Scripture Biography: Timothy

Timothy was the most trusted and the most endeared to the Apostle Paul's heart among all his yoke-fellows. "I have no man like minded" as Timothy. He was a Jew on his mother's side; both she and his grandmother Lois were of that faithful remnant who were waiting, amid the general apostasy of the nation, for the hope of Israel. Had they been resident in Jerusalem, they would have been found like Simeon and Anna, in the temple to await and welcome the infant Savior. They had "unfeigned faith" and accordingly the youthful Timothy was trained up in the knowledge of the Scriptures. "From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. 3:15. If this were more perseveringly done by parents, how much more often would the conversion of their children be the reward of their diligence.
It is likely that he received the truth at the first visit of Paul with Barnabas at Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:6, 20, 21). A youth so trained would imbibe the truth of a crucified Messiah by the mouth of such a one as Paul with great fervor and delight. There was time between Acts 14 and 16, for the word to have taken root, so that the depth and solidity of his character could be witnessed to and be well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that a bishop was not to be a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. "Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded." Titus 2:6. Before they go out towards others, they need to be deepened and exercised in their own souls. While in prison at Rome, one of Paul's sorrows arose from those who preached "Christ even of envy and strife." Phil. 1:15.
A Young Man Disappointed as to Barnabas, Paul's heart found a solace in Timothy. The Lord gave him a young man whom he could train after his own thoughts and send forth as his accredited agent upon any mission which required judgment. It may be that his "often infirmities" ballasted the precocity of his mind, and produced in him a depth of reflection, a quietness of manner, and a discrimination of character qualities so often found where there is weakness of body.
The personal affection of the apostle for Timothy breaks out continually. It is really like that of a father for a most loved child who reciprocates that affection. It appears more often in the second epistle. After a long course of fellowship in service, he had proved his worth. (2 Tim. 1:3, 4.) He seems to completely identify himself with Timothy and to suppose that he alone was capable of carrying on the work after his own death.
Paul could introduce him to the churches without fear, as an example, and as one in whom they could confide. Not only in the epistles does his name often appear with Paul's in the address, but he was frequently commending him as having the same single-eyed purpose as himself. Thus, "I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel." Phil. 2:20-22.
This love was not only a liking for the qualities in the man. No, he loved in this way, but he also loved in Christ and he loved too, because their views were thoroughly in accord in the service and faith of Christ. And here it may be well to allude to a guard which he had in the choice of such an instrument as Timothy.