Years ago, when letters were the primary source of communication those letters often were shorter if you knew it would not be long before you would see those you wrote. Later it was the phone call that was shortened with comments like, “I will tell you the rest when I get there.” Now it is text messages as we shorten them and just send the most important information as an abbreviated form.
This same concept is seen in letters written by the apostles. In the closing verse of Second John, the apostle of love says, “Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come unto you and speak face to face” (2 John 1:12). He does the same thing in Third John, “I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face” (3 John 1:13-14).
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God…” (1 Tim. 3:14-15). These words really emphasize the importance of the content of Paul’s short letter to this younger preacher. What vital instructions did he give that were so important for Timothy to hear?
How was Timothy to behave in the house of God? These words follow Paul giving the qualifications of elders (1 Tim. 3:1-13). Two chapters later he tells Timothy to not lay hands quickly on any man as he was appointed to be an elder (1 Tim. 5:19- 22). The church at Ephesus where Timothy preached needed more elders, and Paul realized this was so important that he focused on this, knowing he would arrive there shortly.
Paul also focuses on the personal life in preaching as to how Timothy should spend his time as he was awaiting Paul’s arrival and continue if Paul was delayed. First, he was to give attention to reading (1 Tim. 4:13). While the word for reading is often used in publicly reading the Bible it is also used to describe what the Ethiopian as doing as he rode in his chariot. Make both applications to the advice to a young preacher. Pay attention as you read and when you read.
He then mentions two aspects of preaching. Take heed to doctrine. We live in an age where focusing on doctrinal matters is not important. It was not so in Timothy’s day and must not be so in the lives of preachers today, both young and old. However, to always focus on “doctrinal” matter is not enough. Timothy was not only to pay attention to what the reading says but also to exhortation.
-Dan Jenkins
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