Timothy

Biblical Record

Timothy first appears in Acts 16. He is introduced as a disciple living in Lystra when Paul arrived there. His mother was a believing Jewish woman, and his father was a Greek (Acts 16:1). Because the brethren at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him, Paul took him as a traveling companion. Out of consideration for the Jews in that region, Paul circumcised him (Acts 16:3). 2 Timothy 1:5 says that the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice was passed on to him, and 3:15 says that he had known the Scriptures from childhood.

Timothy later accompanied Paul on his travels together with Silas (Acts 17:14–15; 18:5; 20:4). Paul sent him in his place to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:2), Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17), and Philippi (Philippians 2:19). Paul also had him remain in Ephesus to correct false teaching (1 Timothy 1:3). Hebrews 13:23 reports that Timothy had been set at liberty.

Significance in Scripture

Timothy is among the coworkers most frequently named in the Pauline epistles. Second Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon open in the names of Paul and Timothy. In Romans 16:21 Paul calls him "my workfellow," and in 1 Timothy 1:2 "my own son in the faith." 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, together with Titus, are known as the Pastoral Epistles (letters giving instruction on church order and teaching to a minister responsible for the care of a church). Timothy was exhorted to stir up the gift he had received together with the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). He was also exhorted not to let anyone despise his youth (1 Timothy 4:12).

Interpretation and Debated Issues

• Authorship of the Pastoral Epistles: Traditional interpretation and conservative scholars hold that Paul wrote them himself. Many critical scholars hold that his disciples wrote them in Paul's name after his death.
• Who laid on hands: First Timothy 4:14 speaks of "the laying on of the hands of the presbytery," while 2 Timothy 1:6 refers to the laying on of Paul's own hands. Presbyterians cite the former verse as grounds for ordination by a body of elders (the presbytery) acting together. Churches with episcopal polity sometimes emphasize the latter verse as well.
• Circumcision: Timothy's circumcision is compared with the fact that Titus was not circumcised (Galatians 2:3). The contrast is read as illustrating the relationship between the freedom of the gospel and accommodation for the sake of mission.
• First Timothy 2:12 is cited in debates over the ordination of women, and the instruction to "use a little wine" in 5:23 is cited in debates over alcohol and tobacco.
• Extrabiblical tradition: Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History records Timothy as the first bishop of Ephesus. Later tradition holds that he was martyred, but Scripture contains no such record.

In the Korean Church

The qualifications for bishops and deacons in 1 Timothy 3 are frequently addressed in sermons at ordination and installation services and in training for church officers. The words of 2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season," are commonly quoted at services for the ordination and installation of pastors. Second Timothy 3:16 is used as a proof text in explaining the inspiration of Scripture and biblical inerrancy. The faith of Timothy's grandmother and mother often features in sermons on passing the faith down within the family. The relationship between Paul and Timothy is cited as a model for discipleship training and one-to-one discipleship.