Timothy

A young disciple who became Paul's partner in the ministry and life-long friend. Paul calls him "my fellow-worker" but also affectionately as "my son whom I love" (1 Cor 4:17).

When Paul first met Timothy on his Second Missionary Journey in Lystra, Timothy was already a Christian, "whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek" (Acts 16:1). Though nothing is said about Timothy's father, in Paul's later reminiscence of him, he was "reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also" (2 Tim 2:5). (Having Jewess for both grandmother and mother, Timothy would have easily qualified for being a Jew according to modern Israeli laws, he would hardly have been thought of as a Jew at all in his time, especially since he was not circumcised.) We also do not know how it was that Timothy came to be a Christian; it is possible that he came to faith when Paul visited and evangelized the city for the first time on the early visit (Acts 14:6ff.). By now, however, the Christians in the city had good things to say of him, and Paul wanted to bring him along for the rest of the journey. Out of prudent deference to the Jews in the area, however, Paul had Timothy circumcised "for they all knew that his father was a Greek" (Acts 16:3).

From then on, Timothy became Paul's constant companion and assistant and, eventually, Paul could send Timothy to minister to the churches in Corinth (1 Cor 4:17), possibly Philippi (Phi 2:19), Thessalonika (1 Thess 3:2, 6), Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3). While contemplating a visit to Rome, he sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia probably to make preparations for such a journey (Acts 19:21-22). The extent of Paul's confidence in Timothy can be clearly seen in the many expressions he uses about the latter that the apostle does use of others; Timothy has "proved himself" (Phil 2:22), is "my son whom I love" (1 Cor 4:17), "he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am" (1 Cor 16:10), "I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare" (Phil 2:19), "as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel" (Phil 2:22), "my true son in the faith" (1 Tim 1:2), "I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy" (1 Tim 6:4).

Among Paul's last letters, the apostle—obviously in dire straits, with fellow-workers deserting the faith and him, with just a few friends around—appealed to Timothy to "Do your best to come to me quickly . . . do your best to get here before winter" (2 Tim 4:9 & 21). Once winter sets in the shipping lanes would be closed; if Timothy had tarried, he would not reach Paul by spring at the earliest, by which time it may be too late. We do not know whether the two were ever re-united but it is a testimony to Timothy's character that he had grown so dear to Paul. Heb 13:23 offers a cryptic remark about Timothy having been released from prison. Some have interpreted this comment to mean that Timothy did get to Rome in time to share in Paul's imprisonment. We cannot be sure and do not known what happened to Timothy after this. Traditions have that Timothy became bishop of Ephesus and died a martyr's death under Domitian or Nerva.