TIMOTHY -"A Genuine Child in the Faith"

TIMOTHY was comparatively young when the Christian apostle Paul chose him as a traveling companion.  This began a partnership that was to continue for some 15 years. The relationship that developed between the two men was such that Paul could call Timothy "my beloved and faithful child in the Lord" and "a genuine child in the faith." -1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Timothy 1:2.  (Note: Don't get any nasty ideas, this was pure friendship) 

What was there about Timothy's personality that made Paul so fond of him?  How did  Timothy come to be such a valuable associate?  As what profitable lessons can we learn from the inspired record of Timothy's activities? 

Chosen by Paul

Paul found the young disciple Timothy when the apostle visited Lystra (in modern-day Turkey)  on his second missionary journey in about 50 C.E. Likely in his late teens or early 20's,Timothy was well spoken of by Christians in Lystra and Iconium.  (Acts 16:1-3)  He lived up to his name, which means "One Who Honors God."  From childhood, Timothy had been  taught from the Holy Scriptures by his grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice.  (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15) They had probably embraced Christianity during Paul's first visit  to their city a couple of years earlier.  Now, through the operation of holy spirit, a certain prediction indicated what Timothy's future would be. (1 Timothy 1:18) In harmony with that direction, Paul and the older men of the congregation laid their hands upon the young man, thereby setting him apart for a particular service, and the apostle chose him as  a missionary companion. -1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6) 

Since his father was an unbelieving Greek, Timothy had not been circumcised. Of course, this was not a Christian requirement. To remove a stumbling block for the Jews they would be visiting, however, Timothy submitted to this painful procedure. -Acts 16:3. 

Was Timothy previously considered a Jew?  Some scholars argue that according to rabbinic authorities, "the status of the offspring of intermarriage is determined by its mother, not its father." That is,  "a Jewish woman bears Jewish children."  Yet, writer Shaye Cohen questions whether such "rabbinic law of persons was already in existence in the first century C.E." and whether it was observed by the Jews of Asia Minor. After considering the historic evidence, he concludes that when Gentile men marriage Israelite women, "the children of these marriages were considered Israelite only if the family lived among the Israelites. Lineage was matrilineal when it was matrilocal.  When  the Israelite women moved abroad to join their Gentile husband, her children were considered Gentile."  In any case, Timothy's mixed parentage must have been an asset in the preaching work. He would have had no problems relating to Jews of Gentiles, perhaps enabling him to bridge gaps between them.  

Paul's visit to Lystra signaled a turning point in Timothy's life. the young man's willingness to follow the guidance of holy spirit and humbly cooperate with Christian elders led to great blessings and privileges of service. Whether he realized  it at the time or not, under Paul's direction Timothy would later be used in important theocratic assignments, taking him as far from home as Rome, the capital of the empire. 

Next time: Timothy Promoted Kingdom Interests 

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999