Timothy in the New Testament

This series looks at the Apostle Timothy, a helper of Paul and later first Bishop of Ephesus and the city and book of Ephesus.

Corinthians 18-19 (Paul's time in Ephesus)
Ephesus (Paul's letter)
1 Timothy (Paul's letter)
2 Timothy (Paul's letter)

1 Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. [kjv]

τιμοθεω γνησιω τεκνω εν πιστει χαρις ελεος ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος και χριστου ιησου του κυριου ημων [gnt]

Timotheo … [v]

The name "Timothy" means, literally, "honoring God" or "valuing God".

The ancient Greek word "τιμή" ≈ "honor, value, worth".
The ancient Greek word "θεός" ≈ "god" which could be a pagan "god" or the one creator "God".

The KJV (King James Version) uses both "Timotheus" (19 times), a direct transliteration, and "Timothy" (9 times) as in the English name.

The modern Greek word "τιμή" (tee-MEE) ≈ "honor" and, in a literal sense, having "value".
The modern Greek word "θεός" (theh-OS) ≈ "god" which could be a pagan "god" or the one creator "God".

The name "Timothy" is not related to the word "timid" which comes from the Latin word "timidus" ≈ "fearful, timid" and has origins in the PIE (Proto Indo-European) root "TEMH" ≈ "dark" such as the Russian word "тьма" (tma) ≈ "dark".

1 Timothy 1:2

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KJV: Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Greek: τιμοθεω γνησιω τεκνω εν πιστει χαρις ελεος ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και χριστου ιησου του κυριου ημων

Latin: Timotheo dilecto filio in fide gratia misericordia pax a Deo Patre et Christo Iesu Domino nostro

*G5095 *24 Τιμόθεος (tee-moth'-eh-os) : from G5092 and G2316; dear to God; Timotheus, a Christian:--Timotheus, Timothy.

Usage

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τιμοθεος *12

Acts 16:1 ... was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, ...
Acts 17:14 ... but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, ...
Acts 20:4 ... Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus ...
Romans 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and ...
1 Corinthians 16:10 Now if Timotheus come, see that ...
2 Corinthians 1:1 ... the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God ...
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, ...
Colossians 1:1 ... the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in ...
2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in ...
Philemon 1:1 ... of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our ...

τιμοθεον *6

Acts 17:15 ... unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to ...
Acts 19:22 ... of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he ...
1 Corinthians 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my ...
Philippians 2:19 ... the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that ...
1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and ...
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, ...

τιμοθεου *2

2 Corinthians 1:19 ... and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea ...
1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you ...

τιμοθεω *2

1 Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, ...
2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, ...

τιμοθεε *2

1 Timothy 1:18 ... I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before ...
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane ...

Words: τιμοθεε=2 τιμοθεον=6 τιμοθεος=12 τιμοθεου=2 τιμοθεω=2

Some languages, such is Russian, do not have the "th" diphthong. In Russian, the name is pronounced as "Ti-mo-fee".

The Russian word "Тимофей" (ti-mo-fee) ≈ "Timothy" as in a persons name of "Timothy".

Sometimes Russian will convert the "th" to a "t" sound.

The Russian word "Тимоти" (Ti-mo-tee) ≈ "Timothy" as in a type of grass called "Timothy".

A grass or wheat called Timothy is named for someone whose first name was Timothy and otherwise has no connection to the name Timothy as used in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

A Greek word that is related to "honor" is the ancient Greek word "τιμωρία" ≈ "punishment" that comes from two Greek words.

The ancient Greek word "τιμή" ≈ "honor, value, price". (same as above)
The ancient Greek word "ὁράω" ≈ "guard" as in visually watching and is related to the Latin word "vereor" ≈ "fear" which is the source of the English word "revere" and the English words "aware" and "wary".

The modern Greek word "τιμωρία" (tee-mo-REE-a) ≈ "punishment".

The progression of the meanings appears to be as follows.

One watches to guard honor or value.
One avenges for guarding honor or value.
One is punished for violating honor or value.

Many organizations, including churches, have punished for violating perceived honor or value, even when that honor or value is not a well-founded belief or principle.

Acts 16:1 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: [kjv]

κατηντησεν δε και εις δερβην και εις λυστραν και ιδου μαθητης τις ην εκει ονοματι τιμοθεος υιος γυναικος ιουδαιας πιστης πατρος δε ελληνος [gnt]

The person of Timothy appears many times in the New Testament. Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother. As such, he had some understanding of both cultures. We find this in Acts 16.

The mother of Timothy was a believer which pre-disposed Timothy to be a Christian. Throughout history, Christian mothers, who seldom get recognition, have had a positive impact on their sons.

Acts 16:1

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KJV: 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:

Greek: κατηντησεν δε και εις δερβην και εις λυστραν και ιδου μαθητης τις ην εκει ονοματι τιμοθεος υιος γυναικος τινος ιουδαιας πιστης πατρος δε ελληνος

Latin: pervenit autem in Derben et Lystram et ecce discipulus quidam erat ibi nomine Timotheus filius mulieris iudaeae fidelis patre gentili

Wycliffe: And he cam in to Derben and Listram. And lo! a disciple was there, bi name Timothe, the sone of a Jewesse cristen, and of the fadir hethen.

Russian: Дошел он до Дервии и Листры. И вот, там был некоторый ученик, именем Тимофей, которого мать была Иудеянка уверовавшая, а отец Еллин,

Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine, and sister Anastasia (meaning resurrection) of Constantine provided a Christian influence on Constantine. He did not become Christian without any prior knowledge, though many speculate that his actions were a mixture of this influence and political and military expediency.

Many mothers and wives of early English kings gave their sons (future Kings) a Christian background.

We (in Sunday School) previously covered much of Acts 16 in our study of Philippians (and the city of Philipi).

Paul having a dream to go west to Macedonia (by it appears Luke) rather than east Anatolia (Asia Minor).
Paul calling the evil spirit out of the fortune-telling woman.
The owners getting upset and creating issues for Paul.
Imprisoned in the jail, the earthquake, conversion of the jailer, etc.