Matthew Wisdom Wednesday :Paul’s Teaching on Wisdom
Part 9 – Practical Wisdom for the Young Pastors
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:14–15) NASB 95
In earlier epistles, we have seen that Paul taught principles of God’s wisdom and explained wise behavior. In the letters to young pastors Timothy and Titus, Paul provides practical, explicit wisdom on how to lead believers in the church.
The word “wisdom” is used only in 2 Timothy in the verse above, acknowledging that:
- The Scriptures (“sacred writings”) are able to give wisdom, and
- That wisdom leads to salvation in Jesus Christ.
Timothy and Titus were young men who were mentored by Paul. Titus was a Gentile by birth who trusted in Christ (Gal. 2:3) and was not compelled to be circumcised. Timothy’s mother was Jewish, and his father was a Gentile (Acts 16:3). Both trusted Christ and joined Paul at times. Paul called Timothy “my true child in the faith” (I Tim 1:2) and Titus “my true child in a common faith” (Titus 1:4).
The three epistles, two letters to Timothy and one to Titus, provide practical instructions on leading the church and teaching the Scriptures, for example:
- Encouragement in Evangelism (2Tim 1-4) and Leadership (1 Tim 6)
- Sound doctrinal teachings (1 Tim 1; Titus 2)
- Qualifications for leaders in the Church (1 Tim 2-3, 5:17-25; Titus 1)
- Godly behavior and living (1 Tim 4:6-16; Titus 3)
Within the instructions, Paul includes several key comments regarding the themes of wise living, and these are highlighted in the figure below, showing where they are placed across the 13 chapters of the three epistles.
But this guidance can apply to us all as we seek to apply God’s wisdom by walking in the “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:4). These books provide practical guidance to walk in God’s wisdom within the fellowship of believers.