We consider Paul to be the greatest Christian evangelist who has ever lived. However, Paul would not have been nearly as successful as he was had it not been for many of the men who assisted him in his great work.
All of these were from different backgrounds. Each has his own individual personality, but when blended with the power of the gospel, they themselves could be classified as great characters of the Bible.
If Paul ever had a favourite person, it would have been Timothy. To the Corinthians, he wrote, “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 4:17.
In 1 Timothy 1:2, he addresses him as “My true son in the faith.” Then in 2 Timothy 1:2, “To Timothy, my beloved son.” It is clear that throughout the ministry of Paul, he and Timothy maintained a father-son relationship.
Timothy was probably one of Paul’s own converts, who occurred on Paul’s first missionary journey when he came to Lystra, where Timothy lived, Acts 16:1. His mother was Eunice, a Jewess, 2 Timothy 1:5, who herself had been converted and was “a believer”, Acts 16:1, meaning a Christian.
In Acts 16:1, Luke refers to her as “a Jewess who believed.” Timothy also had a grandmother named Lois, 2 Timothy 1:5, who seems to be a Christian also. Paul attributes Timothy’s faith to the influence of his mother and grandmother, 2 Timothy 1:5. His father was a Greek but not a believer, Acts 16:1-3.
Timothy, also known as Timotheus, was a young disciple who travelled with Paul, Acts 16:1-3, and is mentioned in many of Paul’s letters. Timothy joined Paul on his second journey, Acts 16-22.
Paul, seeing his unfeigned faith and that from a child he had known the Scriptures of the Old Testament, 2 Timothy 3:15 and seeing also his Christian character, Paul wanted him to join him on this second journey.
Because he had never been circumcised, Paul took him and had this done, Acts 16:3. The reason why this had not already happened may be attributed to his father, who was a Greek and not a believer in Jewish tradition, Acts 16:1. This step was important in that Paul would be working among many Jews and Timothy being half Jew may have been rejected for not being circumcised.
At some point, Timothy was given the blessings of the elders through a prophecy uttered at some time, 1 Timothy 4:14. This would encourage him to preach the gospel. We must remember that at this point the New Testament had not yet been written; various gifts were necessary for men like Timothy to preach the truth.
Paul would have bestowed any gifts of the Holy Spirit which were necessary. From this point on, Timothy will become almost a constant companion of Paul, assisting him in his work of evangelising the Gentiles and establishing churches. Much information about Timothy can be learned from reading 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.