world it often isn’t. Fathers are too often absent or abusive. The emotional scars left in a child by an abusive father can mark a man for his whole life. This is, perhaps, one of the things that makes trusting our “Father in heaven” such a challenge for many of us.
But this is not the case here.
Paul is modeling the role of a loving father, one who understands what the Greeks mean by the word “agapē.” Agapē love transcends emotion. It is an act of will, duty, loyalty, and a deep and abiding act of caring.
As we read and meditate on Paul’s words to Timothy, we are not just reading the words of one man to another. Instead, we are glimpsing the love that God has for each of us in Paul’s love for Timothy.
Application: Godly love includes loving others even when we don’t feel like it.
Food for Thought: What would you expect from a loving father’s letter that would be different from anyone else’s?
There is a possibility that Paul had a biological child, but that is a different topic altogether. I like your devotion and he clearly saw someone as a son in the faith as every bit legitimate as a biological child. The difference in his letter to Timothy is personal closeness and caring intimacy. It shows in both words and tone.
If I write a letter to the IRS it will use different words, have a different tone and be emotionally distant compared to a letter to one of my sons. I think we will see that closeness in the tone of the letter. As he challenges Timothy, it is as a father would a son. As he encourages Timothy – same thing. There is an appeal to his character as one who knows him well. I like your choice for this next letter.
Thank you, Rich.
The IRS is an excellent example of a contrast to Paul’s letter.
What would you expect from a loving father’s letter that would be different from anyone else’s?
I agree with Rich, tone, personal closeness, and caring intimacy. I would add or expand that to a loving father cannot help but build their son up either by encouraging or validating good behaviors and attitudes. So a loving father’s letter would most likely contain that as well, as I believe we will find Paul’s letter to Timothy does.
Proverbs 23:24
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
Thank you, Chris!
Yes, it will be interesting to look at Paul’s words through this lens!
What would you expect from a loving father’s letter that would be different from anyone else’s?
We have our bible, Gods word written to all mankind, His truths, expressed with genuine love toward all.
John 1:14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 4:15, Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Thanks, Ron!
You make an important point: Paul’s letters are not so much “Paul’s letters” as they are God’s message of love to you and me.