[but set an example for the believers] … in love…
Summary: Setting an example with our words and deeds is commendable. Making sure that our example is worthy of our Lord Jesus is a challenge.
Paul’s instruction to Timothy so far includes the following: “… set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love…”
Timothy, and by extension all believers who follow his example, are to be mindful of how our speech and conduct reflect God’s will. We have briefly examined both speech and conduct in our prior meditations. I say “briefly” because, regarding speech, we only looked at our faithfulness to the truth about the Gospel. We could write a whole book on the topic of godly speech if we wanted to.
In our passage for this meditation, Paul begins to expand on how our speech and conduct affect others and reflect our relationship with God.
Paul uses the word agapē for “love” — not éros (desire), philía (friendship), or storgē (family affection). In Christian usage, agápē describes a self-giving love that combines genuine care with benevolent action for another’s good.*
In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, he describes what agapē love looks like (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Love (agapē) is patient, kind, truthful, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. It is not envious, boastful, dishonorable, self-seeking, easily angered, focused on wrongs, or taking delight in evil.
This definition is both concise and actionable.
The example we are to follow and set for others is agapē love — both in speech and conduct.
It should go without saying, but we will say it anyway: this doesn’t mean we can harbor envy, pride, anger, etc. in our hearts while we carefully police our speech and conduct. That kind of duplicity doesn’t fly with a God who sees our hearts better than we do (Samuel 16:7).
Besides, there is the human problem of carrying around a plank in our eye (Matthew 7:3-5).
We humans suffer from being blind to our own faults. That means what we hold in our hearts can be seen by others, even if we believe we have our feelings hidden away.
As Paul said in the beginning of his letter, “The goal … is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).
Application: Love from the heart, both in speech and actions.
Food for Thought: How does Paul’s life as we know it through the Bible reflect the example he is describing in his letter to Timothy?
*”G26 – agapē – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 28 May, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g26/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
Paul was an interesting example. I’ll look at two conflicts with fellow believers as an example. We know in the book of Galatians that Paul publicly called out Peter when Peter compromised the gospel to please men. But we also know from the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 that they must have worked things out and were United. We also know what Peter said about Paul in 2 Peter 3: 15: “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.” It seems as if they had their rift, but worked it out setting an example for others to do likewise.
Then there was John, also called Mark. Paul and Barnabas split up over Mark, as Mark let them down on the first missionary journey (Acts 13: 13; Acts 15: 36 – 42). Yet that has a happy ending too as we see Paul later in life say: “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” (2 Timothy 4: 9 – 11). Mark and he were doing ministry again together. So the example again is shown that he practiced the forgiveness and reconciliation that he preached. So I guess the not too surprising ending is that he was a good example to others.
Thank you, Rich!
Excellent examples! Love is, as the song says, “a many splendored thing,” and resolving conflicts is definitely one of those splendors!
How does Paul’s life as we know it through the Bible reflect the example he is describing in his letter to Timothy?
[but set an example for the believers] … in love…
God has chosen to empower believers with His Holy Spirit who will enter and minister His truths to others as we submit to His authority over our own,
Summary: Setting an example with our words, deeds is commendable. Making sure that our example is worthy of our Lord Jesus is a challenge.
Godly love is exactly that. It is not self generated love toward another, based on their actions toward ourselves or others, It is the manifestation of Gods unconditional love passing through His people toward others. Gods love for others is seen as He corrects, encourages, comforts. and loves others through us, and on occasion works directly through the individual He his calling.
By His power, to all who choose to receive His truths, God is directing our path to Jesus, and we now remain on earth to serve God in the same way as He continues to reach out to others who exist within our sphere of influence.
Thank you, Ron!
Switching the perspective to how Jesus sees us is … challenging! 🙂