Mentoring is defined as advising or training someone (usually a young person) or a colleague at work. Mentoring can be intentional or just a casual exchange that teaches. Sometimes we do not set out to be a mentor, but at some point, we realize we have mentored someone. Mentoring can be associated with being a role model or someone that others look up to and want to be like. We have to be careful because not all mentoring or being a role model is necessarily a good thing. The role of a mentor is to guide and teach. “When that role is abused, the mentorship becomes toxic for the mentee. Toxic mentors are more likely to control rather than teach. They leave a mentee feeling bad about the experience.” (Carruthers, 2021) On the other hand, good mentoring fosters growth, success, and passion in the mentee; the mentor must possess empathy, knowledge, communication skills, and a true desire to help others.
So, where did the idea of mentoring begin? It should be easy to see that the first mentorship was between God and Adam, and of course. Adam was taught how to care for the Garden, including its plants and animals. God gave strict instructions to Adam. God, the mentor, saw that Adam needed a partner and gave him Eve. God, the mentor, gave Adam and Eve everything they needed to be successful. But the mentee decided they knew better than the mentor, and disaster struck. Mentors and mentees have been experiencing this battle ever since.
“Mentorship is a deeply biblical principle, seen in the way God raised leaders, prophets, and disciples through the guidance of more mature believers. Throughout the Bible, God uses older, seasoned individuals to train, guide, and equip the next generation.” (N/A, 2025) There are many examples of mentorship in the Bible. God guided and mentored Moses on many occasions as Moses led the Israelites from Egypt. Moses was a great leader and had Joshua to assist him. Joshua watched Moses and learned leadership and faith in God in Exodus 24:13. After Moses died, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Elijah was a prophet and mentored Elisha in First and Second Kings. After Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha continued to perform miracles and teach God’s messages. Ruth was mentored by Naomi and learned how to survive under Israelite laws and customs. As a result, Ruth married Boaz and became part of the lineage of King David and eventually Jesus Christ. Samuel was one of the last judges of Israel and a prophet. Samuel appointed Saul the first king of Israel, and later, he anointed David after Saul’s downfall. Saul failed to follow Samuel’s advice, and his reign as king ended. David valued Samuel’s mentoring and was very successful. Samuel’s mentoring shaped the early history of Israel. There are several other examples of mentoring in the Old Testament that set the stage for the arrival of Jesus and the Gospels.
The New Testament begins with the Gospels, which describe mentoring in many ways and with many examples. “Jesus spent three years mentoring twelve men, preparing them to continue His mission after His crucifixion and resurrection. He taught them through parables, examples, correction, and empowerment (Matthew 4:19; Mark 3:14). After His ascension, the disciples became the foundation of the early Church, preaching the gospel across nations and performing miracles. This is the most powerful model of spiritual mentorship in history.” (N/A, 2025) One of the best-known mentors is Paul. Paul/Saul did not intend to become a mentor or a teacher, or, for that matter, anything good. But in approximately 34AD, while traveling to Damascus, Jesus changed Paul’s plans forever. For the next thirty or thirty-five years, Paul traveled planting churches, preaching God’s word, and training people to build the new church. In Acts 9, Paul mentors and teaches Barnabas leadership and ministry that Barnabas will use to help launch his apostolic ministry. Paul mentored by teaching face-to-face, by example, and by writing letters. First Timothy 1 describes how Paul took Timothy and taught him how to lead a church. Under Paul’s mentorship, Timothy became a pastor and overseer of different churches. In Titus 1, we find Paul mentoring Titus in a very difficult location, Crete. Crete was described as a place of debauchery, heathens, and a haven for evil. Paul’s mentoring gave Titus encouragement and spiritual strength, allowing Titus to remain faithful. Paul never stopped mentoring during shipwrecks, prison, and difficult times. All these biblical examples show the power of godly mentoring. God used good, strong mentors to accomplish His goals and to teach leaders how to move His mission forward.
Why are we talking about mentoring, and how can it be used today?
Mentoring is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, offering guidance, perspective, and lessons learned from experience. It is a structured yet personal relationship focused on learning, growth, and development. Effective mentoring relationships are built on trust, active listening, and thoughtful questioning, rather than just giving advice. Mentoring can help you get where you want to be by providing perspective, avoiding blind alleys, gaining clarity, and moving forward with confidence. It can also help you see the bigger picture, focus on long-term goals, and avoid missing opportunities.”
We are being asked who our one is. When it comes to mentoring, we need to ask who the ones are we are intentionally and by accident mentoring. We have talked before about how others are always observing us and how we are affecting them. Are we a good example? Are we teaching the wrong message? We probably need to be more intentional in the way we carry ourselves to be a good mentor and a good example. Hebrews 13:17 reminds us that we are being watched, stating, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Carruthers, R. (2021, 5 21). 10 Ways to Spot a Toxic Mentor. Retrieved from Together: https://www.togetherplatform.com/blog/toxic-mentor
N/A. (2025, 5 21). List of mentors and mentees in the Bible. Retrieved from Seedword Christian: https://www.seedwordchristian.com/2025/05/list-of-mentors-and-mentees-in-bible.html