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Timothy — Paul's 'true child in the faith'

A young disciple of Lystra, son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice. Paul took him as a companion on the second journey and came to regard him as a son; two of Paul's letters are addressed to him. Tradition makes him the first bishop of Ephesus.

Role: Companion of Paul · bishop

Lived: c. AD 17 – c. AD 97

Born: Lystra

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Family & lineage

BibleA young disciple of Lystra, son of a Greek father and a devout Jewish mother, Eunice.

Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5

↳ Lystra

Death & legacy

ScholarlyTradition makes him the first bishop of Ephesus, where he is said to have been martyred.

Early church tradition

↳ Ephesus

Where in scripture

Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Philemon Hebrews

He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:1 — Joins Paul at Lystra

Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.
Acts 17:14

But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.
Acts 17:15

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 18:5

Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Acts 19:22

These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
Acts 20:4

Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.
Romans 16:21

Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
1 Corinthians 4:17

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.