Home/History of Christianity/The People/Timothy
Timothy
Timothy was born at Lystra in Lycaonia. His mother was a Jewish Christian named Eunice, his grandmother was named Lois, and his father was a Greek. Paul chose him as a companion at the beginning of his second missionary journey because he was ‘ we'll spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium’ (Acts 16:2).
Timothy was born at Lystra in Lycaonia. His mother was a Jewish Christian named Eunice, his grandmother was named Lois, and his father was a Greek. Paul chose him as a companion at the beginning of his second missionary journey because he was ‘ we'll spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium’ (Acts 16:2).
Paul’ s Delegate
Timothy appears frequently in Acts and in Paul’ s letters. Paul refers to him at least seventeen times, and he is named as a co-sender of six of Paul’ s letters. Paul calls him ‘ my true son in the faith’ (1 Tim. 1:2) and describes him as having no one else like him (Phil. 2:20). Timothy functioned as Paul’ s delegate and troubleshooter. He was sent to Thessalonica, to Corinth, and to Philippi. He was imprisoned at least once for the gospel (Heb. 13:23).
Later Life and Death
Tradition holds that Timothy was the first bishop of Ephesus and that he was martyred there, probably around AD 97, during the reign of Domitian or Nerva. The fourth-century historian Eusebius reports that he was stoned to death for opposing a pagan procession. The tradition is not universal — some sources say he died peacefully — but the association of Timothy with Ephesus is very early.
“ I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare.”
Philippians 2:20“ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.”
1 Timothy 6:20Sources
- Acts 16:1–3; 17:14–15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1–6; 1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 2:19–22.
- Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 13 December 2006.
- Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.4.