Timotheus

Timothy was a young disciple and co-worker of Paul, who accompanied him on his missionary journeys and later served as a pastor.

Timothy was a young disciple and close companion of the Apostle Paul. He is mentioned frequently in the New Testament, both in the book of Acts and in Paul's epistles. Timothy was from Lystra, the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother named Eunice (Act 16:1). He was well-respected by the believers in his hometown and in Iconium (Act 16:2). Paul invited Timothy to join him on his missionary journeys, and he became a valuable assistant and co-worker (Act.16.3; 17.14-15; 18.5; 19.22; 20.4). Paul referred to Timothy as his "true son in the faith" (1Ti 1:2) and sent him on important missions to churches in Macedonia, Achaia, and Ephesus (Act 19:22; 1Co.4.17; 16.10; Php 2:19). Timothy was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment and is named as a co-sender of several of Paul's letters (Php 1:1; Col 1:1; Phm 1:1). Paul also wrote two personal letters to Timothy, providing guidance and encouragement for his pastoral ministry (1Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:2). These letters, along with the letter to Titus, are known as the Pastoral Epistles. According to Heb 13:23, Timothy was imprisoned at some point but later released. Tradition holds that Timothy served as the bishop of Ephesus in his later years. Timothy's life and ministry exemplify the importance of mentoring, discipleship, and faithful service in the early church.

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 Tim. 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 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 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 Tim. 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 Thess. 3:2). We next find him at Corinth (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 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 (Phil. 1:1), where it appears he also suffered imprisonment (Heb. 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 Tim. 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.