The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-04
For the Central Presbyterian.
TIMOTHY:
His Ordination, Circumcision. and
Attachment to Paul.

There are few characters brought be-
tore us In the sacred Scriptures more in
terestlng than the evangelist Timothy.
his intimate connection for many years
with the great Apostle of the Gentiles.
the tatherly, nay, motherly love he elicit
ed from Paul's manly and sanc6fed heart.
mis- distinguished usefulness as a laborer
IN the Lords vineyard and the valuable
practical lessons involved in his history,
abundantly Justify this assertion.
Speaking with reference to the order
an which the inspired books are arranged
IN our Bible, the first mention of Timothy
is found in Acts xvi l. Here he ap-
pears as already disciple of Jesus Christ,
and as we'll reported Of by the brethren
at Lystra and Iconium, and as being so
acceptable to Paul personally, that he de-
SIRED the young mans companionship in
his apostolic labo%s The mention of
brethren living in two cities as testifying
[ his character, leads us to think that he
had already been employed in the direct
work of the Church, and that it was his
tried fitness for missionary labor that de-
termlned St Pauls choice However,
those who had the deepest insight into
ms character, and who spoke with pro-
phehc utterance pointed to him, as others
had pointed before to Paul and Barnabas,
as specially fit to participate in the dis
Pensation of the gospel committed to
Paul, and if they did not prompt, at least
confirmed the wisdom of the Apostles
selection. Accordingly he was solemnly
set apart-the whole assembly of elders
together with the Apostle himself laying
their hands upon him-to do the work of
an evangelist. For it is doubtless to this
period Of Timothy's history that ST. Paul
refers, when in his first epistle to him
ne writes" This charge l commit unto
thee son Timothy in accordance with the
prophecies which went before on thee,
that thou by them mightiest war good
warfare Neglect not the gift that is
n thee, which was given thee by pro-
phecy, with the laying on of the hands of
the Presbytery and also the same pc
Rod is referred to in Pau's second epistle
to Timothy, when he says" Wherefore
l put thee in remembrance, that thou
stir up the gift of God which is in thee
by the putting on of my hands s." But
watch thou in all things, endure Attic
tons, do the work of an evangelist make
full proof of thy ministry.
The inference from these passages is
clear, that ordination according to the
practice Of the Church under apostolic
sanction is the action Of a Presbytery-
that is, Of a council composed Of elders
and that the order observed by the Pres
byterian Church in investing men with
ecclesiastical office is apostolic and divine.
When Paul speaks of the laying on of his
hands on Timothy, he may refer to his
acting as a member of the Presbyterv
which ordained him, or to a special apes
tolic laying on of hands for the purpose
of indicating the bestowment of mirac-
uIous gift I'm either case the truth that
the Presbytery laid their hands on Tim
othy, and thus set him apart to the min
istry, stands unmodifed.
Although Timothy mother was a
Jewess his father was a Gentle, and as il
was customary for the male parent to
control the religious observances of the
children, Timothy was not circumcised
In order that this might not be made an
objection by the Jews to giving Timothy
access to their synagogges, Paul took and
circumcised him Thus the great Apos
tie exemplifed the principle which he
afterwards avowed in his first epistle tc
the Corinthians-"T To the weak, became
as weak that might gain the weak
am made all things to oil men, that