Probably Tiinotliy's lirst missions were near his own home' Soon he became acquainted with the life of hardshij) and suticring tliat his master led, and so grew into his spirit that Paul calls liim his 'son in the Lord,' and tells the Corinthians that he can interpret to them his mind and practice (2 Ti 3'»- ", 1 Co 4").
In the narrative of Acts, Timothy comes rapidly into prominence after the Apostle lias crossed into Europe, where he now has Silas as his companion. In Philippi Timothy seems to have escaped im- prisonment ; in Bcroca he stays on with Silas to linish the work, and later joins I'aul in Corinth. He seems to have soon won his way into the trust and atl'ection of the Corinthians, for when, after the departure of the Apostle to Ephesus, troubles break out in Corinth, Paul first sends Timothy to compose the disorder, giving Iiim authority to speak in his name (1 Co 4''). 15ut the situation was too dirticult for Timothy to cope with, and he was replaced by Titus.
The two chief centres of Timothy's subsequent activity were Macedonia and Ephesus (Ac 19-'- -^, Ph 2>»- -", 2 Ti 1">- '» 4"). He took part in organiz- ing the collection for the Church of Jerusalem, though he seems not to have accompanied Paul thither (Ac 20*- "''*). But he rejoined him shortly after he reached Rome, and in the greetings of the Epistles to the Colossians and Philippians his name is associated with the Apostle's (Ph 1', Col 1').
The Epistles to Timothy, especially the First, present so many difficulties that they must be taken by themselves (see below). He is addressed as having charge of chirrches in the neighbourhood of Ephesus, and as being exposed to serious dangers and temptations. In the Second Epistle Paul, who is represented as being in prison, abandoned by his friends, his death impending, urges Timothy to return to Rome at once and bring Mark with him. The last gliraijse that we get of Timothy is in He 13-^, where it is announced that he has just been set free from prison, into which he may possibly have been thrown on his visit to the dying Paul. He was evidently a friend and travelling companion of the unknown author.
2. In ecclesiastical tradition Timothy is called the first bishop of Epliesus (Ens. HE III. iv. 6), and in the Acta Timothei of the 5th cent, he is said to have been made bishop of Ejihesus by Paul in the reign of Nero, to have become an intimate friend of the apostle John, and to have sutt'ered martyrdom under Nerva on 22nd .January, when Peregrinus was proconsul of Asia. These tradi- tions are the weaving of the legendary s]iirit.
3. The Timothy of the earlier Epistles.— Paul holds Timothy in the strongest atl'ection, and associ.ates liim with himself in six of his Epistles (1 and 2 Tlicss., 2 Cor., Ro 16-', Phil., Col.). As his son in the gospel, he understands fully the Apostle's mind and purpose, and is an example to the brethren of what Paul would have them become (I Co 4" le'"- ", Ph 2'^--'). He seems to have lacked strength of character, but his failure in reconciling the warring factions of Corinth did not cause him to lose the confidence of Paul or of the churches. He remains to tlie end lovable and beloved, the most intimate of his disciples, unselfish in his ministry (Ph 2'»-^).
4. The Timothy of the Pastorals.— Many of the features of the earlier Timutliy reiii.ain. He is the Apostle's beloved or true son (1 Ti V, 2 Ti 1- 2"), a close follower of, and moulded by, his teaching
(2 Ti 3'"- ")■ and the dying Apostle clin^ to him (2 Ti 4"-"'). In 1 Tim., however, there is also an unfavourable view of his character. He seems to have grown languid in the ]uMformance of his duties (1'" 4i*-'« G'"'"), to have yielded to the love of money (6"), to temper (.')'). and loan ill-considered asceticism (5^). Even in 2 Tim. he is jiresented as timid (I"), and as shrinking from sull'ering (2"). The Apostle addresses him as a youth and with urgent'}'. If this is an authentic attitude, it may possibly contain a reminiscence of disappointment at Timothy's development as a leader and teacher (1 Ti 4""'"), or it may exjircss an old manV fear for a disciple who was ditlidciit and prone to com- promise, whom he had always guided as a father guides a son, and whom be knew to be at his best when under a leader.
Jiilicher goes too far in saying that in 1 Tim. and 2 Tim. Timothy is addressed as the type of a joung bishop. He has not tlie position of the monarchical bishop of the type of Ignatius or Poly- carj). In 1 Tim. he is the representative of Paul in ii circle of churches, an apostle with a special com- mission. In 2 Tim. his function as an evangelist is not unlike that which he exercised in the situations set forth in Acts and the earlier Epistles.
LiTERATUKE. — See under Timothy asdTitu8, Epistles to, and, in addition, A. Jiilicher, *Timotheu8, der Apostelscliuler,' iu
PRK-i xix. 7si-7b8. R. A. Falconer.
TIMOTHY AND TITUS, EPISTLES TO. — 1. Purpose. — The Epistles to Timothy and Titus are conveniently, if inaccurately, called the Pastoral Epistles, because, in contrast to Paul's other letters, their object has been thought to be primarily that of equi|)ping his two lieutenants, Timothy and Titus, for pastoral work in two particular regions — Ephesus, with its circle of churches, and Crete. This is, however, too narrow a scope. The letters deal with a situation, and are only secondarily concerned with the personal equipment of Timothy and Titus, whose ministry is not essentially dill'cr- ent from that which Paul exercised throughout his churches (I Ti 4«, 2 Ti 4', 1 Co 4" W- ", Eph 3', Col V'^- ^ 4', 1 Th 3'-). They cannot be regarded as outlining the character and work of the ideal pastor, but are intended, especially 1 Tim. ami Titus, to impress upon the recipients the necessity of taking measures to preserve in its purity and strength the gospel wliicli they had learnt from Paul, in view of special false teaching already present in Ephesus and Crete and threatening to increase. In the face of error, Timothy must boldly preach the gospel, and he ami Titus must organize the churches with cajiable moral and spiritual leaders. The Si'cimd Epistle to Timothy is much more personal, and emiihasizes his duty as an evangelist in a ditficult situation.