Biographical Information
Timothy’s name means: “Honored of God, “worshipping God” or “Valued of God.” He was the son of an unbelieving Greek man and a believing Jewish woman:
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek… Acts 16:1His mother, Eunice and grandmother, Lois, raised Timothy. His father had evidently passed away before Paul arrived on the scene. God was greatly blessed Timothy by providing him both a believing mother and grandmother. There was no synagogue in Lystra where he was raised, so all of his instruction came from those two, not from the community. What a credit to his mother and grandmother. They instilled in him a great love for the Lord and for the Word. They were both mature believers. This is documented twice in the Scripture:
…and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15His Relationship with Paul
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” 2 Timothy 1:5
Paul called Timothy his “child in the faith.” which refers to the fact that Paul brought him to spiritual maturity. In both letters to Timothy, chapters 1 verse 2, Paul refers to him as his “child in the faith.”
To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Timothy 1:2 NASBPaul ordained and circumcised Timothy:
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.” 1 Timothy 4:14 NASBSome wonder why Paul had Timothy circumcised when he understood that circumcision was a ritual related to the previous dispensation. Paul did not circumcise Timothy, as some theologians have written, to appease the Judaizers, but as sign of his spiritual maturity. Because Timothy ministered to Jews, he Paul had him circumcised as a Jew. Circumcision was a sign of maturity in Israel. Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised. Paul recognized Timothy as being a great man in the next generation of pastors, recognizing his spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1: 6-7
He served Paul faithfully, “as a son with his father,” accompanying him on many occasions.
But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Philippians 2:22Paul had no other so “like-minded” companion who constantly enjoyed his teaching:
But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 18:5
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3Timothy accompanied Paul to Philippi where he remained as their first pastor-teacher. Epaphroditus replaced him there.
...and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. Acts 16:12He pastored the Berean Church:
But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Philippians 2:22
But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.” Acts 17:14 NASBHe was pastor of the church at Thessalonica:
And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith… 1 Thessalonians 3:2He pastored the Corinthian Church, which demonstrated how much Paul trusted him. Paul sent him to them to bring them around from their reversionism. Though he appeared to become disillusioned then leaving, the fact of the matter is that the Corinthians rejected Timothy's teaching ministry toward them, so he left. Paul sent him to them, as was his perogative as apostle. The Corithians failed to respond to Timothy's teaching even though he was their divine provision for spiritual growth.
For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:17Timothy's Death
After Paul’s release from the Roman prison, they went to Ephesus where Timothy took on the pastorate there. He went into reversionism there, which motivated Paul to write 2 Timothy. Tradition says that Timothy was martyred during the reign of Domitian or Nerva while trying to stop a heathen procession.
