“Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.” -Acts 16:1-5 (NKJV).
Silas was still with Paul as they visited the churches in Asia Minor strengthening them and delivering to them the decision of the Jerusalem Council that the Gentile believers did not have to undergo circumcision but “to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled and from blood” (Acts 15:20). At Lystra, Paul invited Timothy to join them on their mission. We learn from 2 Timothy 1:5 and 3:15 that his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois had taught him the Scriptures since he was a child. He was well-versed in the Jewish law and prophets, although his father was Greek (Gentile). Eunice had given him the name Timothy which means “honoring God”. In her devoutness, she evidently had hopes that her son would stand firmly for God. Paul in later writings (I Cor. 4:17, I Tim. 1:2 and 2 Tim. 1:2) refers to Timothy as his son (or child) in the gospel. Timothy was probably converted to the Christian faith on Paul’s first missionary journey (see Acts 14:6-23) when he was at Lystra.
Why, after the Jerusalem Council had decided that circumcision was unnecessary to salvation, did Paul have Timothy circumcised before they left on their missionary journey? This has been a measure of much debate. They would be witnessing to many Jews and because Timothy’s mother was Jewish, and he thus had a kinship with them, Paul deemed it advisable to have Timothy circumcised.
A long and profitable association of Paul to Timothy began at Lystra and continued throughout the Apostle’s life. He sent Timothy to represent him at Corinth and at Philippi. Paul lists Timothy as co-author of six of his thirteen epistles (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philemon). When Paul faced death in prison, he asked Timothy to go and be with him (2 Tim. 4:9). Timothy is an excellent example of what a person can become, having one older and experienced in the faith become mentor and “companion in the gospel.”
Why, after the Jerusalem Council had decided that circumcision was unnecessary to salvation, did Paul have Timothy circumcised before they left on their missionary journey? This has been a measure of much debate. They would be witnessing to many Jews and because Timothy’s mother was Jewish, and he thus had a kinship with them, Paul deemed it advisable to have Timothy circumcised.
A long and profitable association of Paul to Timothy began at Lystra and continued throughout the Apostle’s life. He sent Timothy to represent him at Corinth and at Philippi. Paul lists Timothy as co-author of six of his thirteen epistles (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philemon). When Paul faced death in prison, he asked Timothy to go and be with him (2 Tim. 4:9). Timothy is an excellent example of what a person can become, having one older and experienced in the faith become mentor and “companion in the gospel.”
c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, April 26, 2010
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