Enter Timothy

Acts of the Apostles (36)

Introduction

In this place in Acts, we are first introduced to Timothy—Paul’s companion and co-worker over the course of the many years to come. As we get to know Timothy, we are going to get to know Paul better, and we are also going to see some areas where we can be strengthened and encouraged.

The Text

“Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem . . .” (Acts 16:1–8).

Summary of the Text

So Paul and Silas came back to Galatia, arriving at the towns of Lystra and Derbe. There was a disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Greek father and a Jewess mother, a mother who was also a Christian (v. 1). This young man had a solid testimony with the brothers at Lystra and Iconium (v. 2), also in Galatia. Paul recruited him to be a traveling companion in ministry, but circumcised him first because the Jews in that region knew that his father was Greek (v. 3). More on that curious event shortly. As they traveled through the cities, they delivered the decision of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem (v. 4). This was an extension and application of that decision, as we shall see. As a result, the churches were established in the faith, and continued to grow (v. 5). This apostolic band worked their way through the provinces of Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit kept them from going into Asia (v. 6). They came to a place called Mysia, and were going to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit prohibited that also (v. 7). So passing Mysia, they came to Troas (v. 8).

Keeping the Geography Straight

Mysia was the northwest region of modern Turkey, adjoined the Hellespont and the Aegean Sea. Troas was a city on the west coast of Mysia. Remember that Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe were all cities in Galatia. Note also that Paul delivered the determinations of the Jerusalem Council to them, even though the letter had been addressed to churches much farther east—in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Phrygia was a large region that the Romans divided into Asia and Galatia. Sometimes regional lines and state lines don’t match up exactly (e.g. Midwest, and Iowa). 

The Odd Case of Timothy

Many Bible readers have been baffled by the odd case of Timothy’s circumcision. What on earth could Paul have been thinking? In the early stages of the controversy, Paul had exulted in the fact that when he had brought Titus to Jerusalem with him, even though he was a Greek, Titus was not compelled to be circumcised (Gal. 2:3). And he had confronted a fellow apostle over just this issue at Antioch, charging him with hypocrisy (Gal. 2:11). And then there had been a momentous church council, which had decided the question the right way (Acts 15:19).

So then he comes to Galatia (of all places) and circumcises Timothy “because of the Jews which were in those quarters” (v. 3). What on earth? Was this an example of Paul winning a great victory and the collapsing? Like Noah getting drunk after the Flood? Or like Elijah running from Jezebel after his great victory on Mt. Carmel? Was Paul discovering the valley after the mountaintop? And on top of the incongruity of circumcising Timothy, the very next verse shows them delivering the liberating decision of the Jerusalem Council to the Galatian churches (v. 4).

No, this was not a Pauline collapse. To understand this, we have to piece a few clues together. Timothy’s mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were genuine believers (2 Tim. 1:5). Timothy had known the Scriptures from infancy on (2 Tim. 3:15). The word child in that verse is brephos—infant. He had been raised as a devout Jew, in other words. He was an observant Jew in every respect but one—he was not circumcised because his father was a Greek. The reason Gentiles should not be forced to accept circumcision is that they would then have to keep the entire law. But Timothy was already living as a Jew. Moreover, the fact that he lived, dressed, ate, and talked like a Jew, all while being uncircumcised, would have been obnoxious and offensive to Jews—as though he was LARPing or Cosplaying. So for Paul to circumcise him here was no inconsistency.

Titus ministered to the saints at Corinth, for example (2 Cor. 12:18). Timothy had been sent earlier (1 Cor. 4:17, 16:1), and it is quite possible they were there at the same time. If so, there would have been no incongruity in them laboring side-by-side.   

The Age of Timothy

All of this is happening in the late 40’s or early 50’s. Paul could have been executed as late as 67 A.D. From 49 to 67 is almost 20 years, and in Paul’s last letter to Timothy, he told him to “flee youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22). And in 1 Timothy, he had instructed Timothy not to allow congregants to despise his youth (1 Tim. 4:11-13). If he is still a young man in those letters, then he would have been a really young man when Paul first took him on as a ministerial assistant. I would estimate around 16-years-old.

The word elder can be used in two different ways. One refers to someone who is elderly. The other usage describes an office, one that would usually be given to a more experienced man. And example of that in English would be senator. It comes from a Latin world referring to an older man, but according to our Constitution a man in his thirties can become a senator. There is no scriptural ban on younger men being trained for ministry early—and being established in ministry early. At the same time, given the general eldership qualifications of proven lifestyle over time, it is wise to have the average age of your elder board be toward the gray end of the scale. But with that said, Paul told Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth as he, a younger man, engaged in the task of establishing elders. He needed to take his youth into account as he did so (1 Tim. 5:1), but nevertheless, he was the overseer establishing the government of elders.   

Then Am I Strong

As we go on, we are going to see that Timothy became a highly valued co-worker in Paul’s eyes. But for those who make snap decisions based on surface appearances alone, Timothy might have required some faith initially. Paul recruited him when he was very young. What could Paul have been looking at? Did he recruit him solely on the basis that he had the right kind of bright in his eyes? Moreover, Timothy appears to have been naturally timid—Paul has to encourage him to lean into suffering (2 Tim. 1:8), and not to be ashamed. On top of that, he may have been a sickly and frail man. Later on Paul had to tell him to take some wine for his stomach and frequent ailments (1 Tim. 5:23).

But nevertheless, despite these challenges, he is a “true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2), a “beloved son” (2 Tim. 1:2; 1 Cor. 4:17). Paul knows that Timothy genuinely cares for others (Phil. 2:19-22). He was a trusted co-worker (1 Thess. 3:2), frequently entrusted with important tasks (1 Cor. 4:17). Paul has confidence in his ability to imitate perseverance (2 Tim. 3:10-11).

So it is a mistake to think that Bible characters just floated above the ground, not needing to overcome difficulties the way we do.