I Timothy 6 - II Timothy 3

Passing the baton

Do you know what relay runners practice more than anything else? It’s the 1.5 seconds it takes to pass the baton to the next runner. Now think about this: A 400 meter relay racer will run for several minutes all by themselves. They are running solo much longer than they are passing the baton. But experience tells them that the moment things are most likely to go wrong is in the hand-off. That’s the moment everyone is watching for and the moment about which they are the most tense.

As I read his last letter to Timothy I can feel Paul’s passion about the hand-off he is making. This is Paul’s last letter to his young apprentice and probably the last thing he wrote in scripture. Paul’s getting along in years and he knows two key things: There are false teachers, argumentative members and down-right nasty folks who will try to derail the young man. And he knows that he will not be there to help him. Mortality is a pain. I get that. It bugs me that I may not be able to see my grandchildren’s children. (I know. I know. I don’t have grandkids yet… but you start thinking about these things as the years start to pile up. Can I get an “Oh, yeah!” from the wrinkled crowd?)

So Paul gives Timothy one last “Stay true” speech from his old mentor. He warns him and challenges him. He reminds him of the people like his mother and grandmother who passed the faith on to him. These godly ladies made sure the baton was safely in Timothy’s hands. And Paul wants Timothy to remember the gift they gave him and the training he had given him.

But the real question on Paul’s mind is… What’s NEXT? Will Timothy pass on the baton of faith to those coming after him. Paul won’t be around to do it. Its up to Timothy and his generation. That’s why Paul says…

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Tim. 2:2

Strange how the reference for that verse worked out. Did you notice: 2nd Timothy 2:2. A lot of two’s there! Its almost as though God worked through the king’s editors to put the verse marker right there to underline the point.

It takes two: One to hold the faith. One to receive it.

So who are you handing the baton to?


Jeff Walling
May 6