The name Timothy is found two different ways in the New Testament. Timothy is found 7 times in the bible. Timotheus is found 17 times in the scripture. Listed below are the references I have found. In them you can see how instrumental Timothy was in the establishment of the church. He had the distinct pleasure of being associated with many charter ministers of the church. His fellowship includes, Paul, Silas, Erastus and many other founders. He is seen in Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth and many places in Macedonia.
Timotheus Found:
- Acts.16
[1] Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
- Acts.17
[14] And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
[15] And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
- Acts.18
[5] And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
- Acts.19
[22] So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
- Acts.20
[4] And 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.
- Rom.16
[21] Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
- 1Cor.4
[17] For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
- 1Cor.16
[10] Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
- 2Cor.1
[19] For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
- Phil.1
[1] Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
- Phil.2
[19] But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
- Col.1
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
- 1Thes.1
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1Thes.3
[2] And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
[6] But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
- 2Thes.1
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Timothy Found:
- 2Cor.1
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
- 1Tim.1
[2] Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
[18] This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
- 1Tim.6
[20] O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
- 2Tim.1
[2] To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Phlm.1
[1] Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
- Heb.13
[23] Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Timothy was one of Paul’s ministry team members. Paul had originally met Timothy and Timothy’s mother and grandmother in Lystra. Timothy was a half Jew and half Greek. His family overall was well spoken of in the region (Acts 16:1-3). Paul took Timothy with him on his journeys and circumcised Timothy because of the common knowledge of his father being Greek. So Paul circumcised him for his Jewish heritage from his mother’s side. This allowed Timothy to go places where normally a Greek could not enter.
Scripture tells us that together, Timothy and Paul would go from church to church throughout the region and pass along the decrees that were ordained by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Eventually Paul developed Timothy into a mature disciple and evangelist. He soon confidently sent him on mission to different areas to act on Paul’s behalf and to establish and encourage churches in proper doctrine. Paul recognized that Timothy had exceptional character and an acute understanding of scripture for his age. When a church needed strength and encouragement in the face of persecution, Paul sent Timothy. When a church needed an example of godliness, Paul sent them Timothy. When Paul wrote letters of correction to churches, he included Timothy’s name next to his.
Paul even sent Timothy to the church in Ephesus to restore the proper teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ after some false teachers had corrupted the original teachings. This letter was sent to Timothy, from Paul, at Ephesus to give him guidance on how he should fulfill his mission. Tradition says this letter was written from Laodicea. This letter is effectively a leadership manual. I Timothy opens and closes with the commission of Timothy and has two sections that have instructions for the young pastor to aid him with the issues he will face. There are also 3 poems that exalt Jesus as the risen savior and King of the world.
1 Timothy is written to give Timothy encouragement in fighting the good fight. (1:18). He is warned against false doctrines and encouraged in the Grace of God. Then the Letter turns to the instruction of how the church should conduct themselves. It is always easier for a new manager to come in with an official letter of policy from his higher ups, then to come in and try to create policy on his own. So this letter establishes Timothies authority and the policies of the conduct of church members according to Paul who appointed him. The letter concerns with worship in the church to include prayer and the effective role of women in the church. Then it gives instructions on church leadership and the qualifications of the offices of the church. This all sets the foundation for the next part of the letter on the dangers to the church. Paul gives warning signs of the lurking dangers, and gives the proper defenses with which the church deploy. Part of this is how we should act with regard to one another. How we treat the elders, widows, and the younger alike. Then we see how we treat those around us in society, how we are to react in civil society and how we treat our masters and servants. Paul even goes further to tell us what the proper attitudes of a believer are towards False Teachers, Money, and Godliness. Then Paul gives one more encouragement to keep to the good doctrines that he has been entrusted with and to not be distracted by worthless pursuits into philosophy, false sciences, of other religious teachings.
Written ~65-68 A.D.
Written by Paul
1 Timothy has:
6 Chapters
113 Verses
23269 Words
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