To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Summary: Luke’s historical account in the Book of Acts provides important clues that help us understand what Paul means by calling Timothy his “true son in the faith.”
To say that Paul and Timothy had a special relationship is an understatement. In today’s passage, Paul calls Timothy, “my true son in the faith…”
We don’t see a response from Timothy in the Bible, but it seems clear from Paul’s letters that Timothy openly acknowledged Paul as his father “in the faith.”
What does that mean?
One might think that Paul was the one who introduced Timothy to faith in God, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Luke’s account of their meeting suggests Timothy was already a believer when they met:
“Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:1)
It is interesting to note that Timothy’s background included a Jewish mother and a Gentile father. This combination of Jewish and Greek upbringing would make Timothy exceptionally well-suited to the kind of ministry God had placed on Paul’s heart (Romans 11:13).
In addition, Luke records that, “The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of [Timothy]” (Acts 16:2). Lystra and Iconium were about twenty miles apart. The fact that believers in both cities spoke well of Timothy suggests that he was already active in the church and well-known to both communities.
Whatever Paul saw in Timothy, the feeling must have been mutual. Luke’s account continues by telling us that Paul, having been introduced to this remarkable young man, wants him to travel with him on his journey (Acts 16:3).
Paul wasn’t taking Timothy along because he needed a companion. Paul appears to have brought him along because in Timothy, he saw a younger version of himself — someone who also felt the call of God to share the Gospel with others.
More than just a calling, it sounds like Timothy was fully capable of standing on his own two feet in the service of the Lord, as he and Timothy were often separated. In one sense, being able to leave certain tasks to Timothy while Paul moved on to other things would allow Paul to feel like he could be in two places at one time.
As we continue to read through Paul’s letter to Timothy, it helps to understand how Paul might have seen Timothy, not in worldly terms, but through the lens of faith. Both men shared a calling from God that took them around the known world, not only sharing the Gospel, but teaching believers what it means to be the Body of Christ.
Application: Try to see others as God sees them.
Food for Thought: How does our view of others change when we look at them through eyes of faith?
How does our view of others change when we look at them through eyes of faith?
I don’t think this is all-inclusive, but here are two things I believe change when we look at others through eyes of faith:
We stop seeing people for their faults and start seeing them as image-bearers. We see them as God sees us (ourself), as His creation that bears His image and has potential in His family and Kingdom.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
We (should) start looking at others through the lens of love, both in what talent and abilities they have to offer, and in what needs they ask for help with. Looking through eyes of faith means looking upward (toward Heaven, upward call of God in Christ Jesus) so we should build each other upward.
1 Samuel 16:7
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Thank you, Chris.
“We stop seeing people for their faults and start seeing them as image-bearers.”
When we are assessing people’s faults, we are acting as “judge.”
When we see them as image-bearers, we are acting as children of God.
Good devotion and excellent comments CH. I can’t say anything to add to the comment. Other than that I am in agreement that we should strive to see people as image bearers and not as the jerk that just cut me off in traffic.
Thank you, Rich!
Yes, I agree. It get’s harder to be objective when people’s actions threaten our physical safety!
How does our view of others change when we look at them through eyes of faith?
Our eyes take in the image, our brain converts this into a picture, and our heart chooses how we receive. Does our heart determine the message from our eyes and brain as pleasant or unpleasant?
2 Corinthians 4:4, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:18, So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Ephesians 5:8, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
2 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight.
As we grow and walk in the faith given to each by our Lord, we are transported from a black and white world, into a world of color and clarity, which we evaluate from the foundation of faith and knowledge provided by God as we mature.
John 7:24, Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.
1 Thessalonians 5:14, And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
Galatians 5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
With our salvation secured, we begin to understand we have been left on earth for one purpose, to help all those God brings into our sphere of influence. We do this by getting out of the way and allowing Jesus Christ to be seen in all we do and say. Become like children, students of Gods word which we apply to our hearts rather than our heads, and is seen by others in our actions rather than words. Our reward, joy comes as we submit and experience Jesus Christ working through us, and witness the lives of others being changed.
Thank you, Ron!
Well said! Beautifully written!!