Thank you for the question on encouraging Timothy, “Timothy was a young worker in the early church and two different books, or letters, in the New Testament are addressed to him. Who urged Timothy to ‘fight the good fight’ in both the KJV and the NIV Bibles?”
The writer of the letter to Timothy is the Apostle Paul. II Tim 2 says this, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV).
In chapter 6, he says this to Timothy, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (NIV).
Here are some additional thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. Timothy wasn’t a young man when Paul wrote this letter to him.
The letters of I-II Timothy are dated about 56–57 CE. This is about 23 after the death of Jesus Church. This means by this time Timothy would have been close to 35–40 years old. He would not be considered a young man but a full grown adult.
B. Timothy was a seasoned partner with Paul.
As one reads Acts, Timothy starts out as an apprentice, but he becomes a church leader. Paul assigns him responsibility in caring for churches. He left him in Ephesus to oversee the church.
I Tim. 1 says this, “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies” (NIV).
Yes, Paul confirms for him what he is to do at the Church of Ephesus. It was not an easy task and he entrusted this work to one of his most faithful companion. Paul wouldn’t entrust such a work to an novice or apprentice.
C. Timothy was a mature Christian leaders, but there were older men and women.
The older men may have looked down on his age for he wasn’t as old as they were. Perhaps he had a young facial appearance. He appeared to be weakly in health. He wasn’t a dominate personality as Paul. He says to him, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (NIV).
Paul calls upon him to exercise his position and gifts in the church. He says don’t let anyone look down on your youth. Regrettably, seniors think that they know more than anyone else who is younger themselves.
Any knew pastor who comes to the Church, the Elders and Deacons thinks that they know more than the pastor. They may be the founding fathers of that church and they expect the pastor to give deference to them, to respect their authority over the church. The pastor is to respect them, but he is the pastor of the church.
SUMMARY: This letter is the final letter that we know of when Paul gives his last encouraging words to Timothy. He writes it so that the Ephesians who may also read it know that Timothy is his representative and appointed leader in the Church of Ephesus.