In the United States, where I live, it is common for people to have parents and grandparents from different countries or ethnic backgrounds. For example, a neighbor or coworker may have ancestors from India, Africa, and Europe.
This was not as common in ancient times, and so the author of Acts states that Timothy’s mother was Jewish and his father Greek. Timothy was unique in that way in his home community. Because of this, Timothy may have struggled to find a community to which he truly belonged. Was he a Jew? Was he Greek? Timothy came to faith in Christ, and the community of believers praised him.
When Paul and his missionary companions arrived, they invited Timothy to join them. When he discipled Timothy, he probably made it clear that his faith, the faith that was given to him by God and by which he was “in Christ,” made him part of a growing, deeply knit, and truly beautiful community: the church. Timothy, like them, was a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), part of a growing group of new creations.
Today, if you meet other Christians, remember that you are part of that growing congregation together. Keep your eyes open for what lies behind the faces, the eyes. You will get to see new creations. With you, they are signs of God’s renewal in this world, pointing to His new creation.
