Next generation - Young power
During the Month of September we are jump starting ”Project 08”
studying the Apostle Paul’s Epistles to his two spiritual sons Timothy
and Titus. It’s great to study the same theme together as leaders and as a
church!
Receiver:
1) Timothy
was a young man from the town of Lystra (Turkey). He had a Jewish mom and a
Greek dad (Acts 16:1). Through both his mom and grandma he had become familiar
with the Christian faith and the Holy Scriptures since early childhood (2 Tim
1:5). He was born again and became a disciple of Jesus through the Apostle
Paul’s ministry (Acts 16:1-20:4). Paul gave Timothy big responsibilities as his
protégé and spiritual son in Thessaloniki, Corinth and Ephesus (1 Thess 3:2, 2
Thess 1:1, 1 Cor 4:17, 2 Cor 1:1, 1 Tim 1:3). Timothy was busy doing both
apostolic and evangelistic ministry guided by his absent mentor and teacher
Paul through the letters. Father and son had been planting churches together in
the mission field for several years and
now they were busy structuring and governing them. Timothy probably did prison
time with his spiritual dad in Rome for some time as well (Phil 1:1, Col 1:1,
Philemon 1).
2) Titus
was a gentile Greek and a spiritual son to the Apostle Paul (Gal 2:1-3). Titus was busy in apologetic and
apostolic ministry in Corinth and on the island Crete. He was left behind by
his mentor in both places to straighten out was left unfinished and appoint
leaders according to the apostolic structure that was up and running in their
ministry (2 Cor 2:13, 7:6, 13-15, 8:16-23, 12:18), Tit 1:5).
Date:
1 Timothy
was written by Paul during year 63 on his last missions journey to Crete and
Spain (Rom 15:24) and 2 Timothy was written during year 64 from his prison cell
in Rome waiting for his execution. The letter to Titus was probably written in
the beginning of 64 from Rome just before the Apostle’s death.
Purpose of the epistles:
1) Strengthen and encourage the spiritual sons. 1 Tim
4:12-14, 1 Cor 16:10, 2 Tim 1:3-14, 3:14-17, 4:5, Tit 1:4
2) Give practical advice and instructions concerning
church life. 1 Tim 3:14-15, 2 Tim 2:14-26, 4:1-4, Tit 2:1-10, 3:1-2, 9-10
3) Teaching and clear instructions about the character of
a leader. 1 Tim 3:1-13, 4:16, Tit 1:5-9
