Young Timothy Joins Paul’s Mission Team

“Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.” -Acts 16:1-5 (NKJV).

Silas was still with Paul as they visited the churches in Asia Minor strengthening them and delivering to them the decision of the Jerusalem Council that the Gentile believers did not have to undergo circumcision but “to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled and from blood” (Acts 15:20). At Lystra, Paul invited Timothy to join them on their mission. We learn from 2 Timothy 1:5 and 3:15 that his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois had taught him the Scriptures since he was a child. He was well-versed in the Jewish law and prophets, although his father was Greek (Gentile). Eunice had given him the name Timothy which means “honoring God”. In her devoutness, she evidently had hopes that her son would stand firmly for God. Paul in later writings (I Cor. 4:17, I Tim. 1:2 and 2 Tim. 1:2) refers to Timothy as his son (or child) in the gospel. Timothy was probably converted to the Christian faith on Paul’s first missionary journey (see Acts 14:6-23) when he was at Lystra.

Why, after the Jerusalem Council had decided that circumcision was unnecessary to salvation, did Paul have Timothy circumcised before they left on their missionary journey? This has been a measure of much debate. They would be witnessing to many Jews and because Timothy’s mother was Jewish, and he thus had a kinship with them, Paul deemed it advisable to have Timothy circumcised.

A long and profitable association of Paul to Timothy began at Lystra and continued throughout the Apostle’s life. He sent Timothy to represent him at Corinth and at Philippi. Paul lists Timothy as co-author of six of his thirteen epistles (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philemon). When Paul faced death in prison, he asked Timothy to go and be with him (2 Tim. 4:9). Timothy is an excellent example of what a person can become, having one older and experienced in the faith become mentor and “companion in the gospel.”

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, April 26, 2010

Disagreement Can Be Beneficial

“They (Paul and Barnabas) had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” -Acts 15:39-41 (NIV).

It is good that believers dwell and work together in harmony. But because we are human, our own ideas and desires sometimes enter into our deliberations, even in the Lord’s work. The early church had undergone phenomenal growth. Even persecution had come as a blessing in disguise, for as the disciples and believers were dispersed from Jerusalem because of persecution both from the Jewish leaders and the Roman government, they “went everywhere preaching the word.” The message of Christ the Lord was spread abroad much more rapidly than it might have been otherwise.

And then came a disagreement between Barnabas the Encourager and Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. As they were preparing to go out on what we term the second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take young John Mark with them.

Paul remembered that John Mark had left them in Pamphylia and did not continue that missionary journey. Paul did not want to take Mark. The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas was so pointed that they formed two missionary teams. Paul chose Silas as his companion and went throughout Syria and Cilicia; and Barnabas (a kinsman of the younger man, see Col. 4:10) chose John Mark and went to Cyprus.

According to Acts 15:40, the “sending” church at Antioch commended Paul and Silas. Regardless of the disagreement and this departure, perhaps with some hard feelings at the time it happened, God brought good from the division. Later, Paul and John Mark were reconciled and became fellow workers as seen in Philemon 24. More people heard the gospel than would have done so had only one missionary team gone out. And furthermore, Barnabas took young John Mark, encouraging him. Later, from the pen of this young missionary came the Gospel of Mark, which has been called the “Gospel to Gentile Christians.” It is good when a church can work together in harmony. If Christians cannot dwell and work together in harmony, how can we expect to bring peace to the world and reach those around us? But at times, as in the case of Paul and Barnabas, a disagreement can work for good. It takes a Christian heart of love to have a disagreement without being disagreeable.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, April 25, 2010