In Lystra, where St. Paul was stoned during his first preaching Journey, he encountered with the young man Timothy, in whom the apostle saw the possibility of spiritual leadership work. We see here, how God never forgets the labor of love, as in the same place the apostle suffered the agony of stoning, he plucked a joyful fruit, that brings pleasure to God’s heart; and that would become a blessing to many. It is the exalted grace of God that allows for affliction, while providing comfort one way or another.
One of the attributes of St. Paul is his paternal attitude. Here, he adopts Timothy, and cares for teaching and training him, the way he did with others, having given birth to them in Jesus Christ during his preaching. As a father, St. Paul was loving, compassionate, and wise. He wrote to his son, true in faith, two epistles that bore his name.
1- He was a disciple, who was probably baptized in his childhood, when his mother accepted the faith, the way the family of Lydia was baptized [Verse 15], and the Jailer and his household were baptized [Verse 33].
Some believe that Timothy has been one of the disciples who surrounded the apostle Paul after being stoned, and was baptized by him, as is clear from his saying: “Timothy, the true son in the faith” [1Tim 1:2], “My son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” [2Tim 2:1].
2- He accompanied him during his first preaching journey in Antioch Pisidia, Iconium, and Lystra, as it came in [2Tim 3:10-11], “You have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconiun, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me”.
3- The apostle probably dwelt among his family, and got acquainted with the details of their life, saying, “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” [2Tim 1:5]. His mother was originally a Jew who believed in the Lord Christ. Here St. Paul speaks of her and her mother with respect as believers whose life was attached to the teachings of the Lord Christ, and who enjoyed fellowship with Him. Here, it is fitting for us to stand with reverence to the mother and the grandmother, as we hear nothing about the existence of a Jewish synagogue in Lystra, and hence there was no religious care in the Jewish congregation there, and yet the mother and the grandmother played a spiritual role of piety in raising Timothy, who was fed since his childhood upon the uncorrupted milk of the Holy Book. This demonstrates the important role of the family in raising the new generation, not depending completely on the care of the church or on the ministers.
• "For the praises of our ancestors, when we share in them, redound also to us. Otherwise they avail nothing, but rather condemn us". [1]
St. John Chrysostom
• Commenting on Timothy’s Jewish background, Paul confirms his faith, as there is nothing to support man like a reference to his family. [2]
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus
4- His father was a Gentile Greek; and although it was not allowed for a Jewish girl to marry a Gentile [Deut 7:3]; [Ezra 9:12]; yet that statute was only followed within the boundaries of Canaan. And as the father was a Gentile and not a Jew, he did not have to circumcise Timothy. But the mother and the grandmother sew the seed of faith in God in the infant, that he longed to get circumcised, as a sign of entry into a covenant with God, even before they both believed in the Lord Christ.
• "Thus, as these mixtures of Jews and Gentiles took place, the Law (in its literality) began gradually to be dissolved". [3]
St. John Chrysostom
5- Timothy has, most probably, accepted the faith during the first preaching journey of St. Paul. Because he was known as a good person by the Christians, as testified by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium, St. Paul chose him to be his companion, and trained him on preaching and shepherding.
6- St. Paul did not circumcise him for the sake of his salvation, but to calm down the Jews in Jerusalem, and to spare himself of being accused of opposing the law. The apostle Paul, amid the persecutions, has gained a valuable disciple who became a Bishop over the church of Ephesus, considered to be a treasure enjoyed by the church in Christ Jesus.
One of the attributes of St. Paul is his paternal attitude. Here, he adopts Timothy, and cares for teaching and training him, the way he did with others, having given birth to them in Jesus Christ during his preaching. As a father, St. Paul was loving, compassionate, and wise. He wrote to his son, true in faith, two epistles that bore his name.
1- He was a disciple, who was probably baptized in his childhood, when his mother accepted the faith, the way the family of Lydia was baptized [Verse 15], and the Jailer and his household were baptized [Verse 33].
Some believe that Timothy has been one of the disciples who surrounded the apostle Paul after being stoned, and was baptized by him, as is clear from his saying: “Timothy, the true son in the faith” [1Tim 1:2], “My son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” [2Tim 2:1].
2- He accompanied him during his first preaching journey in Antioch Pisidia, Iconium, and Lystra, as it came in [2Tim 3:10-11], “You have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconiun, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me”.
3- The apostle probably dwelt among his family, and got acquainted with the details of their life, saying, “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” [2Tim 1:5]. His mother was originally a Jew who believed in the Lord Christ. Here St. Paul speaks of her and her mother with respect as believers whose life was attached to the teachings of the Lord Christ, and who enjoyed fellowship with Him. Here, it is fitting for us to stand with reverence to the mother and the grandmother, as we hear nothing about the existence of a Jewish synagogue in Lystra, and hence there was no religious care in the Jewish congregation there, and yet the mother and the grandmother played a spiritual role of piety in raising Timothy, who was fed since his childhood upon the uncorrupted milk of the Holy Book. This demonstrates the important role of the family in raising the new generation, not depending completely on the care of the church or on the ministers.
• "For the praises of our ancestors, when we share in them, redound also to us. Otherwise they avail nothing, but rather condemn us". [1]
St. John Chrysostom
• Commenting on Timothy’s Jewish background, Paul confirms his faith, as there is nothing to support man like a reference to his family. [2]
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus
4- His father was a Gentile Greek; and although it was not allowed for a Jewish girl to marry a Gentile [Deut 7:3]; [Ezra 9:12]; yet that statute was only followed within the boundaries of Canaan. And as the father was a Gentile and not a Jew, he did not have to circumcise Timothy. But the mother and the grandmother sew the seed of faith in God in the infant, that he longed to get circumcised, as a sign of entry into a covenant with God, even before they both believed in the Lord Christ.
• "Thus, as these mixtures of Jews and Gentiles took place, the Law (in its literality) began gradually to be dissolved". [3]
St. John Chrysostom
5- Timothy has, most probably, accepted the faith during the first preaching journey of St. Paul. Because he was known as a good person by the Christians, as testified by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium, St. Paul chose him to be his companion, and trained him on preaching and shepherding.
6- St. Paul did not circumcise him for the sake of his salvation, but to calm down the Jews in Jerusalem, and to spare himself of being accused of opposing the law. The apostle Paul, amid the persecutions, has gained a valuable disciple who became a Bishop over the church of Ephesus, considered to be a treasure enjoyed by the church in Christ Jesus.
Footnote
[1] Hom. On [2Tim 2].
[2] Interpretation on [2Tim 1:5].
[3] Hom. On 2 Tim. Hom. 1.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2025-03-16 Source: Title: Acts of the Apostles Number of pages: 696 Translation: DR. GEORGE BOTROS |
Even if, for certain, the apostle had granted pardon of fornication to that Corinthian, it would be another instance of his once for all contravening his own practice to meet the requirement of the time. He circumcised Timotheus alone, and yet did away with circumcision.
 | Author: Tertullian of Carthage Rank: Author AD: 220 |
Great was the grace of Timothy. When Barnabas departed (ἀ πέστη), he finds another, equivalent to him. Of him he says, Remembering your tears and your unfeigned faith, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice. 2 Timothy 1:5 His father continued to be a Gentile, and therefore it was that (Timothy) was not circumcised. (a) Observe the Law already broken. Or if not so, I suppose he was born after the preaching of the Gospel but this is perhaps not so. (c) He was about to make him a bishop, and it was not meet that he should be uncircumcised. (e) And this was not a small matter, seeing it offended after so long a time: (b) for from a child, he says, you have known the Holy Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:15 (d) And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep.
 | Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
