| Description: | During his fourth missionary journey, Paul had instructed Timothy to care for the church at Ephesus while he went on to Macedonia.( 1 Timothy 1:3) When he realized that he might not return to Ephesus in the near future, he wrote the first letter to Timothy. Paul chooses his words carefully as he instructs Timothy “As I besought thee to abide till at Ephesus” This is a strong word which Paul used to convey a sense of urgency to show that the Christian leader is responsible to instruct those he leads. In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul articulates the reason for the letter and clarifies his instruction to the young Timothy: “But if I tarry long, that thou may knowest how thou oughtest to behave thyself” |