[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/>.
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