Free The Trellis and the Vine by Tony Payne, Colin Marshall Page B

but to impart sound doctrine. Paul uses the language of ‘training’ to refer to a lifelong process whereby Timothy and his congregation are taught by Scripture to reject false religion, and to conform their hearts and their lives to sound doctrine. Good biblical training results in a godly life based on sound, health-giving teaching.
    Relationship and imitation
    However, this transfer of the “good deposit” of the gospel is not a barren, educational exercise. It’s deeply and inescapably relational. When we look at the relationship between Paul and Timothy, it becomes immediately apparent that much more than a transfer of skills or information was involved in Timothy’s training. Paul repeatedly describes Timothy with great warmth as his son and beloved child (1 Cor 4:17; Phil 2:22; 1 Tim 1:2, 18; 2 Tim 1:2) and as a fellow-believer and sharer in grace (1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2, 2:1). Timothy was almost certainly converted through Paul’s ministry (Acts 14:6-23, 16:1-3), and became a highly valued co-worker in the gospel mission (“I have no-one like him”—Phil 2:20), whom Paul trusted to send as his emissary to the churches (Phil 2:19-20; 1 Thess 3:1-5).
    This close relationship was a vehicle for one of the key elements of Paul’s training of Timothy—imitation. “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me” (2 Tim 3:10-11).
    It was not only the good deposit of the gospel that Paul passed on to Timothy, but a way of life . And Timothy was, in turn, to model this gospel way of living to others: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim 4:12). Paul exhorted one of his other protégés, Titus, along similar lines: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us ” (Titus 2:7-8). Notice that Titus’ exemplary teaching and behaviour reflects on Paul as well (“nothing evil to say about us”), because Titus was only teaching and behaving in imitation of Paul.
    This methodology of modelling, example and imitation was basic to Paul’s whole ministry:
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (Phil 3:17)
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. (1 Cor 4:14-17)
Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Cor 10:32-11:1)
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (1 Thess 1:4-7)
    The chain of imitation flows from the Lord Jesus himself, whom Paul is copying, through to Timothy (who models himself on Paul, and reminds others of Paul’s ways), and to the believers, who become “imitators of us