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Theme: Jesus Christ forsook his heavenly glory for the sake of God’s people; use Christian freedom for service

Timothy
Timothy was the son of a Jewish woman called Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). She had married an unnamed Gentile man and it is likely that he refused to have his son circumcised. Such a marriage was contrary to God’s law (Exodus 34:15-16; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; 23:2-9; Joshua 23:12-13). Timothy himself was instructed in the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 3:15). Quite possibly he was converted together with his mother and grandmother during Paul’s earlier missionary campaign (2 Timothy 1:2, 5; 1 Corinthians 4:17; Acts 14:8-20).

Church Polity Principles
The decree of the Jerusalem Council is circulated more widely than the churches which are explicitly mentioned in the official letter (Acts 15:23). This shows that all churches were expected to submit to it (it was not advice). It serves also to highlight the centrality of Biblical church governance for the well-being of God’s people since it is directly connected with the subsequent growth and expansion of the church (Acts 16:5).