Faithful Timothy

I thank God,

Whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy,

Clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am  convinced is also in you.

Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgement. 2 Tim  1:3-6

Timothy was one of Paul's travelling companions on many of his missionary journeys. He is reputed to have co-written some of the epistles, he delivered the letter to the Corinthians. Timothy had Paul's heart. How valuable that alone is, to have a faithful friend and believer, who allows themselves to be mentored.

Timothy appears to have a tender heart and he is prone to stomach problems. He is no super hero but a faithful, committed Christian man. Timothy's father was a Greek and Timothy was uncircumcised but allows Paul to circumcise him so that he would not have problems evangelising the Jews on their journeys.

In this Epistle Timothy is now the bishop in Ephesus. Timothy is having to stand on his own, he no longer has his father in the faith with him.