1. Timothy: His name means: "honoring God. He was Paul's spiritual son in the faith. (1 Cor. 4:17, 1 Tim. 1:2, 2 Tim. 1:2) He was Paul's traveling companion and fellow missionary during some of his journeys.

          2. Timothy was somewhat timid, yet was faithful servant of the Lord, (1 Cor. 16:10, 2 Tim. 1:7) and had frequent ailments (1 Tim. 5:23)

          3. Paul loved him deeply (Phil. 2:19-22) and it was an enduring relationship. (2 Tim. 4:9,21)

          He was younger that Paul. (1 Tim. 4:12) He was somewhat different from Titus Paul's other progeny in the faith. Titus was a leader, a resourceful and man of initiative and aggressive as was Paul.

          4. However, Timothy a follower and was shy, reserved. nevertheless he was obedient, cooperative and even did things that was contrary to his natural shyness. This proves that a person can overcome their natural weaknesses.

          5. Timothy is first mentioned in Acts. 16:1 It is inferred he was from Lystra. Acts 20:4

a. From a mixed marriage. Greek father and his mother a devout Jewess named Eunice. His grandmother Lois also devout and both taught Timothy the faith. (2 Tim. 3:15 ; 2 Tim. 1:5)

He was far removed from influence of other Jews, yet was brought up devoutly as a Jew by his mother.

b. Paul came and taught this devout Jewish family of Christ and they became Christians. On his first missionary journey.

c. As a child he was taught the Scriptures. Timothy was probably living at Lystra when Paul made his first missionary journey there and was saved. There is mention of Timothy until his second trip there, and it is believed he was under the care of the church at Lystra, until Paul returned.

d. Timothy was well aware of the sufferings of Paul and Silas. (2 Tim. 3:11)

e. On the Second Missionary Journey Timothy joined the Group.

          6. Paul had Timothy circumcised, because his mother was Jewish. Although brought up as a Jew, his father being a gentle probably was the cause of his not being circumcised.

In contrast: Titus was a Gentile and was not circumcised.

          7. Timothy was ordained but we do not know in what church. It could have been at Lystra or the church in Ephesus. In Acts 13:2 Paul and Barnabas were also said to be ordain by the laying of hands with prayer...however prayer is not mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:15. The act of laying on of hands, was an act of appointment and it conferred no spiritual power. It showed the church doing the ordaining had formally approved their appointment. (1 Tim. 4:14 and 2 Tim. 1:6)

          8. Acts 17:10-15. Timothy, on Paul's second missionary journey left at Bera, they later joined Paul at Athens.

a. He was sent back now to Thessaloncia for the purpose of strengthening the infant church there. (1 Thess. 3:1,2)

b. In Acts 18:1-5. Timothy and Silas joined Paul at Corinth.

          9. On the Third missionary journey Timothy was again with Paul and during his lengthy stay a Ephesus.

a. Timothy was sent to Macedonia and Corinth. (Rom.16:21)

b. He then returned to Macedonia. (Acts 20:3-4)

c. He was waiting for Paul at Troas. (Acts 20:5)

d. Was probably with Paul in Jerusalem. (1 Cor.16:3)

e. During Paul's stay in Rome in prison Timothy was a constant companion and contact. (Phil. 1:1, Col 1:1, Philemon 1:1)

In Philippians 2:19, Paul expected to be released and was to sent Timothy to them.

          10. Next at Ephesus Timothy is asked by Paul to remain there and minister. 1 Tim. 1:3.

a. 2 Tim. 1:4, indicates that he remained at Ephesus reluctantly, even weeping at the possible not being able to continue to minister with Paul.

b. There was false teaching in the church at Ephesus that would lead to possible heresy and licentiousness (it means to be morally unrestrained, not living by God's standards).

          11. Timothy as a young preacher had a difficult task before him.

1. He had to exercise rule over the leaders and men of the church and not allow them to compromise the Word of God and God's truth. Some of them older than himself. (2 Tim. 1:4)

2. He had to render judgments, in disputes and in church discipline. (1 Tim. 5:19-12)

"Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."

3. He had to teach and regulate giving in the church to the widows. 1 Tim. 5:3-10

4. He had to ordain pastors and deacons in the church. 1 Tim. 3:1-13

5. Timothy as a pastor and preacher of the Gospel, because of his calling and duties, ran the risk of beginning caught up in the disputes of rival groups in the church.

Paul expressed his anxiousness over Timothy remaining stead fast under these pressures.

          12. While at Ephesus Timothy received a letter from Paul and the letter is 1 Timothy. Later from prison Paul sent a second letter which is 2 Timothy.

The Bible does not say they ever saw each other again. Some believe Hebrew 13:23, indicates that did see Paul again before Paul's death and shared his imprisonment. I do not believe that Hebrews was written by Paul, but by Luke and if this is true it would shed any light on the matter.

"Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you." (Hebrews 13:23)

          13. Tradition says that Timothy returned to Ephesus and remained the pastor there until he was martyred under the persecution of the Roman Emperor Domitian or Nerva.

          14. The theme of the Book is found in 1 Timothy 3:15.

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15)
a. The book is addressed to pastors, yet has great importance and worth to every child of God in a church. v b. It goes without saying that if God instructs Pastors as to their duties and responsibilities, the members of the church should assist and do all they can to aid the pastor in following the Lord and leading the church. c. It points out for example, that disputes cause trouble and disrupt the church. It is clear Timothy was under great pressure because of disputes and dissension, because of people questioning his abilities and authority.

          15. Four purposes that God had in inspiring Paul to write these letters.

1. To encourage Timothy to oppose false teaching. (1 Tim.1:3-7,18-20, 6:3-5, 20-21).

2. To furnish Timothy with written credentials a authorize by Paul, and thus God Himself. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

3. To give instruction in church affairs and how to conduct the affairs of the church. (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

4. To exhort Timothy to diligence in the performance of his pastoral duties.

Each of us can be a cause of disunity, which is so distracting from the work of winning the lost to Christ...or we can be a part of the problem or the solution. We can be one who is a peace maker, an exhorter, a comforter.

Each of us can be an example of faithfulness or be a stumbling block to those God has called us to reach.

As we look at the instructions to Timothy we get real incites into the work of building a church that will bring glory to our Savior and God, and help us in winning lost souls to Christ.