Timothy - Paul's Son in the Faith
e of the great lessons we learn from Timothy is to
Timothy soon began to serve not only as a companion to Paul in his
practice genuine faith.
travels but as a pastor. After all, he had been personally trained by
Illustration by Michaelone
Woodruff
of the most zealous of the apostles, Paul himself.
Timothy was quite young when he first met the apostle Paul. His father
was Greek, a gentile. His mother was Jewish, an Israelite. Some think,
based on comments in Paul’s letters to him, that Timothy was timid.
Yet a closer look tells a different story. He encountered persecution,
faced it and weathered it well.
Timothy kept company behind bars with Paul. More than once he
nearly died. He was a faithful courier for Paul. He served the church at
Ephesus, in Asia Minor, where members were predominantly gentile.
We can learn much from the young evangelist Timothy, a Greek to
gentiles, a Jew to Jews.
Timothy’s early years
It is encouraging to read about the faithful parents or grandparents of a
saint. Such is the case with Timothy. Scripture contains little direct
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information about him, but we can catch glimpses through the
thoughts and writings of others who knew and worked with him.
Timothy’s grandmother was named Lois, his mother Eunice. God
doesn’t shirk from mentioning the names of people who set themselves
against Him (as in Hymenaeus and Philetus, named in 2 Timothy
2:17), so it is encouraging to see how often God mentions the names of
some who honored Him, especially when He gives honor to a
disciple’s parents.
God sometimes works in a physical family, as He did here,
establishing Jesus’ faith in one family member so it can be
passed along to others.
Paul speaks highly of both Lois and Eunice. He wrote to Timothy: “I
thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did,
as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be
filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in
you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother
Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:3-5, emphasis
added throughout).
Let’s explore Paul’s commendation of Timothy’s grandmother and
mother. Doing so can help us better understand Paul’s high regard
for Timothy.
Faithful grandmother
Grandmother Lois was a Jewess, married to a Jew. Lois’s husband—
Timothy’s grandfather—is not mentioned, which suggests, according to
several commentaries, that he was deceased. God does things with
purpose, so there must be some good reason why Lois’s husband
wasn’t named.
God sometimes works in a physical family, as He did here, establishing
Jesus’ faith in one family member so it can be passed along to others.
Sometimes God uses the child in a more obvious way than He uses the
parents or grandparents, as happened with Timothy. The faith of God
can be nurtured, seasoned and matured as it passes through
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grandparents and parents to a child. It’s not only an honor for a parent
to serve in this way but a high calling.
In modern times, awash as they are in the technology of instantaneous
communication, nearly everyone strives for his 15 minutes of fame. We
know God doesn’t look at a saint’s worth in this way. He uses people in
different settings in different ways.
Every person is important to God. In Timothy’s case perhaps God used
his grandmother and mother to prepare him for His service. This
should be highly encouraging to all of us. God’s perspective extends
beyond the horizon while we often limit ourselves through
tunnel vision.
Faithful examples for Timothy
The crowning characteristic of Timothy was his unfeigned faith, which
he shared with Lois and Eunice.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please
God-“because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists
and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (NIV)
Abraham and Daniel prospered under circumstances that would have
defeated lesser men because they had this kind of faith. King Saul’s son
Jonathan exhibited genuine faith in God, though his father failed in
this regard. Faith and love for God go hand in hand. True followers of
God can do no better than to love and have faith.
Faithful mother
When Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, introduces Timothy, we
read about Paul journeying to Derbe and Lystra.
“And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy,
the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his
father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren
who were at Lystra and Iconium.
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“Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him
and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that
region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as
they went through the cities, they delivered to them the
decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and
elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in
the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:1-5).
Consider what these verses tell about the character of Eunice and
Timothy. Luke describes Timothy’s mother as “a certain Jewish woman
who believed” (Acts 16:1). She believed God’s Word and obeyed it. She
accepted Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah.
Consider Luke’s and Paul’s opinion of Timothy. First, the members of
God’s Church at Lystra and Iconium, two cities in Asia Minor, spoke
highly of Timothy’s faith as evidenced by his conduct. They
commended Timothy to those who passed their way, including Paul,
Luke and his companions. When Paul heard the good words these
members said about the young man, he determined to take Timothy
with him on his missionary journeys. Since Timothy’s father was a
gentile and his mother Jewish, and since Paul was aware that many
Jews lived in the areas Paul and Timothy would visit, he circumcised
young Timothy (Acts 16:3). This helped Timothy function as Paul did
within the multicultured world of the day, to be all things to all people
(1 Corinthians 9:19-22). To the gentiles Timothy could identify as a
gentile because of his Greek father. To the Jews he could identify as a
circumcised Jew.
Serving with Paul
Paul began to train and use Timothy to strengthen the churches in the
faith; the congregations increased in number daily (Acts 16:4-5).
Timothy soon began to serve not only as a companion to Paul in his
travels but as a pastor. After all, he had been personally trained by one
of the most zealous of the apostles, Paul himself. Timothy was to suffer
along with Paul in many of the apostle’s trials.
Timothy was a constant companion of Paul. In Acts 16:12 we read that
Paul and Timothy, along with Silvanus and Luke, journeyed to
Philippi. Years later, when Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian
Christians, he offered encouragement by informing them of his
intention to send Timothy to see them.
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“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you
shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know
your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will
sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not
the things which are of Christ Jesus.
But you know his proven character, that as a son with
his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I
hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes
with me” (Philippians 2:19-23).
Was Timothy timid?
Let’s pause to discuss the apparent contradiction that Timothy seemed
a little timid (2 Timothy 1:6-8) yet was one who was heralded as strong
in the faith (2 Timothy 1:5). How can we reconcile the two views?
We can better understand Timothy when we evaluate him through the
eyes of God rather than through the eyes of the world.
The world perpetuates the deceptive notion that might makes right,
that only the strong should survive. For society to take note of a man
he often must project an aggressively virile image, just as a woman
must display a sexually appealing, glamorous persona. With God such
is not the case. God looks on the heart, not on one’s attractiveness or
stature (1 Samuel 16:7). God is not impressed by anyone’s
outward appearance.
Timothy fit the mold of other notable Bible personalities. Moses, for
example, didn’t want to be God’s spokesman and even begged God to
choose someone else (Exodus 4:1: Exodus 4:10; Exodus 4:13), yet God
powerfully used him. The prophet Jonah ran from God’s calling to
warn ancient Nineveh (Jonah 1:3). Even Jeremiah tried to explain to
God why he was not the man for the job (Jeremiah 1:6).
It should be no surprise that Timothy might hesitate at times. He was
expected to be strong in the face of persecution and death. One could
scarcely spend much time around Paul without also receiving threats of
physical violence.
God tells us, again through Paul, that when He calls someone to
represent Him He often passes over the apparently strong of the world
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for those the world might consider as weak. Notice Paul’s revelation
about God’s methods: “Brothers, think of what you were when you
were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many
were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the
foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak
things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of
this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to
nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28, NIV).
What purpose could God’s choice of the weak of the world accomplish?
The next verse tells us why God typically uses the physically
unimpressive to accomplish His purpose. It is “so that no one may
boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:29, NIV). Don’t miss this key to
understanding how God works through human beings. If God used
vain, egotistical people to do His work, a work of humility and service,
how far would He get? It’s a contradiction of terms to utter “godly
service” and “arrogance” in the same breath. They can’t fit together.
Reconciling them is an impossible task.
For God to really be able to use a person, that person must come to a
recognition and acknowledgment of his human weakness. God can use
human beings who know they are weak. When someone knows he is
nothing to speak of physically, who knows he can’t save himself, God
can teach and lead that person to serve Him and mankind. Such a
person knows the credit belongs to God, not to himself.
Such was the case of young Timothy. Ultimately he proved to be
stronger than any robust, masculine character, for he would rely on
God for his strength. Timothy’s faith in God made him strong. This is
why God could use a young man who, to others, might have
seemed timid.
Paul and Timothy in Ephesus
Paul speaks of Timothy’s service with him in Ephesus. “Paul, an apostle
of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord
Jesus Christ, our hope, to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace,
mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I
urged you when I went into Macedonia-remain in Ephesus that you
may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to
fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly
edification which is in faith” (1 Timothy 1:1-4).
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Paul called Timothy his true son in the faith. When Paul said these
words, he was offering a compliment. He urged Timothy to remain in
Ephesus to oversee the congregation there. That duty included
insisting that others not deviate from God’s truth in any way.
Paul also charged Timothy with instructing others not to listen to lies
or myths about God and His truth, not to waste time in unproductive,
distracting issues. Paul wanted Timothy to teach others the matters of
faith that would build the congregations of God and encourage them to
avoid endless debates that would detract from their spiritual growth.
Paul moved on to Macedonia, leaving Timothy to care for the church in
Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). He instructed his protégé on how to care for
the congregation and proper worship (1 Timothy 1:1-20 and 1 Timothy
2:1-15), qualifications of elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-16),
teaching sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-16) and dealing with people (1
Timothy 5:1-25 and 1 Timothy 6:1-21). Paul urged Timothy: “If you
instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of
Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine
which you have carefully followed … Let no one despise your youth, but
be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in
faith, in purity … Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in
them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear
you” (1 Timothy 4:6-16).
These are but vignettes from the remarkable life of a young evangelist.
Space doesn’t allow for more in this article about Timothy’s early years.
Finally, let’s turn our attention to his later years.
Timothy late in life
Timothy apparently visited Paul in Rome when Paul was incarcerated.
In two of Paul’s epistles from prison, to the Philippians and Colossians,
he sent greetings from himself and Timothy (Philippians
1:1; Colossians 1:1).
It appears that Timothy was also imprisoned at one point,
since Hebrews 13:23refers to his being released. As He led Paul, God
was seasoning Timothy in the ways of a persecuted saint and minister
of Christ. We see no suggestion that he deviated from what Paul had
taught him. The Bible’s silence speaks eloquently. Legend has it that
Timothy continued to minister to the congregation in Ephesus and was
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martyred under the Roman emperor Domitian (81-96) or Nerva (96-
98) ( Unger’s Bible Dictionary , 1964, p. 1100). If this is true it would
not be out of character for Timothy to continue to work with the
church in Ephesus as a servant for another 20 or 30 years. Perhaps he
also served as an overseer for other congregations in Asia Minor
and Greece.
A positive conclusion
Paul chose young Timothy to serve with him based on the
recommendations of members of several congregations. Timothy
traveled with Paul, along with Luke, Silvanus and others. As an
evangelist, Timothy helped bring God’s truth to gentiles and Jews in a
galvanizing way.
Let’s end where we started, in the book of 2 Timothy. Paul wrote this
second letter from prison in Rome shortly before he died. As he drew
his letter to a close, Paul wrote: “… The time has come for
my departure.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not
only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2
Timothy 4:6-8, NIV).
These words make Paul’s opening comments that much more
poignant. He had begun by writing to his “beloved son”: “I thank God
… as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be
filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in
you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother
Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:3-5).
Paul encouraged Timothy to hold fast, to remain faithful, to keep his
calling in sight and to inspire others to do the same. Paul “greatly
desired” to see his beloved friend and longtime companion one last
time. “Do your best to come to me quickly,” he urged (2 Timothy
4:9, NIV). Other long-standing companions had deserted him (verses
10, 16). Time was running out for Paul and he knew it.
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We don’t know whether Paul and Timothy saw each other again, but
we do know that Paul and his son in the faith will be reunited under
the most positive circumstances. “I can tell you this directly from the
Lord: that we who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to
meet him ahead of those who are in their graves,” wrote Paul (1
Thessalonians 4:15, Living Bible). When Christ returns He will set up
the Kingdom of God at Jerusalem. “And in that day His [the Messiah’s]
feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the
east” (Zechariah 14:4). Timothy, along with Paul, will be with the
returning Christ, as will all God’s faithful servants through the ages.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven … And the dead in
Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And
thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
One of the great lessons we learn from Timothy is to practice genuine
faith. In this he followed the example of our Savior. You can find Jesus’
faith in His example and apply it by following His advice: “ ‘You shall
love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and
with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the
second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Matthew
22:37-40).
The young evangelist Timothy will always be remembered for his
genuine faith. May you be remembered likewise.
