New Testament Men: Timothy

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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Timothy, or Timotheus, the receiver of two epistles from Paul — the first written perhaps from Macedonia, about A.D. 65, the second, from his Roman prison — was the son of a Greek father (whose name is not given) and a Jewess called Eunice. Evidently the father died while Timothy was young, and Eunice and her mother, Lois, brought up the boy Timothy to know the Scriptures. Prophecy had already pointed him out as the receiver of a gift from on high (1 Tim. 4:1414Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14); 2 Tim. 1:66Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6)); and the elders and Paul confirmed this (1 Tim. 4:1414Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14); 2 Tim. 1:66Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6)).
Derbe and Lystra were (Acts 16) cities of Lycaonia, a province of Asia Minor. It was probably at the first named that Paul found Timothy, for the Revised Version reads (Acts 20:44And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. (Acts 20:4)) “Gaius of Derbe and Timothy"; or it may be read “Timothy of Derbe.” The brethren of the whole neighborhood knew him and commended him to Paul as a companion in his travels, but, before starting, Paul circumcised him according to the law of Moses, the reason given being “because of the Jews.” Perhaps he was acting on the principle of 1 Corinthians 9:2020And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; (1 Corinthians 9:20), as he did on several occasions.
From Acts 16 to 20 Timothy frequently appears. He was with Paul at Berea, Athens (1 Thess. 3), and Corinth and accompanied him to Asia. It is easy to see how Paul loved and valued him: “My work-fellow,” “my beloved son and faithful in the Lord,” “our brother and minister of God, and our fellow-laborer,” he calls him, besides all that he says to him in his letters. From them we learn that he was Paul’s son in the faith; that, in spite of his youth, he was left in charge of the church at Ephesus, that he was weak in health and usually only drank water (would that all young Christians were as careful about strong drink as he was!), and that he was probably of a shy and retiring disposition. When so many had turned away from the aged Paul—all in Asia, Demas, Alexander, etc.—how glad Timothy must have been that God had enabled him to continue in the things he had learned and that he could thus be a comfort to one to whom he owed so much!
In the first epistle Paul hoped to go to him “shortly” (3:14), but in the second he was in prison at Rome and begs Timothy to come “shortly” to him and to bring Mark and his cloak and books and parchments before winter. Timothy himself is said to have been martyred at Ephesus in the reign of Domitian.
There is much that might be dwelt on in the lowly life, and certain personal details in the second epistle not to be found anywhere else, besides the interesting journeys of Timothy and Paul—all this must be left to our young readers to search into. But let us each ask ourselves, Am I seeking to walk in the steps of this young man? Could any servant of Christ find me of use to him in his service to the Lord? Young Christians ought to remember Paul’s words, “give attendance to reading"; (See 1 Tim. 4:12-1612Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:12‑16).)
I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psa.118:5, 6
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner"?
Then you’re just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who faileth not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at “Wit’s End Corner”
Is the “God who is able” proved.
ML-10/24/1976