Timothy had been with Paul in Ephesus. Perhaps he was still there, or there again, as Paul wrote a second letter to his close friend and trusted ally.
Paul was in prison in Rome. This was the second time he was there, and, as it turned out, his last.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote many words of encouragement. Other than his friend, two things appear to be on Paul’s mind: the gospel of Jesus Christ and the protection of the church. His commission to Timothy and to the church could be summed up in the words of 1 Timothy 2:1-2,“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
A couple of years earlier, Paul had written to Titus. In that letter, speaking of what an elder must be and do, he wrote, “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Training leaders and teachers who can teach others to lead and teach—isn’t that what the church should be doing? I have always thought so. That’s why we have this website. That’s why we lead seminars in churches. That’s why we do the work of ministry that God has given us.
The title of an early Gaither Vocal Band song was “Passin’ the Faith Along.” Christians must be doing that! We must pass the faith, truth, hope, love, and life along to the next generation of leaders, teachers, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and all others who will then be responsible for passing our life in Christ along to the generations that follow.
What are you doing to pass that faith along in your family? What about your church—what is it doing to make sure that the next generation will know to pass the faith along? Give us your ideas below and help others pass their faith along!
© 2015, 2017 by Jim McLoud. All rights reserved.
