An Apostolic Letter To An Apostolic Son

Traditionally theologians have referred to the Epistles of First and Second Timothy, as well as Titus as Pastoral Epistles. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Timothy and Titus were both Spiritual Sons to Apostle Paul and as such were being fathered, mentored and trained as young up and coming emerging Apostles in their own right.

If you read the New Testament through the Paradigm of an Apostolic Mindset, this will be quite clear. Paul clearly referred to Timothy as his son. (see 1 Corinthians 4: 17, 1 Timothy 1: 2 & 18 and 2 Timothy 1:2) Titus was also referred to as his son. (see Titus 1:4) With that in mind we are better off referring to these Epistles as Apostolic Epistles, not Pastoral Epistles.

I want to draw your attention to one passage from Apostle Paul’s first letter to Timothy:

“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4: 13-16 NKJV (Emphasis Mine)

I have highlighted some words in this passage that we should pay attention to as an Apostolic Father was writing to an Emerging Apostolic Son:

Ø  Reading

Ø  Exhortation

Ø  Doctrine

Ø  The Gift

Ø  Prophecy

Ø  Laying On Of Hands

Ø  Meditate

Ø  Doctrine (second time…just maybe it is important)

Ø  Continue

It is quite often that we get asked what Apostolic Ministry is all about and how does it differ from other types of ministry. This should be a PROOF TEXT for every Apostle and Emerging Apostle in the Body of Christ!

We could go into great detail on each one of these bullet points, but suffice it to say, each and every one of them are an integral part of Apostolic Ministry. These were things that Paul stressed to his Son Timothy. If we are going to be truly New Testament Apostolic all of these things will be part of what we do; and if we are going to raise up Apostolic Sons, we will stress these things to them just as Paul stressed them to Timothy.