Relational Leadership: An Exploration of Paul’s Leadership to Timothy and Its Application to the 21st Century Leadership Challenges

Abstract

The sheer volume of literature on mentoring and leadership across a variety of disciplines is an 
indication of the high profile it has been afforded in recent years. However, though several studies 
have analysed Apostle Paul's readership style, the relational leadership model that Paul exhibits in 
Timothy is, in most cases, missing. The Apostle Paul’s mentorial-relational leadership with Timothy, 
his young disciple, protégé, partner in ministry, and adopted son in the faith, is an exemplary model 
of Biblical leadership and discipleship model, one that is worthy of significant influence in the training 
and development of church leaders today. In this work, the authors consider the best global practices 
in mentor-mentee interaction and how this can affect both the leader and the follower. The relevance 
of the Paul-Timothy mentorship model to the Church and how this can cause church ministry 
expansion using leader-follower intimacy is the crux of this paper. The paper highlights and concludes 
with a discussion of critical issues that church administrators responsible for establishing mentorship 
relationships should consider to maximise the experience of mentoring for all stakeholders. Among 
others, this work recommends that church leaders should apply the Paul-Timothy relationship as a 
style of continuity in the ministry.