Expert: Marilyn - 9/26/2004

Question
  Marilyn,
    You state that you can answer questions
about the bible dealing with everyday life.
So here goes.

    The other day I went to the club to have
a soda.  I do not drink, ever.  While there I
sat with 3 females, that I know fairly well,
but not sexually in any way.

    As I was drinking my soda and the girls
where each drinking a cocktail.  The one who
is middle in age spotted a 4th female and
said she always wanted to speak with this
female.  I could not see why she would not
speak to this woman, named Rose, so I went
over to speak with her.  After introducing
myself to Rose, I introduced her to the
three females.

    The four females began to speak of
another female who is now passed on.  At
first I did not know who they where talking
about so I asked if they where chatting
about a lady whose last name I knew well.
That was when Rose turned to me and said
I reminded her of the book of Timothy.  She
did not say which book and I could not
remember anything other than there where two
books.

    I do now know that they where messages
from St. Paul but little else.  Could you
please explain what these to books mean to
a male such as I?  Like I said, I do not
drink alcohol and my conduct to the women
is always without question and in good taste.

    Thank you for your time,
                              Fred  

Answer
Fred;

I'm assuming you read the two books of Timothy and were stumped.  Since I wasn't there I can't even guess what the lady was referring to, I don't know either of you.  However, I can tell you a few things about Timothy which you could also glean from the material.  

Timothy was the son of a Greek Gentile father and a devout Jewish mother, Eunice, see II Timothy 1:5.  His grandmother, Lois, is also mentioned.  He joined the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys.  Timothy was the younger of the two men.  Paul calls Timothy “my true son” implying deep affection for him, I Tim. 1:2.  Paul entrusts Timothy to share his instructions with the believers he has left behind implying his implicit trust and faith in Timothy.  He mentions a spiritual gift Timothy received by the laying on of hands, but does not describe or name that gift.

I Tim. 4:12-14, “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public teaching of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

I Tim. 5:22-23, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others.  Keep yourself pure.  Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”

In chapter 6 Paul calls Timothy a “man of God,” verse 11.

II Tim. 1:3-8, 14, “I thank God, Whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.  I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner.  But join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God…Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.”

There is more about staying true to the faith and remaining strong.  Paul asks Timothy to come to him quickly, II Tim. 4:9, and bring Mark and his cloak and scrolls with him.  He asks Timothy to greet Priscilla and Aquila and others.

As to what you might have in common with Timothy according to this woman's point of view, I can only guess.  You indicate you always behave as a gentleman with the ladies, Paul instructed Timothy to treat younger women as sisters.  Paul had to encourage Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach, you indicate you do not drink alcohol of any kind and apparently neither did Timothy until Paul gave his advice.  The Bible doesn't say what Timothy's spiritual gift was, but perhaps the woman thought it was prophecy and you had prophetically spoken the name of the deceased.  Paul encouraged Timothy to be bold, to remember he was not given a spirit of timidity, but of power, you stepped out and took the inititive to introduce the fourth woman to the group.

Perhaps if you read the two books closely and pray over the matter you will receive a revelation of what the woman referred to when she compared you to Timothy.  Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Marilyn