Timothy Promoted Kingdom Interests

We possess only a partial record of  Timothy's activities, but he traveled widely to promote Kingdom interests.  Timothy's  first journey with Paul and Silas in 50 C.E.  took him through Asia Minor and into Europe.  There he shared in preaching campaigns in Philippi, Thessalonica and Beroea. After opposition caused Paul to move on to Athens, Timothy and Silas were left behind in Beroea to look after the group of disciples that had been formed there.  (Acts 16: 6-17:14) Later, Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to strengthen the new congregation there.  Timothy bore good news on its progress when he met Paul in Corinth. -Acts 18:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-7.

The Scriptures do not say how long Timothy stayed with the Corinthians.  (2 Corinthians 1:19)  Probably in about 55 C.E., however, Paul considered sending him back to them because he had received disturbing news about their situation.  (1 Corinthians 4:17;  16:10) Later, with Erastus, Timothy was sent from Ephesus to Macedonia.  And when Paul wrote to the Roman from Corinth.  Timothy was with him again. -Acts  19:22; Romans 16:21.

Timothy and others left Corinth with Paul when he set out for Jerusalem, and they accompanied the apostle at least as far as Troas.  Whether Timothy continued on to Jerusalem is unknown.  But he is named in the introductions of three letters Paul wrote from prison in Rome in about 60-61 C.E. (Acts 20:4; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1) Paul was planning to send Timothy from Rome to Philippi.  (Philippians 2:19) And after Paul's release from prison, Timothy remained in Ephesus at the apostle's direction. -1 Timothy 1:3.

Since first-century travel was neither easy nor comfortable.  Timothy's willingness to undertake many journeys for the sake of the congregations was truly commendable.  (See The Watchtower, August 15, 1996) Consider just one of his prospective trips and what this tells us about Timothy.

Next time: Light on Timothy's Personality

The Watchtower, 1999