Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
Timotheus, who is Timothy, is mentioned in tandem with the Apostle in this letter and several others [Php1:1, 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1, Phm 1:1]. Notice he is called a brother, Timothy may not be equal in the authority of Paul or one of the other 11 Apostles but he is equal in the family of God. He is as much a son of God as is the Apostle. Timothy was not divinely inspired to write scriptures, he was not met with a heavenly vision but the same God who worked through the extremely miraculous to save and call Paul worked in the extremely practical to save and call Timothy. Timothy was raised in a Godly Home by a mother and grandmother who believed [2 Tim 3:15, 2 Tim 1:5]. We are more like Timothy than we are Paul, We are not divinely inspired to write Scriptures, we did not receive direct revelation from God concerning the Mysteries of the Faith but God used the extraordinary Gospel in very ordinary ways to reach us and we are not equal in authority to Paul but we are equal in sonship. We can't say we are apostles but we can say we are brothers, even with the apostles.
Timothy was a brother and in other places, he is called a son to Paul[1 Tim 1:18]. We know he was not his biological son but he had a father-son relationship with this young man. Some of us have been privileged enough to have our biological fathers be the ones who nurtured us both physically and spiritually but there are far more who have had a father who cared for their bodies and ones who cared for their souls. His being Paul's trainee and "son" also did not keep Paul from calling him a brother. What an amazing and balanced view that Paul takes of Timothy. He has the wisdom to train him as a son and respect him as a brother. A lesson to any man who may play the role of training a young convert. We should strive for the wisdom to train, instruct, and guide men without forgetting that they belong to God and not us. He is Paul's son in a sense but more than he is a son to Paul he is a son of God and therefore a brother. Pastors, we have to guide our people, watch for our people, teach and in many ways play the role of a father, but we must never forget that these are God's people, our brothers. Remember what Christ told Peter, "Feed MY SHEEP." Those converts, those sons, those trainees, and disciples are part of a greater flock than the one at our local assembly, they are His sheep.
Timotheus is a compound of 2 words. Timo=value and Theos=God. His name means dear to God. What a wonderful name and what a truth is revealed in his name. That Timothy was dear to God, his heavenly Father. Timothy's earthly father was a man of little mention, and it seems that he was not a believer. Timothy's faith was accredited to the raising of his Godly mother and grandmother [2 Tim 3:15, 2 Tim 1:5] but all that is said of his earthly father is in Acts 16:1 "But his father was a Greek." We don't know much about this man which means he is a man who God did not have much to say about, it seems that in his whole earthly existence there was nothing of importance done in his own son's life. He may have clothed him, feed him, and brought him into this world but made no efforts to bring him into the next. Fathers, "Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" Under your roof are more than bodies and mouths to feed but souls! Thankfully, those who find themselves in Timothy's situation can also rely on Timothy's God and the lesson we learn from his name, "Dear to God." Many who were not dear in the eyes of their parents have found out they were dear to their heavenly Father. Dear forsaken child, you are not forsaken! He loves you! He cares for you and his love far surpasses the love of an earthly father. Have you trusted in his Son Jesus Christ? Have you been sealed with his Spirit? If so, he has given you the power to become the Sons of God. This leads us to our last point, That God loved him too much to leave him without a father figure.
In Acts chapter 16 Paul finds a young man without the spiritual influence of a man and he takes him under his wings and his brother becomes his son. As much as Timothy was a faithful disciple and well reported of[Acts 16:1-2] he still needed the influence of a Godly man, and someone to train and lead him in the right way. Timothy needed Paul and Paul needed Timothy. Like Timothy never had much of a father to speak of Paul never had a son. This was a match made in heaven. So it is today, that every "Paul" needs a "Timothy" and every "Timothy" needs a "Paul." God has arranged the church in such a way that the young converts need older men and women to look to for guidance and older saints need younger men and women to pass on their wisdom and experience to. The question I ask you is, Do you have a "Paul?" Is there a pastor in your life that you have submitted to? Do have a brother who is like a father? You should, there is great benefit in having a "Paul" figure in your life. Or perhaps you are an older saint, have you any "Timothy's?" Are you putting your arms around the next generation and training them in the way to go, or have you grown content to be a consumer all your Christian life and never a contributor? I'm so thankful for the pastors God has placed in my life, past, and present. The Book of Hebrews says :
Hebrews 13:7
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Is there any place you are being watched for? Is there any man who you're following in the faith? All Christians need a church and a pastor. All pastors need a congregation, it is a match made in heaven! May we emulate the same relationship we find between Paul and "Timotheus our brother."
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