From the affectionate way in which Paul wrote of him, it would seem that Timothy was his favorite disciple. Timothy's father was a Greek, but his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were Jewesses (2Ti 1:5). They were probably converted during Paul's first visit to Derbe and Lystra (Acts 14:6-22). It is generally accepted that Timothy was born in Lystra (Acts 16:1-2). When Paul returned to that region on his second missionary journey after a couple of years, he was so impressed with young Timothy that he resolved to take him with him, probably to replace John Mark.
Timothy had excellent spiritual training under his mother and grandmother, and was "well reported of by the brethren" (Acts 16:1-2; 2Ti 1:5; 3:14-15). Strangely enough, he had never been circumcised, perhaps because his father was a Greek. But the father had little to do with his son's religious education and may have died early. There were certain prophetic indications that the young man was destined to important service in the cause of Christ (1Ti 1:18; 4:14). When Paul joined the local elders in laying hands on Timothy he received a charismatic gift, probably to equip him for his ministry as an evangelist (2Ti 1:6; 4:5). Before ordaining him, however, the apostle circumcised him, since he was going to labor in regions where many Jews dwelt. Normally, Paul held strongly that circumcision was unnecessary for the Christian, and strenuously opposed the demands of Judaizers that Gentiles should be circumcised before admission to church membership. In the present instance, however, he had Timothy submit to the rite so as not to arouse unnecessary prejudice among the many Jews to whom he would proclaim the gospel.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy traveled northwestward across the high tableland of Asia Minor and descended to Troas. There Paul had his significant vision of "the man of Macedonia" beckoning him to "come over and help" them (Acts 16:9). It was a call to evangelize Europe. They were joined by Luke, and hastened across the Aegean Sea to Neapolis.
There is no mention of Timothy in connection with the subsequent events in Philippi and Thessalonica, but it is virtually certain that he was in the company. He is next found at Berea where he was left by Paul to continue the work (Acts 17:10-14). Timothy later followed Paul to Athens and from there he was sent back to Thessalonica to help the brethren. Having fulfilled the mission, Timothy joined Paul at Corinth bringing a good report (1Th 3:6-7). As the name of Timothy appears in the salutations of both the epistles to the Thessalonians written from Corinth, and as he preached much in that city (2Co 1:19), it is clear that he labored in Corinth with Paul for some time.
The next mention in Acts of Timothy is in connection with his ministry to Paul during his long stay at Ephesus on Paul's third missionary tour (Acts 19:22). As there is no record of his ministering elsewhere in the intervening period, he probably accompanied Paul from Corinth to Ephesus, and then by ship to Caesarea on the journey to Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 18:18-23. After returning with Paul to Ephesus, Timothy was sent on a special mission across the Aegean Sea with Paul's first epistle to the Corinthian church (1Co 4:17; 16:10-11). He evidently did come back to Ephesus as planned (1Co 16:11), and then was sent with Erastus into Macedonia to prepare the way for a new stage of Paul's third journey (Acts 19:22; 1Co 16:5).
Timothy was with Paul in Macedonia when II Corinthians was written (1:1). He was again in Corinth with Paul when Romans was written (16:21). Then Timothy, with others, preceded Paul on his way back through Macedonia to Jerusalem, waiting for him at Troas (Acts 20:4-5). Timothy is not heard of between Paul's arrest at Jerusalem and his arrival at Rome, but he was with the apostle in Rome when Colossians, Philipians, and Philemon were written (Col 1:1; Phi 1:1; Phm 1:1). Paul expressed his intention of sending Timothy to Philippi in order to express his concern for the believers in that city (Phi 2:19-23).
During Paul's period of freedom after his first imprisonment, he left Timothy at Ephesus to attend to necessary church affairs (1Ti 1:3). The tradition that he was the first bishop of Ephesus is unsound, for his stay there was only temporary. As the apostle John soon afterward resided there permanently, Timothy would not have been the ruling elder or bishop.
In his last imprisonment in Rome, Paul had a tender yearning to see Timothy and he urged him to come "before winter." Where Timothy was then we do not know. Neither do we know whether he arrived before Paul's martyrdom (2Ti 4:6-9).
The numerous exhortations and injunctions to Timothy have caused many to believe that he was timid (cf. also 1Co 16:10-11) and needed Paul's support. The perilous times of Nero's reign called for exhortations to constancy, especially as Timothy was young and not robust in health (1Ti 4:12; 5:23). On the other hand, none of Paul's co-workers was more active than he, and none more trusted and beloved by the apostle (Phi 2:19-22).
Tradition alleges that he, like Paul, died as a martyr. A. M. R.