Who was Timothy in the Bible?

The name of Timothy is first mentioned in Acts 16:1. His mother's name was Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5); she was a Jewess, but his father was a Gentile (Acts 16:1, 3). Paul called him his son, my own son in the faith (1 Tim. 1:2), from which we conclude that he was converted by the apostle's ministry. His mother and grand mother, Lois (2 Tim. 1:5), were both Christians. They must have been, before their conversion, God-fearing Jewesses. This seems to be implied by 2 Tim. 3:14-15. Young Timothy had an excellent reputation among the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. After having him circumcised "because of the Jews," Paul took him as a fellow-laborer in the gospel (Acts 16:1-3). He must have accompanied the apostle on his journey through Macedonia , for the apostle left him at Berea with Silas (Acts 17:14). He had been in Thessalonica and Paul sent him back to ascertain the state of the Thessalonian church. After that he remained with the apostle in Corinth . He then traveled with Paul from Corinth to Ephesus . From Ephesus he was sent by the apostle with Erastus to Macedonia and Corinth (Acts 19:22; 1 Cor. 4:17). Later we find that he was with Paul, the prisoner, in Rome (Col. 1:1; Phil. 1:1, Philemon, verse 1).

A young man whom Paul calls "my own son in the faith." His mother Eunice was a Jewess and his father a Greek. He had evidently been brought up piously, having known the holy scriptures from a child, and Paul mentions the unfeigned faith both of his mother and of his grandmother Lois. Paul, wishing to take Timothy with him, circumcised him because of the Jews. From Lystra he accompanied Paul into Macedonia, but he and Silas stayed behind at Berea. They joined Paul at Athens, and Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica, and brought his report to Paul at Corinth. Acts 17:14; 1 Thess. 3:1-2.

During Paul's stay at Ephesus Timothy was with him, and was sent to Corinth, but was again with Paul in Macedonia when the Second Epistle to the Corinthians was written. He was also with Paul when the Epistle to the Romans was written from Corinth. When Paul returned to Asia through Macedonia, Timothy waited for him at Troas. Acts 20:3-5. He was with Paul at Rome when he wrote his epistles to the Colossians, Philemon, and to the Philippians. At some unknown place and time Timothy suffered imprisonment, for scripture records his release. Heb. 13:23. Paul besought him to remain at Ephesus to warn the brethren against false teachers, 1 Tim. 1:3; and in the Second Epistle he begs him to use diligence to come to him, to bring with him Mark, and the cloak he had left at Troas, the books and the parchments.

Timothy (his name meaning 'honouring God') was yet a young man (1 Tim. 4:12) but one of the most faithful co-labourers of the apostle Paul. He was the son of a Greek father but had a Jewish mother named Eunice. His mother and grandmother Lois had taught Timothy the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament from a child (Acts 16:1; 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15).

From Syria and Cilicia Paul journeys to Lycaonia. 'And he came to Derbe and to Lystra, and, behold, a certain disciple was there, by name Timothy, son of a Jewish believing woman, but of a Greek father; who was borne witness to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. Him Paul would have to go forth with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek' (vers. 1-3).

Little is said of the other results from the apostle's visit to Derbe and Lystra. Our attention is concentrated on a 'young disciple' there. He was therefore not converted at this time, but, doubtless, during the former visit of the apostle, who speaks of him as his 'true child in faith'. Timothy he had begotten in Christ Jesus through the gospel. The circumstances were peculiar. He was the son of a believing Jewess, Eunice, but of a Greek father, with an exceptionally good testimony from the brethren in those parts. This led to a remarkable step on the part of the apostle: he circumcised him 'on account of the Jews' there, 'for they all knew that his father was a Greek' or Gentile.

Heb. 13:23 tells us of Timothy's imprisonment but also of his liberation. We do not know any other details about it. Apart from this short mention (in Hebrews 13) the two Epistles to Timothy are the last biblical testimony to this faithful servant of Christ and co-worker of the Apostle Paul.

Timothy is the model (antitype) of a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord. Paul was full of praise for this companion and co-worker. In 1 Thess. 3:2 he calls Timothy 'our brother and minister of God and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ'. In the First Epistle to the Corinthians Paul calls him already his beloved son and faithful in the Lord who like himself worked in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 4:17; 16:10). Paul and Timothy worked together for about fifteen years. The warmest and dearest words Paul finds in Phil. 2:19-23: 'But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, as soon as I shall see how it will go with me.'

Timothy, this young and slightly timid brother, was one of the few ones to remain faithful to the apostle when he was imprisoned and when many had departed from him. When Paul, following his release, visited some of the places he had worked in, he could confidently leave Timothy behind in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3). He transmitted him in his first epistle the God-given instructions on the house of God, the church of the living God (1 Tim. 3:15). Although he hoped to go to Timothy shortly he probably felt that the Lord had another way for him (1 Tim. 3:14). These facts as well as the missing hint of an imprisonment prove that the apostle was at liberty.

In his second epistle however the apostle mentions several times his imprisonment and this with no prospect of liberation. On the contrary he knows that his time of departure (from this earth) is at hand (2 Tim. 4:6). He has fought the good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith and his view is only up to the Lord who will take him to Himself. The apostle encourages Timothy in his last epistle to fulfil his ministry which he up to now had mostly shared with him. He encouraged him to remain faithful despite the first signs of departure (from the truth) in the early church (2 Tim. 4:5). – The first epistle to Timothy has, therefore, been written around 63 to 64 AC and the second around 66 to 67 AC.

This epistle no doubt contains some of the very last words of the apostle. The time for putting off his tabernacle had drawn near, and he pours out the exercises and desires of his heart into the ear of the only man in whom he could place real confidence. In writing of him to the Philippians, he says: "I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." He had found Timothy at Lystra on his second visit there, after that Barnabas had departed from him and sailed away to Cyprus. It appears as if Timothy had been brought to the Lord through his means, during his first visit to the place, for upon his second visit Timothy was already a disciple. Paul calls him his dearly beloved child, and writes this epistle to him to encourage his heart, when the profession of Christianity had got into such a state of indifference to Christ that the servant of the Lord stood in much danger of becoming faint-hearted. He does not seek to hide the true state of things from Timothy, but while he brings before him the true state of affairs, he seeks to stir up his faith by reminding him of his resources.

Let us refresh our memories a little as to Timothy, and I hope we will find it also refreshes our own souls. His home was in either Derbe or Lystra, probably Lystra; his mother was a Jewess who believed, named Eunice, and unfeigned faith dwelt not only in her, but also, first, in his grandmother Lois: but his father was a Greek, and as he had never been circumcised, he may have been brought up as a Greek. However, he knew the Holy Scriptures from earliest childhood, and was well reported of by the brethren that dwelt in Lystra and Iconium: and on Paul's second missionary journey, he desired to have Timothy go forth with him in the work. (Acts 16:1-3 & 2 Tim. 1:5). Timothy fully knew what persecutions Paul endured at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. (2 Tim. 3:10-11). Most of these persecutions had been on Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 14), when Timothy was, perhaps, only a boy; but he knew all about them, and may have been an eye-witness of some. It was at Lystra Paul was stoned, and dragged out of the city, supposed to be dead: and it is very probable the boy Timothy was amongst the disciples who "stood round about him," when he "rose up, and came into the city." He must have known also how John Mark had turned back from the very path of service to which he was now called: yet he did not hesitate to follow Paul, though well he must have known it would be to share similar persecutions. I rather wonder how many of us would have done the same thing.

I think Timothy is a most encouraging example for young believers today. He was young, not strong in body, probably knew what it was to be despised. He seems to have been by nature, timid; and at times in much need of encouragement. He knew what tears meant. He knew the temptation to be a coward. (2 Tim. 1:7; New Translation). But I know of no fellow-servant whom Paul so delights to honour: listen to what he says of him: —

"Timothy, my dearly beloved son." (2 Tim. 1:2).

Of the fourteen epistles of Paul in the New Testament those to the Thessalonians are probably the earliest. His first great missionary journey (Acts 13:14), undertaken in company with Barnabas, did not give rise to any letter from him that we are acquainted with; and to none of the churches then founded do we hear of his writing, even in after years. But part of the fruits of that journey is seen in the conversion of Timothy, Paul's son in the faith, who, being well reported of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium on the occasion of Paul's second visit to those towns, then joined his company, to be ever after most intimately associated with him in the work. With Paul and Silas, Timothy was identified in the work at Thessalonica, and is mentioned with Silas in both letters to the assembly of the Thessalonians.

This young brother was associated with Paul in writing six Epistles; and his name is included in the salutation of a seventh: and we have two letters that were written by the Apostle to him. Paul sent him for special service to Thessalonica, to Corinth, to Philippi. We know he had been in prison for Christ's sake, and had been released. (Heb. 13:23). Paul had a number of companions and helpers, but this young man, weak in body, but strong in spirit, seems to have been the dearest to him, and the most trusted. It is this young man Paul chose to go to the assembly in Philippi, while he himself is unable to be with them. We never read, as far as I know, of any very great gift that Timothy had: though he did unquestionably have special gifts: (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6): but, as another has said, "It is not great talents, nor great scholarship, nor great preachers that God needs, but men and women great in holiness, great in faith, great in love, great in fidelity, great for God." O, my beloved young Readers, May you take courage by Timothy to seek to be men and women such as this!

Thus commended, Paul and Silas travelled through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. We see how the Apostle Paul’s labours persistently take him away from Jerusalem and Judea into the direction of Gentile lands. Further afield they go, to Derbe and Lystra, scenes full of happy and unhappy memories. There they come across a young disciple named Timotheus, or Timothy. He was well reported of by the brethren of Lystra and Iconium. Evidently there was something in this young man which drew Paul to him, and he would have him accompany them on their travels. He was the offspring of a mixed marriage. His father was a Greek, his mother, a Jewess; and he was uncircumcised. This was well-known in those quarters, and might have caused unpleasantness. So to remove this as a cause of offence, he circumcised him, so that there might be no hindrance to the work. Being the son of a Jewess, in the ordinary way Timothy would have been circumcised, as a national custom, when eight days old. Hence the action of Paul.