By Roy E. Ciampa, Ph.D.,
S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor of Religion, Samford University
Mentoring: How to Equip and Encourage Others
2 Timothy 2:1–2; 3:10–17
Mentoring requires an intentional relationship. (2:1–2)
Paul had met Timothy in Lystra and recruited him to be a missionary partner during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1–4). Over the following 15 years or so Timothy had been Paul’s constant companion and missionary helper. Paul mentored Timothy through the most challenging ministry and life circumstances.
He sent Timothy as his emissary to carry out his work in places he couldn’t go to himself (see Acts 19:22; Phil. 2:19; 1 Thess. 3:2). Paul refers to Timothy as his “true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2), his “beloved and faithful child in the Lord” (1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Tim. 1:2) and as his “brother and co-worker” (1 Thess. 3:2). Timothy is even named as a co-sender or co-author of several of Paul’s letters (see 2 Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; Philemon 1:1).
Timothy witnessed Paul’s life and ministry in times of great blessing and in times of setbacks, and he was well prepared to pass on Paul’s teachings to the next generation so they could benefit from them as well.
Paul indicates the choice of people to mentor is not to be taken lightly; they must be faithful people who will be able to teach others just as they and Timothy had been taught (v. 2).
Timothy learned to be intentional in building relationships with those who would receive his mentoring just as Paul had been with him. That is a key for us as well in any mentoring role we might have.
Mentoring involves walking together in life’s ups and downs. (3:10–13)
Through the years Timothy observed Paul in all kinds of circumstances. He benefited from the opportunity to observe not only what Paul said (“my teaching”) but also how he lived (“my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance”) including in the most extremely difficult circumstances with all the persecution he experienced and the suffering he endured.
He observed Paul’s confidence in God and how God had shown up and rescued Paul repeatedly. Paul had known good times and bad (see Phil. 4:12) and Timothy was there to see how he dealt with both.
Timothy learned from Paul about the cost of discipleship: how this world treats those who seek to live godly lives as disciples of Christ.
Those experiences prepared Timothy to live for Christ after Paul was gone and to serve as a mentor for others as well.
Mentoring encourages us to stay grounded in God’s word. (3:14–17)
Timothy had been taught well by his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5) and Paul recognized the crucial role of the Holy Scriptures for coming to faith in Jesus Christ and to mentoring any disciple of Christ.
Given the practical needs of Timothy’s community, Paul’s statement about biblical inspiration emphasizes the practical benefits of having the divinely revealed teaching we need (including the need to be rebuked and corrected by Scripture when appropriate) and the benefits of being trained in righteousness so we can live lives that reflect God’s character as people equipped to do “every good work” — those good things God commands us to do in each circumstance in which we find ourselves.
We can all benefit from having a godly mentor and from serving as one for someone who has less experience in his or her Christian walk than we do.
Such opportunities to walk together with Christ through good times and bad and to seek to remain grounded in God’s word each step of the way can be the key to following our Lord and continuing to grow in Him.
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