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2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
No doubt, those who opposed what Paul taught Timothy had not all been assigned to go to make sure that Paul died in a Roman Prison. Some of those who were against Christianity and Paul's teachings stayed back in Ephesus. Timothy, as the leader of the church in Ephesus, would have been heckled and even threatened on a daily basis.
No doubt, there were people in the church who were not about to be taught by such a young little whipper-snapper while they knew the Torah backwards & forwards and fancied themselves the new leaders of the church in Paul's absence. When Paul was arrested and taken to Rome, they knew it was their turn to set things right, so they stayed behind because someone had to watch over the church and make it proper.
No doubt, there were people in Ephesus who had their own brand of Christianity.... their own version of what Jesus meant for the church.
No doubt Timothy had his hands full every day. He had to spend a lot of time in prayer, sifting through what he heard from these "well informed" and "well intentioned" false prophets and would-be Pharisees of the new church.
No doubt Paul taught Timothy what is recorded in Mark 9:40, and Timothy carefully had to sift daily to apply what he heard and felt to the Gospel to make sure it was correct so the church at Ephesus would stay on the right path.
Mark 9:38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
It's good that Paul continued to teach Timothy. It's also good that Timothy was going to get away for a while to see his teacher, even if it was to take him his coat so he wouldn't freeze to death in a Roman prison for teaching the Gospel instead of murdering the Christians.
