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Bible Dictionaries
Timothy
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
or A disciple of Paul. He was of Derbe or Lystra, both cities of Lycaonia, Acts 16:1 14:6 . His father was a Greek, but his mother a Jewess, 2 Timothy 1:5 3:15 . The instructions and prayers of his pious mother and grandmother, and the preaching of Paul during his first visit to Lystra, A. D. 48, resulted in the conversion of Timothy and his introduction to the ministry which he so adorned. He had witnessed the sufferings of Paul, and loved him as his father in Christ, 1 Timothy 1:2 2 Timothy 3:10,11 .
When the apostle returned to Lystra, about A. D. 51, the brethren spoke highly of the merit and good disposition of Timothy; and the apostle determined to take him along with him, for which purpose he circumcised him at Lystra, Acts 16:3 . Timothy applied himself to labor in the gospel, and did Paul very important services through the whole course of his preaching. Paul calls him not only his dearly beloved son, but also his brother, the companion of his labors, and a man of God; observing that none was more united with him in heart and mind than Timothy, Romans 16:21 1 Corinthians 4:17 2:1 Colossians 1:1 1 Timothy 1:2,18 . Indeed, he was selected by Paul as his chosen companion in his journeys, shared for a time his imprisonment at Rome, Hebrews 13:23 , and was afterwards left by him at Ephesus, to continue and perfect the work which Paul had begun in that city, 1 Timothy 1:3 3:14 . He appears to have possessed in a very high degree the confidence and affection of Paul, and is therefore often mentioned by him in terms of warm commendation, Acts 16:1 17:14,15 18:5 19:22 20:4 2 Timothy 3:10 4:5 .
EPISTLES TO TIMOTHY. The first of these Paul seems to have written subsequently to his first imprisonment at Rome, and while he was in Macedonia, having left Timothy at Ephesus, 1 Timothy 1:2 , A. D. 64. The second appears to have been addressed to Timothy in northwestern Asia Minor, during Paul's second imprisonment and in anticipation of martyrdom, A. D. 67. This dying charge of the faithful apostle to his beloved son in the gospel, the latest fruit of his love for him and for the church, we study with deep emotions. Both epistles are most valuable and instructive documents for the direction and admonition of every Christian, and more especially of ministers of the gospel. With the epistle to Titus, they form the three "pastoral epistles," as they are called.
These files are public domain and are a derivative of the topics are from American Tract Society Bible Dictionary published in 1859.
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Timothy'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ats/t/timothy.html. 1859.
