The Spirit of Timothy: Identity

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra.  A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.  He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.  Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.  -Acts 16:1-3 (ESV)

We are first introduced to Timothy in Acts 16 as “a disciple” who was “well spoken of by the brothers” in various cities of Asia Minor.  We further learn that his mother is a believing Jew and his father a Greek, most likely a pagan.  Paul, in meeting him and after hearing these wonderful things about him, decides to take Timothy on as his companion in evangelism and ministry.  Because Timothy, under the Law of Moses, was a Jew, Paul circumcises him in order that Jewish believers and non-believers alike may accept him.*

* The Law of Moses only requires that a person be born only of a Jewish mother in order to be considered a Jew.  Because he is a Jew by birth, Timothy is thus expected to follow the law - especially in regards to circumcision, which is the sign of Torah-observance.

Timothy, from the start, is a very interesting individual.  Such is his love for God and faith in Messiah that he, even at such a young age, has a very good reputation among the churches of Lystra and Iconium.  In the years following, Timothy and Paul developed such a relationship that he was called “my true child in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2) and “my beloved child” (2 Timothy 1:2)  We learn of Timothy’s spiritual heritage, even, in 2 Timothy 1:5-6 (ESV):

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands…

Timothy grew up in the spiritual influences of his grandmother and mother, of whose faith Paul speaks so emphatically.  He then refers to the spiritual gift of God through His Spirit that was given to Timothy through the laying of Paul’s hands.  Early on, indeed, Paul saw in God’s will a powerful purpose for Timothy’s life.

While there is no failsafe way to identify Timothy’s age, traditional teachings state that public ministry was not begun - especially in Jewish circles - until a man reached the age of 30 (see Luke’s reference to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry).  Based on 1 Timothy 4:12, we can definitely assume that, even after years in working with Paul, Timothy was still younger than 30:

Do not let anyone despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

This is a clear commandment to Timothy.  In a society and atmosphere where there was a “glass ceiling” barring elders under the age of 30, Paul wanted it to stop - and told Timothy that he should be given the respect accorded to an elder, especially given the fact that, at the time, Timothy was, in fact, an elder in the church in Ephesus by Paul’s commission.  We know by various studies by biblical scholars that this was at least ten years after the time of Paul taking Timothy on - which puts Timothy, at the oldest, around seventeen or eighteen years of age when Paul took him on.  Some Biblical scholars, in fact, would go so far as to say he was fourteen years old when Paul first took him.

There are many references to Timothy throughout Paul’s epistles. These typically commend him to the recipients of the epistle or are a note of greeting and encouragement.  Little biographical information is detectable from these, however, and they must constitute the kind words of a father and Apostle to his spiritual son and trusted companion.  Traditions are divided on the end of Timothy’s life.  Some state that he died under the Neronian persecution while other traditions state that he lived until 85 A.D. or 95 A.D.  Should these traditions be, in fact, correct, Timothy may very well be the “angel of the church in Ephesus” or Revelation 2.  From later letters of the Church Fathers, we can glean that Timothy or his successors did in fact turn the Ephesian church around to such a state that its love was universally renowned (see Ignatius’ of Antioch’s letter to the Ephesians).  The manner of death usually assigned to Timothy is being beaten to death by a pagan rabble.

What we see in the life of Timothy is an inspiration, a model for the youth of the Church to follow.  His very name meaning, “The praise of God,” youth should seek to live that call to praise in everything they do.  Christian youth must claim and lay hold to the spirit of Timothy and, in so doing, they may regain their place in the Church and have a great part in restoring revival.