UNAFRAID OF SUFFERING

It is believed that Paul converted Timothy during his visit to Lystra on his first missionary journey. By the time of Paul’s second missionary journey, when he and Silas revisited Lystra, Timothy was introduced as a young disciple who was respected by the believers in that city (see Acts 16:1, 2). It was on his first visit to the city that Paul had been stoned by an angry mob, dragged out of the city, and left for dead (see Acts 14:19, 20).

It seems likely that Timothy was a witness to that violence, perhaps even among the group of believers “gathered around him,” suggesting that they were praying for Paul’s healing. In one of Paul’s last letters, written as many as fifteen years later, perhaps both Paul and Timothy—when reading this letter—would have remembered that scene as Paul urged him, “Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord” (2 Timothy 4:5, NLT).

Obviously, Paul could not claim that sharing the story of Jesus would be easy or popular, but he could give such instruction because his life and ministry had demonstrated this kind of courage. In turn, being unafraid of suffering was the foundation for Paul’s other ministry advice. Compared with other popular teachers whom many people would follow, those—like Timothy—who could endure hardship and rejection were those who would not be swayed by the crowd, who could speak the truth and continue to share the good news about Jesus wherever they were able. As Paul neared the end of his life and ministry, it was such courage that allowed him to reflect, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). And that is what he desired for Timothy as well.