Introduction to Timothy
Toward the close of Paul’s first missionary journey with the companionship of Barnabas, he visited Lystra It was in this city that Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, healed the man who had been lame from birth Because of this miraculous event the people immediately supposed that one of their ancient legends had come true, and that the gods had come down to them in the likeness of men And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker (Acts 14 11,12).
Paul and Barnabas would have no part of this, and desired only to give God the glory that was due to Him. After this incident had subsided somewhat, certain Jews of Antioch and Iconium who were opposed to the preaching of Paul arrived in the city They lost no time in stirring up the people against the Apostle Paul, and they stoned him and dragged him outside of the city, supposing him to be dead Events follow as recorded in verse 20 “Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas into Derbe. It is safe to say that Timothy, already a baptized believer, was one of those disciples who gathered around Paul and assisted him after the brutal stoning (2nd Timothy 3 10, 11) This is our introduction to the disciple Timothy who was to become accepted by the Apostle Paul as his ‘beloved son” (1st Corinthians 4 17).
Chosen to be fellow pilgrim
We do not hear any more of Timothy until Paul’s second missionary journey, when he revisited Lystra and Derbe (Acts 16 1) Paul immediately observed the spiritual growth of this disciple of Christ, and from the reports he received from the brethren of Lystra and Iconium, he recognized a valuable companion for future journeys When approached, Timothy was only too eager to associate him self with the Apostle Paul in the preaching of the gospel Paul realized that Timothy would be assisting him in preaching to the Jews, and the question of circumcision might become a stumbling-block This issue would be raised because of the nationality of his parents, his mother being a Jewess, and his father a Greek (Acts 16 3 and 15 1, 1st Corinthians 10 32,33) Before they continued with the second journey, Paul saw to it that Timothy was circumcised, not that he thought it was necessary for salvation, but that it might remove any excuse for the Jews not to accept his preaching (Romans 14 13 23, Galatians 6 15,16). The attachment between Paul and Timothy was progressive, and Paul describes Timothy as his fellow labourer” and ‘brother’ (1st Thessalonians 3 2) To crown all, he also calls him “son” (Philippians 2 19 22, 1st Timothy 1 2,18; 2nd Timothy 2 1).
Leaving Lystra with Silas and his new companion Timothy, Paul would never have any regrets for making this choice Through the medium of the Scriptures we journey with Paul in the rest of his travels and observe that in many of his journeys, full of perils and rigors, Timothy was a constant companion to him (Acts 17 14,15, 20 4) Paul saw in Timothy the result of sound counsel and good influence, and so sent him to various ecclesias to help them get established (Acts 19 22, 1st Corinthians 16 10) During Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome it was his earnest request for Timothy to visit him (Philippians 2 19-22).
Timothy’s parents and his spiritual training
We read in Acts 16 1,2 “A certain disciple was there, named Timotheus (worshiper of God), the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess, and believed but his father was a Greek” Probably Timothy’s mother may have been connected with those Babylonian Jews whom Antiochus settled in Phrygia three centuries before There may appear a little difficulty in the reading of the record, that Timothy’s mother, being a Jewess, was married to a Greek Such a marriage was not in harmony with the law However, history shows that among the Jews of the dispersion, and especially in remote districts where but few of the scattered people were established, that mixed marriages were very frequent. We are at liberty to suppose that in this case the husband was a proselyte. Timothy had received his Scriptural education from his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice (2nd Timothy 1:5; 3:14,15). Such education had prepared and equipped this young man with spiritual zeal and wisdom to go out as an ambassador for Christ.
Here is an example for those who are parents: “Train up a child in the way he should go . . . ” (Proverbs 22:6). We can do this by encouraging our children to attend Sunday School, youth classes and lectures. If we do this, read the Bible and offer prayer daily, ” . . . when he (the child) is old he will not depart from it” (the way—Proverbs 22:6). Your children, if prepared aright, may be chosen of God to be witnesses to this generation of His eternal plan of salvation.
Fellow companions on the highway to the Kingdom
Christ recognized the need and value of fellowship with His disciples. So when He sent them out to preach the gospel, the Scriptures tell us that He sent them out in pairs (Luke 10:1; Matthew 21:1). Peter and John are often mentioned together in their service for their Master (Luke 5:10; 22:8; John 20:2-5). Paul, as did his Lord, appreciated the companionship of those whose understanding sympathy and help were a support to him. He makes grateful reference to them in Romans, chapter 16. It was by means of this blessing given by God—the fellowship of brethren like Luke, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Aristarchus and others, that Paul was able with confidence to say: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
The exhortation is given to all those called of God, both young and old; there should be no dividing line, for there is always a mutual interest. God has brought us into His house, His ecclesia, and has given us our brethren and sisters. Let us overlook and conceal the small differences that may exist, and, like Paul and Timothy who were fused together with the love of Christ, walk steadfastly toward the Kingdom of God.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One