One of the most beautiful experiences recorded in the life of the Apostle Paul began at the commencement of his second missionary tour. It was at Lystra that he met one who was to be his close and dearly beloved companion for the remainder of his life. "A disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman, who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him." (Acts 16.1-3). Paul had recently parted from his former companion, Barnabas, who had sailed to Cyprus with Mark, and Paul had chosen Silas to accompany him. Of this visit to Lystra made by Paul and his companion only one incident is told us but it happily affected the whole future of the Apostle. In his former visit he had converted the young Timothy, and it was in the house of the boy's mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois that he and Silas were probably received. The youthful Timothy was one of the best known and most lovable of the many who accompanied Paul in his travels. He adopted Timothy and regarded him as a son in all affectionate tenderness. Thus he addresses him, "To Timothy, my true child in the faith." (1 Tim.1.2). "To Timothy, my beloved child.. . I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers." (2 Tim. 1. 2-3 RSV) and he reminds the Philippians of his worth "how as a son with a father, he served me in the Gospel." (Phil. 2. 22). In spite of his shyness and timidity, coupled with his youthfulness, he was entirely united in heart and mind with the Apostle. Among his numerous friends and companions Paul found no one so genuine, so entirely unselfish, so sincerely devoted to the furtherance of' the cause of Christ, for "I have no one like him who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare." (Phil. 2.20). He was in fact, more than any other, the 'alter ego' (other self) of the Apostle. That their knowledge of each other was mutual is shown in Paul's letter to Timothy, "Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,…" (2 Tim. 3.10). In his yearning and often deeply wounded heart he had great need of a kindred spirit on which to lean for sympathy. In his distressing infirmities he needed the personal services of some affectionate companion and must have regarded the devoted tenderness of Timothy as a special gift of God to save him from being crushed by overmuch sorrow. Much as Paul loved Timothy, he loved the churches more, and if any church needed warning or guidance, Paul desired to know how it prospered. Timothy was required to overcome his shrinking modesty and to console the persecuted churches of Macedonia (Acts 19. 22. 1 Thess. 3. 2) and face the turbulence of Corinth (1 Cor. 4. 17. 1 Cor. 16. 10). In the Church of Ephesus he was an overseer (1 Tim. 1. 3). No name is so closely associated with Paul's as that of Timothy. Not only were two letters addressed to him but he is associated with Paul in the superscription of five. others; "Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother." (2 Cor. 1.1; 1 Thess.1.1; 2 Thess. 1.1; Phil. 1 and Col. 1.1). Timothy was with the Apostle Paul during the greater part of his second missionary journey.

He was with him at Ephesus (1 Cor. 16. 8-10), he accompanied him on his last voyage to Jerusalem (Acts 20. 4) and he helped to comfort him in his first imprisonment at Rome (Phil. 2.18-20). He was urged in the second letter Paul addressed to him to hurry from Ephesus, to take with him the cloak, books and parchments which Paul had left with Carpus at Troas and to join him in his second imprisonment before it was too late to see him alive. (2 Tim, 4.9 and 13). Some sixteen years had elapsed between the days when Paul took Timothy as his companion at Lystra and when he languished in prison. From there he wrote once more to his beloved 'son'.

This was the young brother whose companionship Paul secured. He was young, yet the quick eye of Paul saw in him the spirit of loving and faithful service. He read the indications of one of those simple, faithful natures that combine the glow of courage with the bloom of modesty.

(Quotations from the Revised Standard Version ‑ abridged from a former BSM article)