Who Was Timothy? - by William Barcley

Excerpted from here. Our comments in bold.
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The author does a good job in describing Paul's relationship to Timothy. He ably explains Timothy's role as Paul's associate and helper (we redacted most of this, however), but somehow ignores his own observations when it comes to pastors. It is here where he goes off track by thinking Timothy was a pastor. He was not.

The author is simply teaching his tradition that pastors are the CEO heads of local churches, with everyone else subordinate to him.

First and Second Timothy and Titus have been characterized as "pastoral epistles." The assumption is that Paul wrote these letters to teach these men how to pastor their churches. However, there is nothing in the Bible that even suggests that these men were pastors. "Pastor" and "shepherd" are not found in these letters. 

From this initial errant assumption descends other errors, which eventually leads to a complete misapplication of these letters. These assumptions  

• are used to justify the unbiblical leadership structure that a singular pastor presides over the congregation
• unduly expands the scope of Paul's personal instructions to apply universally
• derive unbiblical ideas about how church services should be conducted

We would therefore assert that these letters are not "pastoral" letters, which means Paul was not giving "pastoral" direction. These men were not sent to preside over these churches, but rather to correct them and install leadership.

Regarding Timothy, Paul's clear purpose in writing to him was to first, encourage him to stay true to the faith; second, to provide guidance on the conduct of Christians; third, to instruct him on how to handle situations in this church; and fourth, to install elders to lead this church.

He wasn't sent to be a pastor, he was sent to fix this church.

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Timothy’s personal traits and characteristics probably would not rate him very high on the list of most churches’ pulpit committees. (A pulpit committee searches for a pastor.)

In addition to being relatively timid, he was relatively young. Paul instructs him not to let others look down on him because of his youth (1 Tim. 4:12). Timothy was also relatively sick. Paul instructs him to drink a little wine “for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Tim. 5:23). These features would make many churches today uneasy. But we know one final thing about Timothy—namely, that he knew and was rooted in the Word of God, and he was willing to serve God despite his physical struggles. It was precisely this knowledge of God’s Word that made Timothy a valuable minister of Jesus Christ, and Paul had complete confidence in him.

Thus, we see in both Acts and Paul’s letters Timothy’s active involvement in a number of churches, not only in Corinth, but also in Philippi and Thessalonica. Timothy appears to have been Paul’s most trusted helper, a faithful servant of Christ, whose ministry of the Word of God was vital in helping the early churches be established, grow, and avoid falsehood. He served as a pastor to the church in Ephesus for several years. (!!! There is no Bible verse telling us Timothy was a pastor.)

He had the assistance of elders and deacons (1 Tim. 3:1–13). (This passage discusses the qualifications for elders and deacons. It says nothing about them being a help to Timothy.)

Many of the elders had gifts in teaching and preaching (1 Tim. 5:17–18), which would have been invaluable for the ministry of the church. But Timothy would have been seen as their “pastor.” (This is false. There is no biblical statement to this effect. In fact, the author's unquoted Bible reference directly contradicts his assertion: 

1Ti. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Maybe this is why he didn't quote it.)

Paul also exhorts Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). (Not "the work of a pastor?" Hmm.)

Paul himself was committed to the Great Commission, teaching and preaching salvation in Jesus Christ. Timothy is called to do the same. But at the heart of his ministry is teaching and preaching the Word to God’s people. Paul writes, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). God’s people need to be built up with the Word of God. (Where in the Bible does it tell us teaching is a pastoral duty?)

Timothy’s work in Ephesus spanned several years, and he seems to be the one who was primarily responsible for the church’s spiritual well-being. (We do not create doctrines from what seems.)

Elders and deacons were invaluable. But Timothy had a unique role that was devoted to teaching and preaching the Word of God. (The author is referencing another unquoted verse:

1Ti. 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 

The author thinks this is about pastoring, but it's not. Teaching and preaching are never described as pastoral duties.

As we noted in our introduction, Timothy's role was to get this church on the right track until Paul was able to come: 

1Ti. 3:14-15 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Paul sent Timothy to set things in order, and planned to come later. This does not make Timothy a pastor.

Further, we nust requote the verse from above: 

1Ti. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

The author claims Timothy had a "unique" teaching and preaching role, but this is a clear duty of the elders.) 

There were elders who primarily oversaw the church and others who also taught (1 Tim. 3:1–7; 5:17–18). Timothy’s ministry was certainly in partnership with theirs. But Timothy had a unique role, one that was centered on the ministry of the Word—reading, teaching, preaching the Scriptures. Paul’s instructions to Timothy, then, are vitally important for understanding the role of pastors today. (Since Timothy wasn't a pastor, Paul's instructions, though valuable, give us no insight into the duties of a pastor.)

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