Acts of Apostles in the Early Church 

Timothy was converted during the apostle Paul's first missionary journey. He became a fellow worker on the second journey, which took the gospel across the Aegean Sea into Europe. (Acts 16:1,3)

Man & His Family

Timothy came from a mixed family--his mother was a "Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek" (Acts 16:1).

He learned faith at the knee of his grandmother Lois and this mother Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15). For Timothy to be useful in Jewish evangelism and accepted as a Jew, it was expedient for Paul to circumcise him.

A Gospel Worker

Timothy worked with Paul and Silas (also called Silvanus) to bring the good news of Christ to Europe. 

When Jews from Thessalonica followed Paul and his party to Berea and stirred up the crowds against them, believers sent Paul off to the coast and brought him to Athens, while Timothy and Silas stayed behind to do further work in Berea (Acts 17:13-15).

Later, Paul went down to Corinth, and Timothy and Silas left Macedonia and joined him there (18:5). Timothy and Silas wee partners in the mission and happy to work with Paul and under his direction. 

In Acts 19:22, Timothy is described with Reastus as one of Paul's "helpers" who was sent off to Macedonia while Paul continued to work in the Roman province of Asia.

Paul spoke affectionately of Timothy as "our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ" (1 Thess. 3:2)

A Young Leader

Paul apparently believed that Timothy was one of the promising younger leaders in the emerging church who could be called upon to give significant leadership when it was needed.

In writing to the Romans, Paul said "Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you (Rom. 16:21).

Also, Paul associated Timothy with himself in the opening words of greetings in Philippians by describing them both as "servants of Christ." 

1 & 2 Timothy

These writings must be taken seriously as a source of information about Timothy, despite the widespread tendency of modern scholars to disparage their importance.

The Pastorals (1 and 2 Timothy) have personal things to say about Timothy and Titus. Paul addressed Timothy as "my true son in the faith (1 Tim 1:2).

He reminded his young understudy of the things that had been said of him in earlier days: "Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.