“Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
Paul goes on to tell Timothy that he is to both command and teach these things. Commanding is the easy part. The teaching is harder. But it is one of the last things that we have recorded of Jesus’ saying. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age”(Matthew 28:19-20). A disciple is someone who follows Jesus and submits to his teaching. So Timothy is to make disciples among the believers in Ephesus.
In the next verse, Paul exhorts Timothy that he should not lack confidence because of his age. Paul wrote this in an earlier letter to Corinth. “If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear while with you, because he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. So let no one look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so that he can come to me, because I am expecting him with the brothers” (1 Corinthians 16:10-11). Later in the letter, he writes about Timothy’s stomach and his frequent illnesses. Duayne Litfin writes in his commentary, “Timothy, as a young man with perhaps a non-assertive personality, was evidently given to timidity and fear… Paul was prodding Timothy to be firm and courageous in his ministry.”
Timothy was most likely in his thirties when Paul wrote this. This does not seem particularly young in today’s world where we value youth over age. Andreas J. Köstenberger writes, “While people normally wouldn’t consider this too young for pastors in our culture, leaders in the ancient world were typically older people who commanded respect in the community and possessed extensive life experience.” Today, we tend to value youth, good speaking skills, and a charismatic personality over what Paul is writing about in this letter. We need to look past age and back to the list that Paul gives Timothy for elders in 1 Timothy 3.
Paul then writes that Timothy is to set an example for the believers. One of the ways that Timothy could disciple the believers in Ephesus was by his example to them. One of the ways that we can disciple new believers in the faith is by being an example to them. Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a leader, but if you have been a believer for several years and are serving in the church in some capacity, you need to be setting an example! Paul lists five ways that Timothy (and we) can be an example: in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. I want to look at some biblical ways we can do each one.
First, we are to set an example to other believers by our speech. What does the Bible say about our words? I immediately thought about verses that teach us how to talk to unbelievers, especially when sharing our faith, such as Colossians 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:15-16. But how are we to talk among believers? We are to encourage each other and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Paul writes this in Colossians 3:16-17. “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Next, our conduct is to be an example. Just a few verses earlier in his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive” (3:12-13). In James, we read that we should confess our sins to one another and pray for one another (5:16). Leaders in the church must be willing to listen to correction. We should not excuse immoral behavior in our leaders because they are charismatic or good speakers. You can go back and read the posts on 1 Timothy 3:2 and 3:3 for an expanded study on this.
The third way we are to be an example to others is by our love. Paul continues in his letter to the Colossians with this. “Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (3:14). And just in case you need a refresher on what love is, “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs.Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). And lastly, “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another” (Romans 12:10).
Next Paul says we are to set an example in faith. Our faith in Christ and His atoning work on the cross is the heart of Christianity. Our salvation is by faith in Him, it is through nothing that we have done. “For you are saved by grace through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8). We can do nothing to earn our salvation. Gotquestions.org defines faith this way. “A biblical definition of faith reaches beyond mere belief- this simple acknowledgment that God exists- into the realm of trust. Genuine faith involves abandoning all human reliance on self-efforts and placing total dependence upon God’s character, His actions, and His promises, as revealed in His word.”
Paul’s last command is to be an example in purity. When something is pure, it is free from contamination, not mixed with anything else. Biblically, to be pure is to be spiritually single- minded. Sin no longer determines our life choices. Peter writes, “But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). And Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”
I will end with this. Timothy set the examples for the believers in these five ways. And while this was a letter to Timothy, it is applicable to all believers at all times. The leaders in positions of authority in our churches must embody these characteristics. As Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:2-3, “Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
Grace be with you!
Abundant Joy 