Day 2 - I Timothy 1:1-2

Devotional Commentary on I Timothy

Relational Authority in Ephesus

h 1 Timothy 1:1-2    h

¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope. ²To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

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aul exercises authority in Ephesus but his authority is not derived from office, position or title; but from his call and the fact that he has sacrificed and laid down his life for the believers in Ephesus. He has earned the right to speak into their lives. This is known as relational authority. Remember, Paul is writing to Timothy who is in Ephesus confronting false teaching. Remember too that Paul spent three years in Ephesus (Acts 19) and that many of these people were converted through his ministry. Paul's love and sacrifice for these people produced a deep bond of love and trust between them, which is now being challenged by the enticing, false teaching,

Paul Had Earned the Right to Speak into Their Lives.

Paul opens his letter by referring to himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. An apostle was not a church official. An apostle was one who had received an assignment or commission from the risen Lord. The word literally means "a sent one."

The question is often raised concerning why Paul would mention his apostolic calling in a personal letter to Timothy. The likely answer is that Timothy will be reading this letter publicly in the house churches that met throughout the city (Acts 20:20). This will be significant because, although Paul has no official position in the church in Ephesus, he has a relational authority as the one who had sacrificed to first bring the Gospel to Ephesus. He had laid down his life for these people and many had been converted through his ministry. He would not allow them to be lost to false teaching without a fight!.

Paul Had Laid Down His Life for the Ephesian Believers

Acts 20:17-21:1, highlights the deep bond that had existed between Paul and the Ephesian believers. For example, when speaking to the Ephesian elders in the previous visit recorded in Acts 20, Paul had reminded them, In what manner I lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials. He also reminded them that he had worked with his own hands while ministering to them so as not to be a burden on them for material support, and how that, For three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears (Acts 20:31). When the time came for him to depart their emotions spilled over.They all wept freely and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him (Acts 20:37). It was hard to leave and the NIV has captured the intensity of the moment with Luke saying, After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea (Acts 21:1).

Paul Exercises Relational Authority in Ephesus

Some of these same people are now following a different or false teaching. Paul’s statement about being an apostle of Jesus Christ is to remind them that they had initially received the Gospel because he had received a personal commission from Jesus Christ to go the world of the Gentiles. So, not only had he preached the Gospel to them at great personal sacrifice, but he had done so because God had sent him to them. His apostolic authority and calling had been expressed by great personal sacrifice toward these Ephesian believers.

Leaders sometimes attempt to exercise authority over people for whom they have never shed a tear and for whom they would never sacrifice. Such leaders should not be surprised at a tepid or indifferent response. True apostolic authority has a relational component and will always be preceded by apostolic service and sacrifice. Henri Nouwen is right when he says, “Much Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships and have opted for power and control instead.”

Prayer & Reflection

O Lord, raise up leaders for your people who have died to self-seeking ego and pride, and are willing to lay down their lives to see your people become all you want them to be. Raise up leaders who are pursing You, not popularity and power; and are seeking first Your kingdom and not their own convenience and comfort. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!