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People of the Bible
Who Was Timothy?
In short
Timothy was a young pastor and the apostle Paul's beloved protégé, whom Paul mentored through two heartfelt letters. Raised in faith by his mother and grandmother, he became a trusted leader.
Paul encouraged him not to let anyone look down on his youth, but to be an example to all believers, and Timothy served the early church faithfully.
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12 · King James Version (public domain)
Timothy at a glance
| Name | Timothy |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Acts, 1 & 2 Timothy |
| Key passage on this page | 1 Timothy 4:12 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Titus 2:7
- 2 Timothy 2:22
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- 1 Peter 5:3
- 2 Peter 1:5-8
- 1 Corinthians 11:1
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6
- 2 Timothy 2:7
- Titus 2:15
- Matthew 18:10
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Timothy in the Bible?
Timothy appears in Acts, 1 & 2 Timothy. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside 1 Timothy 4:12?
Readers most often set it next to Titus 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:22, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Peter 5:3.
Why does Timothy matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Timothy is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Father, you are already present in Timothy, before any of us arrive. We bring you Timothy, Acts, 1 & 2 Timothy. Teach us to love one another, as you have loved us. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read the key passage, 1 Timothy 4:12, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Timothy's story says about God, not only about Timothy.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Timothy
You can read the story of Timothy in Acts, 1 & 2 Timothy on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
