I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  1 Timothy 1: 12 – 14

This is the renowned Apostle Paul writing to a young disciple of Jesus, encouraging him to be faithful in his calling as well.

Letters can say a lot.  This one is no exception.  First, the author. He was the once powerful Pharisee who ran down believers in Jesus and had them persecuted and killed, one of the most promising young Pharisees among the Jews at the time. Even though he was born and raised in Turkey, he took Jerusalem by storm because of his zeal.  He was known as the person who hated the followers of Jesus more that most and tried to have them eradicated from the face of the earth. He obeyed the Law of Moses to the letter.  He represented a new generation of strict adherents to the Law.

Second, the recipient of the letter. Timothy. He was also from Turkey, the son of a mixed marriage, a Jewish mother and a Gentile father.  The mother of that Jewish mother also married a Greek. So his father and grandfather were Gentiles. His mother and grandmother were sincere Jews so Timothy grew up as a Jew. However, because he had a Gentile father, he could not pass through the Jewish rites so he was not circumcised, the mark of being a Jew.

Paul was a pure Jew, Timothy partly Jewish.  Paul was a learned Pharisee, Timothy was raised a Greek, the tradition of his father and grandfather.  He was a nobody as far as the pure-blooded Jews were concerned.  He was unknown and undesired.

Hold on. When Jesus met Paul and when Timothy became a believer at the knees of his mother, the foundation was laid for a phenomenal relationship, not a common Judaism but as two saved sinners, cleansed by the Blood of Jesus – therefore in a new family, the followers of Jesus Christ.

Letters can say a lot.