“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:1-2).
With Timothy strengthened against the fears that will assault any minister who intends to be faithful all the way down. Faithfulness leads to trouble, and great faithfulness leads to great trouble — calling for great courage. Having received that strengthening and equipping, Timothy is charged to train other men to do the same. What Paul had charged Timothy to do — in the presence of many witnesses — he was to pass on to others. Just as Paul had delivered this charge to the faithful man, Timothy, so Timothy was to find faithful men and do the same for them. They in turn were to receive this charge with the understanding that they were to do the same. We have four generations of ministers mentioned here — Paul to Timothy, Timothy to faithful men, and faithful men to the next generation of faithful men. Notice also the assumption that the training of ministers for the church is to be undertaken by the church. Instead of individuals “feeling the call” and paying for graduate school, we have the church finding the men, and taking on their training.