“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:1–2 (ESV)
I Timothy is the first of two inspired letters Paul wrote to his beloved son in the faith. Timothy received his name, which means “one who honors God,” from his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois), devout Jews who became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 1:5). They taught Timothy the OT Scriptures from his childhood (2 Tim. 3:15). His father was a Greek (Acts 16:1) who may have died before Timothy met Paul.
Timothy was a citizen of Lystra (Acts 16:1–3), a city in the Roman province of Galatia (part of modern Turkey). Paul led Timothy to Christ (1 Tim. 1:2, 18; 1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Tim. 1:2). More than likely, Timothy’s conversion occurred during Paul’s ministry in Lystra on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6–23).
When Paul revisited Lystra on his second missionary journey, he chose Timothy to accompany him (Acts 16:1–3). Timothy was very young (perhaps in his late teens or early twenties, because about 15 years later Paul still referred to him as a young man, 1 Tim. 4:12).
Timothy had a reputation for godliness (Acts 16:2). He would become Paul’s disciple, friend, and co-laborer for the rest of the apostle’s life, ministering with him in Berea (Acts 17:14), Athens (Acts 17:15), Corinth (Acts 18:5; 2 Cor. 1:19), and accompanying him on his trip to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4).
Timothy was with Paul in his first Roman imprisonment and even went to Philippi (Phil. 2:19–23) after Paul’s release. In addition, Paul frequently mentions Timothy in his epistles (Rom. 16:21; 2 Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; Philem. 1). Paul often sent Timothy to churches as his representative (1 Cor. 4:17; 16:10; Phil. 2:19; 1 Thess. 3:2). The Epistle of 1 Timothy finds the young man on another assignment, serving as pastor of the church at Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3). According to Heb. 13:23, Timothy was imprisoned somewhere and released.
More to come. I encourage you to read I Timothy today. Have a blessed one.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 