Mature Apostle Paul Counsels Young Timothy and Titus
Paul saw Timothy and Titus as his sons in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4). Throughout the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus), Paul counsels these two young, male biblical teachers-shepherds-soul physicians-counselors. Paul, the mature soul physician, counsels the youthful soul physicians, Timothy and Titus.
Paul specifically counsels Timothy that if Timothy does not want people to look down on him because of his youth, he should, “Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:11). “Example” (typos) means a moral model. To “look down on” (kataphroneō) is to slight, to scorn, to disregard. In Titus 2:15, Paul similarly counsels Titus how to avoid people disregarding (periphroneō) him and his counsel.
The fastest way for a young, male biblical counselor to be disregarded is by disregarding their own character—their own progressive sanctification.
Paul specifically counsels Titus that if Titus wants other young men to heed his counsel, then, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good” (Titus 2:7). Here Paul uses the same word he used with Timothy: example/typos—a moral model. “Good” (kalos) is beautiful character—honorable,
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