In the name of Christ Jesus, dear friends:
What’s in a name? That depends. Some names are chosen because they possess special significance or meaning. Some family names have been passed down from generation to generation. But I can’t say that either of these is the case when it comes to my family.
My father’s name is Richard. There are no other Richards in the Pagels family. But the fact that his best friend and my uncle and my father-in-law are also “Richards” tells me that this was a very popular name in the 1940s.
My maternal grandparents named my mother Carol Jean. Not because it was a traditional family
name. Not because the combination had any
special significance. They named my mom
after two movies stars of the era, Carol(e)
And then there’s me. “Steven” comes from a Greek word that means “crowned one,” but my parents didn’t choose that name because there is royal blood coursing through my veins. My dad wanted to name me, “Otto,” after his father who died before I was born. My mom wanted to name me anything besides Otto. And as the story goes, they eventually settled on “Steven” as a compromise.
We don’t know what Eunice was thinking as she cradled the baby boy in her arms. We don’t know if she named him after a family member or somebody famous. We don’t know if she received his name by divine revelation or if she and her husband were forced to compromise. But when they named their son, “Timothy,” they made a perfect (and prophetic) choice.
“Timothy” is a combination of two Greek words that literally means “one who honors God.” And as we examine his life and ministry, it will become clear that…
ST. TIMOTHY WAS A MAN WHO LIVED UP TO
HIS NAME
I. A devout believer
II. A
faithful servant
III. A
loyal friend
Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor, but Timothy wasn’t always a pastor and there was a time when he didn’t have the knowledge or the courage to confess his faith. So how did that happen? Where did it all begin?
According to the second lesson for today, the foundation of
Timothy’s faith was laid in the home.
Paul explains: “I have been
reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and
in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (II Timothy 1:5).
Eunice and Lois were instrumental in the spiritual formation of Timothy. They were the ones who read him Bible stories after dinner. They were the ones who said prayers with him before bedtime. They were the ones who taught him to sing the first century equivalent of “Jesus loves me this I know.”
And Paul wanted Timothy to appreciate that. He told him: “Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,
because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have
known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:14,15).
Even though Timothy hadn’t asked for it, even though Timothy didn’t deserve it, the Lord had given him a special blessing. Timothy had been born into a God-fearing home. From little on he had been taught the saving truths of God’s Word.
The Holy Spirit deserves all the credit for creating the faith, but Timothy’s mother and grandmother are to be commended for teaching him the ABC’s of the faith. The Lord used them to lay a solid foundation upon which Timothy would build for the rest of his life.
Tomorrow will be an exciting day at
But it is also important for us to remember that Christian education begins in the home. According to the mission statement of St. John’s school, our mission is to “make disciples for Christ, using God’s Word to assist families, nourishing the souls of children by providing a quality education that is rooted and growing in the truths of God’s Word.”
A Christian school, even the best Christian school, will never be able to replace a Christian family. And God doesn’t want it to. He charges parents to train children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). He commands dads and moms to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). The Lord wants the home to be a place where His name is spoken and His Word is honored. And when it is, the entire family will be blessed.
Timothy experienced those blessings firsthand. Eventually he grew up and left home, but he never lost his child-like faith. And the Lord used those important formative years to prepare him for a lifetime of faithful service.
Timothy’s path into the public ministry wasn’t exactly a traditional one. Instead of attending a four year seminary and then receiving a call to serve an established congregation, he became involved in world mission work while he was still teenager.
Timothy was from Lystra in
Even though the Bible doesn’t provide us with many details about the life of Timothy, his name pops up all over the New Testament. In Acts he is mentioned as one of Paul’s traveling companions. Paul also includes Timothy in the greeting of several of his epistles.
It appears that the young Timothy took on the role of a troubleshooter in the early church. On more than one occasion Paul sent him to established mission congregations to encourage and organize and instruct the people. The words of Paul recorded in Philippians 2 explain why he was willing to entrust Timothy with such an important task:
“I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (20-22).
Perhaps the best place to develop a character sketch of Timothy would be in the two New Testament letters that bear his name. Many years after their initial meeting, Paul makes several references to Timothy’s youth. And even though Paul had words of high praise for his young colleague, he apparently struggled in one aspect of his ministry.
Timothy was timid. Maybe he was shy by nature. Maybe he didn’t want to step on the toes of his elders. Maybe he was afraid because he didn’t know how people would react to his message. Whether it was one of these issues or a combination of these issues, it was an issue that Paul felt he needed to address. He told Timothy:
“Don’t let anyone
look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in
speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (I Timothy
As important as it was for Timothy to hear that, we need to listen to Paul’s words. We need to personally apply Paul’s words. We need to tap into the energy and idealism of youth. We need to remember that the children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. We need to equip and empower and encourage our young people to serve…now.
So let me be the first. Let me apologize to our young people if you have been given the impression that you don’t matter or that you don’t have anything to give. Let me encourage you to use your gifts and live your faith. Whether you are a young adult or a young child, know this. The Lord has called you to serve him today and tomorrow and for the rest of your life.
Timothy dedicated himself to a lifetime of service in God’s church, but he did some of his most important work when he was “off the clock.” This devout believer and faithful servant lived up to his name by being a loyal friend.
The apostle Paul worked with hundreds (if not thousands) of Christians during his lifetime. He had come to know many good and God-fearing people over the years, but Paul and Timothy enjoyed a special relationship. Paul was like a spiritual father to Timothy, and throughout his epistles he referred to Timothy as his “son.”
When Paul was in prison, when the situation did not look good, at a time when many of his so-called friends had already deserted him, he turned to Timothy. II Timothy is sometimes called Paul’s last will and testament, and it speaks volumes that he addressed his final words to his loyal friend.
At the end of that letter Paul urged Timothy to come to him quickly (4:9) because he needed his support. I have no doubt that Timothy did everything in his power to honor Paul’s request, but we don’t have to worry about whether he made it or not. We don’t have to worry because Paul himself wasn’t worried.
As important as Timothy’s friendship was to Paul, he knew
that he had an even greater ally. Even
if his dear friend Timothy would have deserted him (which he didn’t), Paul knew
that he would never be alone. At the
very end of the letter he wrote at the very end of his life, Paul declared: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil
attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory
forever. Amen” (II Timothy
The enemies of God are still on the attack. Our friends still disappoint us and sometimes even desert us. It can be a lonely feeling living as a Christian in an evil world, but we will always have at least one friend. We have a friend in Jesus. He has rescued us from our sins. He will bring us safely to his heavenly kingdom. And we have his promise that he will never leave us alone.
It would be extremely confusing if everyone in the world was named Timothy, but the world would be a better place if everyone lived up to his name. Today we honor St. Timothy as “one who honored God,” a devout believer, a faithful servant and a loyal friend. Amen.