From the Sunday readings

1 Timothy 2:1, The Nature of Christian community

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
who gave himself a ransom for all

--this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.

Timothy was a young Christian emissary. He had been brought up as a Christian, for his parents were believers. Paul dispatches him to the church at Ephesus to maintain and strengthen the faith. Ephesus was an unruly church, and as we know Paul directed several epistles to them, and spent quite some time there. His instructions to Timothy capture the core of the faith. His advice on leadership in the Christian community: lead by example, with patience, love and prayer.