Timothy's faithfulness

We have seen that disciples who displayed a high level of commitment were rather

likely to receive new names. We have good reason to believe that Timothy was

highly committed:

In 1 Cor. 4:17 Paul writes that Timothy "is my beloved child and faithful in the Lord".

Heb 13:3 tells the readers to "remember those who are in prison", and verse 23 says

"our brother Timothy has been set free". This strongly suggests that Timothy had

been imprisoned for this faith.

Christopher Hutson has argued persuasively that Timothy was not timid, but

courageous.(1) He points out that Timothy stayed behind in Macedonia when Paul

left for this own safety (Acts 17:14), and that Timothy returned to Thessalonica, even

after Paul had been forced to leave. (See 1 Thess. 3:1-5). All this further

demonstrates Timothy's commitment to the faith.

Paul rejected John-Mark, against the recommendation of Barnabas, because of his

lack of commitment (Acts 15:38). Paul, it seems, had high standards, and his

choice of Timothy (Acts 16:3) implies that Timothy had a high level of commitment.

Timothy is consistently highly acclaimed by Paul. In Phil. 2:20 he writes, "I have no

one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare". Rom. 16:21 places

Timothy first in the list of the eight people who send greetings. 1 Thess 3:2 has

textual variants, but the most probable reading has Paul describing Timothy as a

coworker of God. The variant reading show that early scribes were uncomfortable

with Timothy being given such a high honor.

Paul mentions Timothy as a co-sender in four of the seven undisputed letters (1

Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, and Philemon). He was Paul's most

faithful co-worker.

It is argued that the hometown of Timothy was not from Lystra, but Syrian Antioch,

and that Titus-Timothy travelled from Jerusalem to south Galatia. By accepting this

mission, Timothy (Titus) demonstrated a high level of commitment, for Paul and

Barnabas had been persecuted in south Galatia, and Paul had been stoned in Lystra

(Acts 14:19, 2 Cor. 11:25). John-Mark had decided not to proceed to south Galatia

(Acts 13:13; 15:37-38), presumably because of the opposition that he could expect

there. Titus's decision to go to south Galatia, despite of the dangers, shows great

commitment.

Given that Paul afforded Timothy much honor, it would not be surprising if he had

honored him with a new name. The new name may also have allowed him to hide

his identity to outsiders. This may have been important to him because of the stigma

of his mixed parentage, for example.

(1) C.R.Hutson, "Was Timothy Timid? On the Rhetoric of Fearlessness [1

Corinthians 16:10-11] and Cowardice [2 Timothy 1:7]', BibRes 42 [1997], pp. 58-73.