For other people named Timothy, see Timothy (disambiguation).

Timothy (whose Greek name, Τιμοθέῳ, means to fear or to honor God) was a first-century Christian bishop who died about AD 80. He is venerated as a saint by Christians.

Timothy was Paul of Tarsus's companion on many of his journeys. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are noted as eminent for their piety (2 Tim 1:5). We know nothing of his father but that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1). Timothy is first mentioned at the time of Paul's second visit to Lystra (16:2), where he probably resided, and where it seems he was converted during Paul's first visit to that place (1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 3:11). Paul, having been impressed by his "own son in the faith", arranged that he should become his companion (Acts 16:3), and personally circumcised him because his mother was of the Jewish faith, so that he might be accepted by the Jews. He was ordained (1 Tim 4:14), and went with Paul in his journey through Phrygia, Galatia and Mysia; also to Troas and Philippi and Berea (Acts 17:is a mad manleft at Troas—his cloak and parchments (2 Tim 4:13). I

According to later tradition, Paul ordained Timothy as Bishop of Ephesus in the year 65, where he served for 15 years. In the year 80, Timothy tried to halt a pagan procession of idols, ceremonies and songs. In response to his preaching of the Gospel, the angry pagans beat him, dragged him through the streets and stoned him to death. In the 4th century, his relics were transferred to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. The Catholic church also numbers Timothy among the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus to preach the Gospel.

Two books of the New Testament bear his name: I Timothy and II Timothy. These are traditionally believed to have been written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy.

Saints | Ancient Roman Christianity | 1st century deaths

Timotheus | Timothée (chrétien) | テモテ | Timóteo de Éfeso | 提摩太