Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: Timothy is a significant figure in the New Testament, known for his close association with the Apostle Paul. He is mentioned in several epistles and is the recipient of two pastoral letters, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, which provide guidance for church leadership and personal conduct. Background and Early Life: Timothy was a native of Lystra, a city in the region of Lycaonia, which is in modern-day Turkey. His mother, Eunice, was a Jewish believer, and his father was a Greek (Acts 16:1). This mixed heritage gave Timothy a unique perspective and ability to bridge cultural divides within the early church. His grandmother, Lois, and his mother were both devout in their faith, and they played a crucial role in Timothy's spiritual upbringing (2 Timothy 1:5). Ministry and Relationship with Paul: Timothy first appears in the biblical narrative during Paul’s second missionary journey. Paul, recognizing Timothy's potential and good reputation among the believers in Lystra and Iconium, decided to take him along as a companion (Acts 16:2-3). To avoid any obstacles in ministering to Jewish communities, Paul circumcised Timothy, respecting Jewish customs despite the fact that Timothy was not obligated to follow them as a Greek. Timothy quickly became one of Paul’s most trusted co-workers. He is mentioned as a co-author in several of Paul’s letters, including 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Paul often sent Timothy on important missions, such as when he was dispatched to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the church there (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Pastoral Role and Letters: Timothy’s role expanded as he matured in his faith and leadership. Paul entrusted him with significant responsibilities, including overseeing the church in Ephesus. The pastoral epistles, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, are addressed to him and provide insight into his duties and challenges. These letters emphasize sound doctrine, church order, and personal integrity. In 1 Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy on various aspects of church life, including the qualifications for overseers and deacons, the importance of prayer, and the handling of false teachings. Paul writes, "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13). 2 Timothy is more personal and poignant, as it is believed to be Paul’s final letter before his martyrdom. Paul encourages Timothy to remain steadfast in the faith, to endure hardship, and to "preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul’s affection for Timothy is evident as he refers to him as his "beloved child" (2 Timothy 1:2). Character and Legacy: Timothy is portrayed as a faithful and diligent servant of Christ. Paul commends him for his genuine concern for the welfare of others, stating, "I have no one else like him, who will genuinely care for your needs" (Philippians 2:20). Despite his youth, Timothy is encouraged to set an example for believers "in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy’s legacy is one of dedication and service. His life exemplifies the impact of a godly upbringing and the importance of mentorship in spiritual growth. His contributions to the early church and his close partnership with Paul highlight the vital role of faithful leaders in advancing the Gospel. Smith's Bible Dictionary TimothyThe disciple thus named was the son of one of those mixed marriages which, though condemned by stricter Jewish opinion were yet not uncommon in the later periods of Jewish history. The father's name is unknown; he was a Greek, i.e. a Gentile, by descent. (Acts 16:1,3) The absence of any personal allusion to the father in the Acts or Epistles suggests the inference that he must have died or disappeared during his son's infancy. The care of the boy thus devolved upon his mother Eunice and her mother Lois. (2 Timothy 1:5) Under their training his education was emphatically Jewish. "From a child" he learned to "know the Holy Scriptures" daily. The language of the Acts leaves it uncertain whether Lystra or Derbe was the residence of the devout family. The arrival of Paul and Barnabas in Lycaonia, A.D. 44, (Acts 14:6) brought the message of glad tidings to Timothy and his mother, and they received it with "unfeigned faith." (2 Timothy 1:5) During the interval of seven years between the apostle's first and second journeys the boy grew up to manhood. Those who had the deepest insight into character, and spoke with a prophetic utterance, pointed to him, (1 Timothy 1:18; 4:14) as others had pointed before to Paul and Barnabas, (Acts 13:2) as specially fit for the missionary work in which the apostle was engaged. Personal feeling led St. Paul to the same conclusion, (Acts 16:3) and he was solemnly set apart to do the work and possibly to bear the title of evangelist. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 4:5) A great obstacle, however, presented itself. Timothy, though reckoned as one of the seed of Abraham, had been allowed to grow up to the age of manhood without the sign of circumcision. With a special view to the feelings of the Jews making no sacrifice of principle, the apostle, who had refused to permit the circumcision of Titus, "took and circumcised" Timothy. (Acts 16:3) Henceforth Timothy was one of his most constant companions. They and Silvanus, and probably Luke also, journeyed to Philippi, (Acts 16:12) and there the young evangelist was conspicuous at once for his filial devotion and his zeal. (Philemon 2:22) His name does not appear in the account of St. Paul's work at Thessalonica, and it is possible that he remained some time at Philippi. He appears, however, at Berea, and remains there when Paul and Silas are obliged to leave, (Acts 17:14) going afterward to join his master at Athens. (1 Thessalonians 3:2) From Athens he is sent back to Thessalonica, ibid., as having special gifts for comforting and teaching. He returns from Thessalonica, not to Athens, but to Corinth, and his name appears united with St. Paul's in the opening words of both the letters written from that city to the Thessalonians, (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) Of the next five years of his life we have no record. When we next meet with him, it is as being sent on in advance when the apostle was contemplating the long journey which was to include Macedonia, Achaia, Jerusalem and Rome. (Acts 19:22) It is probable that he returned by the same route and met St. Paul according to a previous arrangement, (1 Corinthians 16:11) and was thus with him when the Second Epistle was written to the church of Corinth. (2 Corinthians 1:1) He returns with the apostle to that city, and joins in messages of greeting to the disciples whom he had known personally at Corinth, and who had since found their way to Rome. (Romans 16:21) He forms one of the company of friends who go with St. Paul to Philippi, and then sail by themselves, waiting for his arrival by a different ship. (Acts 20:3-6) The absence of his name from (Acts 27:1) ... leads to the conclusion that he did not share in the perilous voyage to Italy. He must have joined the apostle, however, apparently soon after his arrival at Rome, and was with him when the Epistles to the Philippians, to the Colossians and to Philemon were written. (Philemon 1:1; 2:19; Colossians 1:1) Phil. ver. 1. All the indications of this period point to incessant missionary activity. From the two Epistles addressed to Timothy we are able to put together a few notices as to his later from (1 Timothy 1:3) that he and his master after the release of the latter from his imprisonment, A.D. 63, revisited proconsular Asia; that the apostle then continued his Journey to Macedonia, while the disciple remained, half reluctantly, even weeping at the separation, (2 Timothy 1:4) at Ephesus, to check, if possible, the outgrowth of heresy and licentiousness which had sprung up there. The position in which he found himself might well make him anxious. He used to rule presbyters most of whom were older than himself (1 Timothy 4:12) Leaders of rival sects were there. The name of his beloved teacher was no longer honored as it had been. We cannot wonder that the apostle, knowing these trials should be full of anxiety and fear for his disciple's steadfastness. In the Second Epistle to him, A.D. 67 or 68, this deep personal feeling utters itself yet more fully. The last recorded words of the apostle express the earnest hope, repented yet more earnestly, that he might see him once again. (2 Timothy 4:9,21) We may hazard the conjecture that he reached him in time, and that the last hours of the teacher were soothed by the presence of the disciple whom he loved so truly. Some writers have seen in (Hebrews 13:23) an indication that he even shared St. Paul's imprisonment, and was released from it by the death of Nero. Beyond this all is apocryphal and uncertain. He continued, according to the old traditions, to act as bishop of Ephesus, and died a martyr's death under Domitian or Nerva. A somewhat startling theory as to the intervening period of his life has found favor with some. If he continued, according to the received tradition, to be bishop of Ephesus, then he, and no other, must have been the "angel" of the church of Ephesus to whom the message of (Revelation 2:1-7) was addressed. ATS Bible Dictionary TimothyA disciple of Paul. He was of Derbe or Lystra, both cities of Lycaonia, Acts 16:1 14:6. His father was a Greek, but his mother a Jewess, 2 Timothy 1:5 3:15. The instructions and prayers of his pious mother and grandmother, and the preaching of Paul during his first visit to Lystra, A. D. 48, resulted in the conversion of Timothy and his introduction to the ministry which he so adorned. He had witnessed the sufferings of Paul, and loved him as his father in Christ, 1 Timothy 1:2 2 Timothy 3:10,11. When the apostle returned to Lystra, about A. D. 51, the brethren spoke highly of the merit and good disposition of Timothy; and the apostle determined to take him along with him, for which purpose he circumcised him at Lystra, Acts 16:3. Timothy applied himself to labor in the gospel, and did Paul very important services through the whole course of his preaching. Paul calls him not only his dearly beloved son, but also his brother, the companion of his labors, and a man of God; observing that none was more united with him in heart and mind than Timothy, Romans 16:21 1 1 Corinthians 4:17 2:1 Col 1:1 1Ti 1:2,18. Indeed, he was selected by Paul as his chosen companion in his journeys, shared for a time his imprisonment at Rome, Hebrews 13:23, and was afterwards left by him at Ephesus, to continue and perfect the work which Paul had begun in that city, 1 Timothy 1:3 3:14. He appears to have possessed in a very high degree the confidence and affection of Paul, and is therefore often mentioned by him in terms of warm commendation, Acts 16:1 17:14,15 18:5 19:22 20:4 2 Timothy 3:10 4:5. EPISTLES TO TIMOTHY. The first of these Paul seems to have written subsequently to his first imprisonment at Rome, and while he was in Macedonia, having left Timothy at Ephesus, 1 Timothy 1:2, A. D. 64. The second appears to have been addressed to Timothy in northwestern Asia Minor, during Paul's second imprisonment and in anticipation of martyrdom, A. D. 67. This dying charge of the faithful apostle to his beloved son in the gospel, the latest fruit of his love for him and for the church, we study with deep emotions. Both epistles are most valuable and instructive documents for the direction and admonition of every Christian, and more especially of ministers of the gospel. With the epistle to Titus, they form the three "pastoral epistles," as they are called. Easton's Bible Dictionary Honouring God, a young disciple who was Paul's companion in many of his journeyings. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are mentioned as eminent for their piety (2 Timothy 1:5). We know nothing of his father but that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1). He is first brought into notice at the time of Paul's second visit to Lystra (16:2), where he probably resided, and where it seems he was converted during Paul's first visit to that place (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:11). The apostle having formed a high opinion of his "own son in the faith," arranged that he should become his companion (Acts 16:3), and took and circumcised him, so that he might conciliate the Jews. He was designated to the office of an evangelist (1 Timothy 4:14), and went with Paul in his journey through Phrygia, Galatia, and Mysia; also to Troas and Philippi and Berea (Acts 17:14). Thence he followed Paul to Athens, and was sent by him with Silas on a mission to Thessalonica (17:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:2). We next find him at Corinth (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) with Paul. He passes now out of sight for a few years, and is again noticed as with the apostle at Ephesus (Acts 19:22), whence he is sent on a mission into Macedonia. He accompanied Paul afterwards into Asia (20:4), where he was with him for some time. When the apostle was a prisoner at Rome, Timothy joined him (Philippians 1:1), where it appears he also suffered imprisonment (Hebrews 13:23). During the apostle's second imprisonment he wrote to Timothy, asking him to rejoin him as soon as possible, and to bring with him certain things which he had left at Troas, his cloak and parchments (2 Timothy 4:13). According to tradition, after the apostle's death he settled in Ephesus as his sphere of labour, and there found a martyr's grave. Timothy, First Epistle to Paul in this epistle speaks of himself as having left Ephesus for Macedonia (1:3), and hence not Laodicea, as mentioned in the subscription; but probably Philippi, or some other city in that region, was the place where this epistle was written. During the interval between his first and second imprisonments he probably visited the scenes of his former labours in Greece and Asia, and then found his way into Macedonia, whence he wrote this letter to Timothy, whom he had left behind in Ephesus. It was probably written about A.D. 66 or 67. The epistle consists mainly, (1) of counsels to Timothy regarding the worship and organization of the Church, and the responsibilities resting on its several members; and (2) of exhortation to faithfulness in maintaining the truth amid surrounding errors. Timothy, Second Epistle to Was probably written a year or so after the first, and from Rome, where Paul was for a second time a prisoner, and was sent to Timothy by the hands of Tychicus. In it he entreats Timothy to come to him before winter, and to bring Mark with him (Comp. Philippians 2:22). He was anticipating that "the time of his departure was at hand" (2 Timothy 4:6), and he exhorts his "son Timothy" to all diligence and steadfastness, and to patience under persecution (1:6-15), and to a faithful discharge of all the duties of his office (4:1-5), with all the solemnity of one who was about to appear before the Judge of quick and dead. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (n.) Alt. of Timothy grass.International Standard Bible Encyclopedia TIMOTHYtim'-o-thi (Timotheos (Acts 17:14; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4 Romans 16:21 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 16:10 2 Corinthians 1:1, 19 Philippians 1:1; Philippians 2:19 Colossians 1:1 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 6 2 Thessalonians 1:1 1 Timothy 1:2, 18; 1 Timothy 6:20 2 Timothy 1:2 Philemon 1:1 Hebrews 13:23; the King James Version, Timotheus): TIMOTHY, EPISTLES TO See PASTORAL EPISTLES. Greek 5095. Timotheos -- Timothy, a Christian ... Timothy, a Christian. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Timotheos Phonetic Spelling: (tee-moth'-eh-os) Short Definition: Timothy Definition ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5095.htm - 6k 2131. Eunike -- "victorious," Eunice, the mother of Timothy 3090. Lois -- Lois, a Christian woman 4777. sugkakopatheo -- to bear evil treatment along with Library 2 Timothy i. 1, 2 1 Timothy i. 1, 2 The Second Epistle to Timothy Dwight, Timothy The First Epistle to Timothy Timothy and his Mother Eunice. 1 Timothy i. 9 1 Timothy i. 7-May 2 Timothy iii. 4-Jan 1 Timothy ii. 4-Feb Thesaurus Timothy-was (1 Occurrence)Timothy-was. Timothy's, Timothy-was. Tin . Multi-Version Concordance Timothy-was (1 Occurrence). 2 Corinthians 1:19 ... /t/timothy-was.htm - 6k Timothy (28 Occurrences) Timothy's (1 Occurrence) Piety (21 Occurrences) Avoid (31 Occurrences) Stedfast (84 Occurrences) Strive (64 Occurrences) Specially (26 Occurrences) Behaviour (115 Occurrences) Apostles' Resources Who was Timothy in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of 1 Timothy - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org What can we learn from what the Bible says about Paul and Timothy? | GotQuestions.org Timothy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Timothy (28 Occurrences)Acts 16:1 Acts 16:2 Acts 16:3 Acts 17:14 Acts 17:15 Acts 18:5 Acts 19:22 Acts 20:4 Romans 16:21 1 Corinthians 4:17 1 Corinthians 16:10 2 Corinthians 1:1 2 Corinthians 1:19 Philippians 1:1 Philippians 2:19 Colossians 1:1 Colossians 3:21 1 Thessalonians 1:1 1 Thessalonians 3:2 1 Thessalonians 3:6 2 Thessalonians 1:1 2 Thessalonians 1:7 1 Timothy 1:2 1 Timothy 1:18 1 Timothy 6:20 2 Timothy 1:2 Philemon 1:1 Hebrews 13:23 Subtopics Timothy: Circumcised; Becomes Paul's Companion Timothy: Confined With Paul in Rome Timothy: Joined Paul in the Letters: To Philemon Timothy: Joined Paul in the Letters: To the Colossians Timothy: Joined Paul in the Letters: To the Philippians Timothy: Joined Paul in the Letters: To the Thessalonians Timothy: Left by Paul at Berea Timothy: Left by Paul in Ephesus Timothy: Preached to the Corinthians Timothy: Rejoined by Paul; Accompanies Paul to Asia Timothy: Rejoined Paul at Corinth Timothy: Reputation and Christian Faith of Timothy: Sent Salutation to the Romans Timothy: Sent to the Corinthians Timothy: Sent to the Philippians Timothy: Sent to the Thessalonians Related Terms |