A popular view of Timothy is that he was a timid young man. There might be some truth to that, based upon Second Timothy 1:6-7, “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (NAS). Or consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am” (1 Corinthians 16:10).
Let’s briefly trace his life and see if Timothy really was fearful and apprehensive, and why it even matters.
Born into Humble Circumstances, Saved by Grace
Timothy was “the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek” (Acts 16:1). He was probably raised in a town called Lystra to an apparently unimportant family. His mother’s name was Eunice, and his grandmother was Lois (2 Tim 1:5). Perhaps the most unique aspect of his family was that his mother was a Jew, but his father was a Gentile.
Timothy was taught the Old Testament from the time he was a child (2 Tim 3:15). Eventually, Paul and Barnabas came to Lystra preaching the gospel (Acts 14:8-19, 21). Timothy’s grandmother and mother believed in Christ. The Lord used the combination of Timothy’s learning the Old Testament as a boy, the apostle Paul’s preaching, and his grandmother’s and mother’s conversions to bring him to faith in Christ (2 Tim 3:14-15).
Recommended and Trained
Paul came to Lystra on his second missionary journey. While there, Timothy was “well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:2). Consequently, “Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him,” he had him circumcised since his father was a Greek (16:3), and off they went. Perhaps before their departure, prophecies were made about Timothy’s ministry (1 Tim 1:18) and “the council of elders” (4:14) laid their hands on him affirming his giftedness and upcoming ministry with Paul.
Initially, Timothy isn’t mentioned in the account of the second missionary journey — the main men were “Paul and Silas” (Acts 16:19, 25; 17:4, 10). Where was Timothy? He was around, but Paul seems to have followed Jesus’ example with his apostles: “And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.” Being with came before being sent. Timothy is eventually mentioned along with Silas (“Silas and Timothy,” Acts 17:14-15), but as one man said, he first had to “let his beard grow.”
Sent and Entrusted
Timothy not only traveled with Paul on the second missionary journey, but also on the third (Acts 19:22; 20:4). These two were very close. Paul called Timothy “my true child in the faith” (1 Tim 1:2; cf. 2 Tim 1:2; Phil 2:20-22). They spent well over a decade together in the ministry. Timothy’s name even appears in the opening greetings of six of Paul’s letters (2 Cor, Philippians, Col, 1 and 2 Thess, Philemon), and once in concluding greetings (Rom 16:21).
Paul also frequently sent Timothy out for ministry. For instance, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy . . . to establish and exhort you in your faith” (1Thess 3:1-2; cf. Acts 17:14; 18:5; 1st Cor 4:17; 16:10; 1 Tim 1:3).
The popular view of Timothy as constantly timid needs to be tweaked at this point. Yes, the Corinthians were to make sure they didn’t frighten Timothy when he came to them (1 Cor 16:10; “put him at ease,” ESV). Yes, Timothy had “frequent ailments” (1 Tim 5:23). And, yes, Paul did steer him away from “a spirit of timidity” (2 Tim 1:6-7). But those verses don’t require us to call him “Timid Timothy.” Is that really a fitting description for someone Paul entrusted with so much ministry, including very early in their gospel partnership when he sent Timothy to engage in difficult ministry in the midst of a persecuted church (Thessalonica)?
Then at the end of Paul’s life, knowing death was near, he wrote to Timothy (2 Tim), pleading with him to carry forth the gospel ministry enterprise: “Share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God . . . Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (1:8; 2:1-2). Paul trusted Timothy completely.
What About You?
Most of us will never travel the world under the direction of a missionary. Nevertheless, Timothy’s life should encourage us. He was a normal young man, saved by God’s grace, who followed Christ. If he was characteristically timid, it didn’t keep him from hard and sometimes dangerous ministry. He had weaknesses, but he was eager and faithful, and the Lord used him extensively. He needed reminders about God’s power, and he even needed a little medical advice. I can relate to all of that. You? But Timothy pressed on, serving in the strength that God supplied.
Go and do likewise, even if you are typically timid. In fact, your weaknesses position you to be the kind of person the Lord will use: “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).