There are several Biblical examples of mentoring that are illustrated for us. Some have stronger mentors than mentorees, and in some cases, the mentorees tend to be the more dynamic personalities than the mentors. The following Biblical relationships are some of the examples of these illustrations. As we look at the texts surrounding these Biblical personalities, we will find that their techniques and relationship qualities vary in many ways. But the end result is still to reproduce their abilities and skills in the people they are mentoring.     

Moses and Joshua

Numbers 11:28

Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, answered and said, "Moses, my lord, restrain them."

Moses mentored Joshua into the position of the next leader of Israel. Joshua led the people across the Jordan River and on to conquer the land of Canaan. Israel would have never left the Sinai wilderness had Joshua not been a good mentoree, and Moses a good mentor. This is a classic Biblical example that does not require the mentor or the mentoree to live and participate in perfection.       

Eli and Samuel

1 Samuel 3:1

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.

Elijah and Elisha

I King 19:19-20

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"

Jesus and His Apostles

Matthew 10:1

And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

There are many examples of Jesus mentoring His disciples and apostles in direct relationships throughout the New Testament Gospels. It can be seen especially in the grouping of Peter, James and John – often referred to as those in the inner circle of the Apostolic fellowship. The Gospels record these three going with Jesus into several ministry scenarios that apparently the others were either not invited to, or unable to attend. 

Paul and Timothy

1 Timothy 1:2 & 6:20

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"

Paul mentored his young apprentice Timothy into pastoral ministry. We see this very articulately displayed in both of letters Paul wrote to Timothy in the New Testament. What is important is that Paul had also been mentored by Jesus Christ who appeared to him many times after his conversion and by several of the original Apostles of Jesus Christ as noted in Acts 15.