Paul was not a loner, he believed in and practiced team ministry. He had a penchant for developing young leaders and he mentions two by name in his letter to the Philippians. Timothy was the better known of the two. On his second missionary tour Paul picked him up in a place called Lystra (Acts 16:1). Timothy had apparently become a “disciple” during Paul’s first trip through that area of Galatia (an area now known as the country of Turkey) in the eastern Mediterranean area. His background was of mixed ethnicity, half-Jewish and half-Gentile. The godly influence came from his mother’s and grandmother’s Jewish side (2 Tim 1:5).

Paul spent consider time mentoring this young man, taking him along on his extensive travels, as can be seen in the book of Acts. Timothy co-authored five of Paul’s canonical letters (epistles)—one can imagine the interaction between the two as Paul set thoughts to paper.

In later years, Paul wrote two “personal” correspondences specifically to Timothy, which became recognized by the early church as authoritative for the whole Christian movement. Fortunately for us, these two letters contain much instruction for how the church (locally) should function: “… I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).

In Paul’s interaction with Timothy we see a model of what he taught Timothy to pass on, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). Timothy, in turn, presumably, passed it forward (so to speak). Since he himself was faithful, he would most certainly have found other faithful men to teach and to train, who would do likewise with other faithful individuals.

So, it is this Timothy that Paul planned to send to the Philippians in order to touch base, see how they are doing, and then report back to Paul. The apostle had a passion for the Philippians’ spiritual growth and needed a faithful disciple to send–Timothy was the one.

Oh, that more faithful Christians would step up to being disciples, servants of the Lord and His people—young men and women in particular, who are willing to serve where needed, willing to be mentored by godly older believers—who in turn will mentor and disciple others.