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This is the first of a long series of similar missions. As the context shows, the youthful evangelist gave full proof of his ministry from the first.

I. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE MESSENGER.

1. Brotherhood. The man sent on an errand of mercy must have —

(1) Brotherly relations with his fellow messengers. There are extraordinary circumstances in which a man may legitimately break through all the trammels of ecclesiastical order and discipline in order to save souls. The prophets and apostles were examples of this; so were Luther and Wesley. But generally the messenger must sustain close relations of amity and colleagueship, if not of subordination, with those who hold a similar office. This gives —

(a) Might to his utterances, when his solitary authority would be questioned or ignored.

(b) Comfort in hours of despondency and loneliness, in the thought that he has sympathy and has brethren to fall back upon.

(2) A brotherly feeling towards those to whom he goes: "Our brother" — mine and yours. The brotherly feeling in the Christian worker avoids the evils of —

(a) Haughty superiority: "Lord over God's heritage." His office may be more dignified, but his spiritual nature is the same: "One is your Master," etc.

(b) Feminine weakness — such as would pander to tastes and humours; fear to rebuke; suppress unpalatable truth. Brotherliness is the manly love of another's soul.

(c) Selfish motives. The minister is to save men, not make money out of them: "I seek not yours, but you." As brothers our interests are common.

2. Divine ministry. A true minister is —

(1) Called of God. No ecclesiastical sanction can compensate for the want of this. A man may be able to trace his "uninterrupted succession," and be instituted to an illustrious office, but unless he is inwardly moved by God he is an intruder and no minister of God.

(2) Qualified by God. This does not, of course, dispense with human qualifications. Indeed, gifts of learning and eloquence carefully cultivated and employed are required as signs that qualifications essentially Divine are prized and made the most of. But the Divine qualification is distinct. It is the enduement of power for the conversion of souls. Without this a man may be a profound philosopher, a skilful dialectician; his mind may be stored with masses of erudition, and his tongue nimble with the most bewitching oratory. But without the Holy Ghost he is "a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal," and no minister of God.

(3) Supported by God. Hence —

(a)  Courage: "I have made thy face as a flint."

(b)  Expectation of success: "My word shall not return unto Me void."(4) Owned of God, in the conversion of souls.

(5) Rewarded by God: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

3. Labour. The ministry is a "work" involving —

(1)  Mental preparation;

(2)  pecuniary sacrifice;

(3)  abnegation of comfort;

(4)  consuming zeal.

II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS ERRAND.

1. Establishment.

(1) To base moral life upon Christ: "Other foundation can no man lay," etc. Then men are basing their lives on no foundation at all. Morality, good intentions, hope in God's elemency, are castles in the air which the labourer for God must destroy, that he may induce men to build on the only foundation. This foundation is stable and everlasting (Matthew 7:24, etc.).

(2) To build up moral life in Christ by promoting the growth of the Christian graces. Is Christian life a building? Then "love, joy, peace, gentleness," etc., are stones and rafters. Is it a tree? Then these are the fruits.

2. Comfort.

(1) Encouragement concerning the faith. Such is afforded when faith —

(a)  Is shown to be well grounded: "We have not followed cunningly devised fables."

(b)  Is stimulated into vigorous exercise —

(c)  When its end, "the salvation of your souls," is kept steadily before the eye.

(2) Consolation in trouble. "Tribulation" affects the body in times of persecution, as here; the mind in times of scepticism and denial; the soul in times of spiritual darkness. Comfort comes from the Divine promises, the Divine sympathy, and the Divine support.

(J. W. Burn.)

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KJV: And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

WEB: and sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;