1. Free As Sons
   
2. Does "Go Ye" Mean "Go Me?"
   
3. Are We Really Born Again?
   
4. The Sacrifices of Cain and Abel
   
5. Silence Says Something
   
6. Body Language
   
7. Repentance Before Faith
   
8. I Wonder
   
9. Can I Know?
   
10. Ultimate Logical Conclusions
    
11. Errors in Peter's Sermon
    
12. Did Timothy Need Admonition?
    
13. Jesus' Youth Sermon For Adults
    
14. Why Didn't Paul Reform?
    
15. Christmas
    
16. Let The Unmarried Marry
    
17. A Dialect of Division
    
18. Our Traditions
    
19. Adding Our Safeguards
    
20. According To The Pattern
    
21. A Creed In The Deed
    
22. Samuel Did Not Know The Lord!
    
23. Response From Our Readers
    
24. Cries Of A Troubled Church
    
25. Sharing Without Fellowship
    
26. I Joined A Church
    
27. Open Membership
    
28. Another Last Will And Testament
    
29. Sad Thoughts About Church Growth
    
30. My Four Retirement Homes
    
31. Hook's Points: A Potpourri
    

DID TIMOTHY NEED ADMONITION?

Some of our Biblical characters are so idealized that we suspect nothing less than excellence in their conduct and character. The young evangelist, Timothy, is held in such high esteem generally that any unflattering comment about him would seem next to sacrilege.

When we think about his record, however, we become aware of no heroic deeds or impassioned speeches which distinguish him. No letter of his is preserved. Yes, he was a true disciple of Jesus and a devoted companion of Paul. Paul loved him and remembered his tears. I like to imagine that Paul, as he was regaining consciousness after his stoning at Lystra, looked up into the faces of disciples and into the tear-filled eyes of an older teenage boy. He could never forget that. A strong tie developed, but it seems that the claim to fame of Timothy was due more to the love and acceptance that Paul showed than to any meritorious actions of Timothy.

In the two letters that Paul wrote to Timothy, we see loving expressions such as "my true child in the faith," "my beloved child," and "I thank God when I remember you in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, etc. " Yet there is little in the letters that could really be called praise or commendation for Timothy and his ministry. When we look with this in mind, we can readily believe that some of Paul's words go beyond exhortation into admonition with needling effect.

As he read Paul's numerous warnings about erroneous teachings in Ephesus, Timothy could have reacted with, "Why is he lecturing me about these teachings? He knows that I know about them and have been opposing them all the time I have been here." And he might have complained inwardly, "There he goes again telling me all about himself. I have heard him go over every minute detail of his experiences a hundred times in our travels together."

Paul assured, "If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good minister..." Why did he not rather write, "Since you are putting..., you are a good minister"? Was he chiding Timothy for reticence in speaking out? Based upon my former notions, I would have expected Paul to laud, "I praise you for commanding and teaching these things. You are allowing no one to despise your youth, but you are setting a wonderful example for the believers in speech, etc. " But rather, Paul makes these into exhortations or admonitions as though they were not being done by Timothy.

Isn't there a sting in Paul's next sentences also: "Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." In these sentences, Paul is not commending Timothy for his present endeavor in these matters, but he seems to be admonishing him as though he had become apathetic, sluggish, and lax.

As though Timothy were inclined toward conceit, controversy, and riches, Paul warns that he shun all such and aim for higher things. As though he were flagging in faith and zeal, he is admonished to fight the good fight of faith, and he is charged to be unstained and free from reproach as though his conduct were becoming questionable. Was Timothy becoming so careless as to deserve a warning to "guard what has been entrusted to you" and "avoid the godless chatter"? Is it thinkable that Timothy had enrolled in UCLA (University of Cerinthus of Learned Agnostics) to get his degree and learn about Gnosticism first hand, and was becoming too intrigued by some of the Gnostic teachings? Could it be that Timothy was letting the bodily exercise of sports take too much of his time and energy?

Timothy's growing apathy and retiring nature might have constrained his father in the faith to urge, "I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you...for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self­control." "Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord," could hint of reticence to confess Christ to his learned friends. "Follow the pattern of sound words" and "guard the truth that has been entrusted to you" are admonitions more likely given to one who has grown careless about teachings and is enticed by novel ideas.

"Think over what I say" concerning being strong, enduring suffering as a soldier, and becoming entangled in civilian pursuits. Was he vacillating in his commitment and selling real estate on the side? "Remember." "Remind them" "Do your best." "Avoid." "Shun youthful passions." Paul was not commending him for doing these things already.

Again, Paul did not express confidence that Timothy was preaching the word urgently in season and out of season, convincing, rebuking, and exhorting with unfailing patience, being always steady and enduring suffering while doing the work of an evangelist and fulfilling his ministry. Paul gave him a most solemn charge, not to continue his exemplary conduct in these areas, but to do them.

You may be protesting that I am just building a prejudicial case against Timothy. Perhaps so. Even if that is true, you will have to admit that Paul was rather stingy with is praise and commendation. If he was warning as an overprotective parent to his son, we must admit that the middle­aged Timothy could easily interpret much of it as parental nagging. You may now wish to re-read both letters with these things in mind.

Is this just an effort to debunk a hero? No. Timothy still holds my admiration. I now think of him as having need of admonition because of human weakness, and that makes the epistles more applicable to my vulnerable character. From the above consideration, we may derive several benefits.

1. We may see the profit in approaching interpretation from other than traditional viewpoints in order to gain richer meanings.

2. We may better comprehend that even Biblical heroes and spiritual giants had human weaknesses which also abound the more in us.

3. We may consider that Paul and Timothy were not so totally infatuated with each other that there were no personal differences between them to be reckoned with. They, too, had to bear and forbear while their mutual love and respect kept them bound together.

4. We may be encouraged to work more effectively today with men who are flawed in their personal attributes by nurturing and cherishing the love that binds us.

5. We learn that loved ones do not confine their comments to praise and extolling our virtues. Ministers today must also know that their conduct will be scrutinized by those dearest to them, and that loving admonitions from such are worth heeding.