Timothy

Timothy was a young disciple and close associate of Paul from Lystra in Lycaonia, the son of a Jewish-Christian mother named Eunice and a Greek father (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5). Paul circumcised him to make him acceptable to Jewish communities during their second missionary journey (Acts 16:3). He traveled extensively with Paul, was sent as Paul's emissary to troubled churches (1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:2), and eventually served as Paul's representative in Ephesus. Two letters addressed to him (1 and 2 Timothy) provide guidance on church leadership, sound teaching, and personal conduct; their authorship—whether Pauline or by a later disciple—is debated by scholars. Hebrews 13:23 mentions his imprisonment and release, suggesting he remained active in the post-Pauline church.