Iam currently studying the “pastoral epistles,” which are Paul’s letters to Timothy. In the setting of the times they lived in, being elderly was considered being of more value. So, when Paul wrote to Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” in 1 Timothy 4:12, it was unusual that Paul would consider a young person as worth listening to, as deserving respect.

Age was respected in the ancient world, far more than it is in the world in which we live. In our world, youth is considered a great benefit, but in the church, age still has precedence, in that older people are given respect because they often have more wisdom. Wisdom does not automatically come with age, but age gives people more time and experienc

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