Timothy

Timothy (whose Greek name means to fear or to honor God) was a first century Christian bishop who died about 80 CE. He is venerated as a saint by Christians honoring that rite.

Timothy was Paul's companion on many of his journeys. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are noted as eminent for their piety (2 Timothy 1:5). We know nothing of his father but that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1). Timothy is first mentioned at the time of Paul's second visit to Lystra (16:2), where he probably resided, and where it seems he was converted during Paul's first visit to that place
(1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:11). The apostle having been impressed by his "own son in the faith," arranged that he should become his companion (Acts 16:3), and circumcised him, so that he might be accepted by the Jews. He was ordained (1 Tim. 4:14), and went with Paul in his journey through Phrygia, Galatia, and Mysia; also to Troas and Philippi and Berea (Acts 17:14). Then he followed Paul to Athens, and was sent by him with Silas on a mission to Thessalonica (17:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:2). He then went to Corinth (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) with Paul. He was next reported with Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:22), when he was sent on a mission to Macedonia. He accompanied Paul afterwards into Syria (Acts 20:4), and then Palestine, where he was with him for some time. When the apostle was a prisoner at Rome, Timothy joined him (Philemon 1:1), where it appears he also suffered imprisonment (Hebrews 13:23). During the apostle's second imprisonment he wrote to Timothy, asking him to rejoin him as soon as possible, and to bring with him certain things which he had left at Troas, his cloak and parchments (2 Timothy 4:13).

According to tradition, Paul ordained Timothy Bishop of Ephesus in 65 CE, where he served for 15 years. In 80 CE, Timothy tried to halt a pagan procession of idols, ceremonies and songs. In response to his preaching of the Gospel, the angry pagans beat him, dragged him through the streets and stoned him to death. In the 4th century, his relics were transferred to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. The Church also numbers Timothy among the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus to preach the Gospel.

Two books of the New Testament bear his name: I Timothy and II Timothy. These are traditionally believed to have been written by the Apostle Paul to the Apostle Timothy.

Timothy is also the name of a grass, see Timothy-grass.