Become
an example to the faithful ones.—1 Tim. 4:12.Paul was urging Timothy to keep applying himself in order to make progress in speech, conduct, love, faith, and chasteness, as well as in the way he fulfilled his ministry. He was to strive to make his manner of life exemplary. (1 Tim. 4:13-15) When Paul penned this counsel sometime between 61 and 64 C.E., Timothy was already an experienced elder. In 49 or 50 C.E. when Timothy was likely in his late teens or early 20’s, he was “well reported on by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium,” who had observed his spiritual progress. (Acts 16:1-5) At that time, Paul took Timothy with him on his missionary journey. After observing Timothy’s further progress for some months, Paul dispatched him to Thessalonica in order to comfort and make firm the Christians in that city. (1 Thess. 3:1-3, 6) Clearly, Timothy began to make his advancement manifest to others when he was a young person.
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