返回Preface
Preface
Preface
Timothy was one of Paul's disciples, enjoyed respect on account of this, and was so devoted to Paul himself that for the sake of the economy, for the success of the preaching, he agreed to receive circumcision from him, and this at a time when Paul was forbidding circumcision to others and when on this matter he even rose up against Peter himself. Moreover, Paul himself in many places testifies to the great virtue of this man. To him he now writes about many necessary things. If someone should ask why the apostle does not write to Silas, Clement, Luke, or any other of the many who were with him, but only to Timothy and Titus, then to this one may say that those were still accompanying him, whereas to these he had already entrusted churches. Therefore it was necessary to instruct them through writings and to explain what they were supposed to do. And if you ask: why did he not perfect them earlier in all divine wisdom and then appoint them to the work of teaching, but writes to them and brings them to perfection after he had entrusted the teaching to them? Know first of all that no one is perfect, even if he is a teacher; on the contrary, such a person too greatly needs guidance from those more perfect; especially it was not easy for the bishop himself to arrange everything by his own word in a church that was only just being established. Then pay attention also to the fact that throughout the entire epistle Timothy is given instruction not such as is given to disciples, but such as befits a teacher.
Timothy was one of Paul's disciples, enjoyed respect on account of this, and was so devoted to Paul himself that for the sake of the economy, for the success of the preaching, he agreed to receive circumcision from him, and this at a time when Paul was forbidding circumcision to others and when on this matter he even rose up against Peter himself. Moreover, Paul himself in many places testifies to the great virtue of this man. To him he now writes about many necessary things. If someone should ask why the apostle does not write to Silas, Clement, Luke, or any other of the many who were with him, but only to Timothy and Titus, then to this one may say that those were still accompanying him, whereas to these he had already entrusted churches. Therefore it was necessary to instruct them through writings and to explain what they were supposed to do. And if you ask: why did he not perfect them earlier in all divine wisdom and then appoint them to the work of teaching, but writes to them and brings them to perfection after he had entrusted the teaching to them? Know first of all that no one is perfect, even if he is a teacher; on the contrary, such a person too greatly needs guidance from those more perfect; especially it was not easy for the bishop himself to arrange everything by his own word in a church that was only just being established. Then pay attention also to the fact that throughout the entire epistle Timothy is given instruction not such as is given to disciples, but such as befits a teacher.