"To Timothy"

PROTEGE OF AN APOSTLE: 1 Timothy 1:2 (part 2)

Just who was Timothy?

His name (Greek Timotheos) means either "one who honors God" or (less likely, I think) "honored by God". It turns out that most of what we know about him comes from the New Testament, in which he is shown to be a protege of the apostle Paul. The son of a Greek (Gentile) father and observant Jewish mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois -- see 2 Tm 1:5), he traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys. Paul had met him at Lystra, and arranged for his circumcision as a Jew, for the sake of the mission to the Jews (Ac 16:1-3). The author of Hebrews tells us that a Timothy (presumably the same person) was imprisoned but then released, a sign of his suffering for the sake of Christ. He also had strong ascetic traits, for instance frequent fasting; hence Paul's encouragement to him to make medicinal use of wine (1 Tm 5:23).

Other early Christian sources tell us a little more. Eusebius (History of the Church 3.4) tells us that Timothy became the first bishop of Ephesus, and was evidently Paul's troubleshooter and undershepherd there, as Titus was on the island of Crete. That's suggestive, since tradition also tells us that the Blessed Virgin Mary Theotokos and John the Apostle both spent their last days at Ephesus, which may mean that Timothy was their pastor. If this is true, it's a second tie between the Theotokos and Paul, the other being Luke the Evangelist and (traditionally) first iconographer, whose first work was of the Virgin.

He is believed to have been martyred at Ephesus during the reign of the Roman emperor Nerva by enraged pagans, for honoring God (timo-theos!) by opposing idols.

Timothy learned this reverence of God on his grandmother's knee and at his mother's breast, and under the guidance and tutelage of his mentor Paul. A generation after the man from Tarsus laid down his life for the Gospel of Christ, Timothy followed, but not before serving long and well as the trusted leader of one of the most important sees of the Christian Church.

Lord, thank you for the example of Timothy, and for his faith. Enable us to learn well and to teach well, so that those who are guided by us and who follow us will also minister well and faithfully to your people, blessing Your own heart. Let me, also, be truly found to be "one who honors God". Amen.


Prince Frederick, Maryland (Providence)