THE LIVING CHURCH
Meditations in the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 16:1-5

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IN these verses we are introduced to Timothy. Timothy became a leader, elder and pastor in the church. We learn this from the letters Paul wrote to Timothy where Paul encourages him in his ministry. Timothy was a child of mixed marriage. His mother was a Jewess and his father was a Greek. His mother was a believer and his father seems not to have had faith; certainly this is the implication from the narrative. Although mixed marriages as this present their difficulties, it is plain from the case of Timothy and his parents that they are not disasters and do work. When Christians feel they should speak against them, they should remember this example. Timothy's mother maintained a strong and vital faith, even though she had married a Greek and one who was not a believer. Timothy came to know the Lord, even though his father apparently did not have faith. Mixed marriages are not bad like some Christians make out, and do experience the blessing of God.

Let us learn the blessing of believing parents. Timothy's mother believed in Jesus, and no doubt she taught Timothy by word and example. The blessed result was that Timothy came to know the Lord too, and was called to be a minister who was greatly owned by the Lord. If we are believing parents, let us thank God we have this ministry to our children, and believe that God who has given us this ministry will bless it to the salvation and growth in grace of our children.

We read that Timothy was spoken well of by the church (v.2). It is right to ask ourselves what this good name, which Timothy had, involved, and what made the church speak well of him. I am sure we can safely say that this commendation did not refer to his temperament as a human being, or even his moral standing. Rather this commendation surely was concerning his faith in Jesus, and his service for Jesus. Timothy's commendation was for the soundness of his faith, and for his devotion to the Lord, and for the way God was already making him a blessing to others in opening the beauty and work of the Lord to them. This is the sort of commendation we should all covet and strive after. The church is strong and grows when its members are like Timothy.

Timothy, although his mother was a Jew, had not been circumcised. As a believer Timothy's mother knew that circumcision was not necessary, and profited nothing. Timothy was a believer without circumcision. However we are told here that Paul circumcised Timothy. Why did Paul do this? Paul fought for the principle that circumcision was not necessary for a person to be accepted and forgiven by God, but faith only. Paul was not contradicting himself. He was not now saying that he was mistaken and that circumcision was necessary. Paul was simply seeking to remove any hindrance from the acceptance of the Gospel by Timothy being with him in the ministry, and removing any hindrance from the Jews to Timothy as a minister of the Gospel. The Jews to whom Paul was preaching were not believers and therefore held that circumcision was given by God and absolutely necessary. Until they believed the gospel they could not understand that circumcision could not bring a person into favour with God. They could not understand from their teaching that no work we do can make us acceptable to God. Because of this darkness in their understanding they would turn away from Paul and Timothy and refuse to listen to them, if Timothy was uncircumcised. Paul circumcised Timothy to remove hindrance from people listening to and receiving the Gospel.

Christians need to understand this action of Paul. It has relevance today when we think of things in the church which we may see as wrong and compromising the Gospel - for example, what the minister wears, where he stands, rituals that are performed, and expressions of liturgy that are used. By rigidly standing out against things we believe to be unsound or expressing unsound doctrine, we turn people away and cause them to shut their ears to the Gospel. What good have we done by this. People can only understand when they have Gospel faith and the new life that is in Jesus. We win people by love and not by controversy.

Lastly we read that as Paul and Timothy journey, and as they come to each city and visit the church in those cities, they tell the Christians the good news of how the church in Jerusalem has accepted these believers as full members by faith and not by works. Paul and Timothy told them the decision of the church in Jerusalem concerning whether believers should keep the law of Moses and be circumcised. Paul told the believers that the Church now universally taught the faith, that we are forgiven and accepted by God through faith in Jesus, who has died and risen again for us, and not by works that we do.

The church is built up always by the exposition of the Gospel and the demonstration of love which shines from those who believe. Holy living is not encouraged when there is a concentration on what is wrong or what is right to do. The soul who believes and has tasted the love of Jesus, wants to please Jesus. The more that love for Jesus is nurtured by the Gospel of God's love for us, the more there is a desire to please Christ. We want then to know what Jesus desires us to be like, and are ready to be shown what pleases Jesus. It is the preaching of Christ and him crucified that promotes holiness.