Light on Timothy's Personality

Timothy was with Paul in Rome when the imprisoned apostle wrote to persecuted Christians in Philippi and said:  "I am hoping in Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I may be a cheerful soul when I get to know about the things pertaining to you. For I have no one else of a disposition like his who will genuinely care for the things pertaining to you. For all the others are seeking their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.  But you the proof he gave of himself, that like a child with a father he slaved with me in furtherance of the good news." -Philippians 1:1, 13,28-30; 2:19-22. 

Those words emphasized Timothy's concern for fellow believers. Unless he went by boat, such a trip called for a 40-day journey on foot from Rome to Philippi, with a short crossing of the Adriatic Sea, and then another 40 days to return to Rome.  Timothy was ready to do all of that to serve his brothers and sisters. 

Although Timothy traveled extensively, at times he was not in good health. He evidently had some kind of stomach trouble and experienced  "frequent causes of sickness." (1 Timothy 5:23) Yet, he exerted himself for the sake of the good news. No wonder Paul had such a close relationship with him!

Under the apostle's tutelage and through their experiences together, Timothy apparently came to reflect  Paul's personality. Thus, Paul could tell him:  "You have closely followed my teaching, my course of life, my purpose, my faith, my long-suffering, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, my sufferings, the sort of things that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra, the sort of persecutions I have borne."  Timothy shed tears with Paul,  was in his prayers, and slave by his side to promote Kingdom interests. -2 Timothy 1:3, 4; 3:10, 11. 

Paul encouraged  Timothy to 'let no man ever down on his youth.'  This may indicate that Timothy was somewhat shy, hesitant is asserting  his authority.  (1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Corinthians 16:10, 11) However, he could stand alone, and Paul could confidently  send him on responsible missions.  (1 Thessalonians 3:1, 2) When Paul recognized the need for strong theocratic oversight in the congregation in Ephesus, he urged Timothy to remain there to "command certain ones not to teach different doctrine." (1 Timothy 1:3) Though entrusted with many responsibilities, however, Timothy was modest. And despite any shyness  he may have had, he was courageous. For instance, he went to Rome  to assist Paul, who was on trial because of his faith. In fact, Timothy  himself suffered a period of imprisonment, likely for the same reason. -Hebrews 13:23. 

Undoubtedly, Timothy learned much from Paul.  The esteem that the apostle had for his fellow worker is amply testified to by the fact that he wrote him two divinely inspired letters found in the Christian Greek Scriptures. In about 65 C.E., when Paul realized that his own martyrdom was imminent, he once again summoned Timothy. (2 Timothy  4:6, 9) Whether Timothy managed to see Paul before the apostle was executed, the Scriptures do not reveal. 

Next time: Make Yourself Available!

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999