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Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. Acts 16:1 CSB
Here is Timothy’s biblical debut. The man who would become the apostle Paul’s “dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17), recipient of two letters that became books of our Bible, is introduced as the child of a believing Jewish woman. “But his father,” the author of Acts tells us, “was a Greek.”
Luke may have meant that Timothy’s father was non-Jewish, from Greece, or both. The word but, however, seems to indicate a lack of Christian faith compared to Timothy’s mom. That was no impediment, though, to Timothy’s own acceptance of Christ and his growth in grace. The believers of his hometown of Lystra “spoke highly of him” (Acts 16:2), as did Christians in Iconium, a day’s journey away.
Timothy’s experience can (and should) be true of all of us, whatever “but his father” realities we face: was not a Christian, worked too much, was abusive, never came to ball games, acted hypocritically. Even great human dads sometimes disappoint their sons, if only by causing pain when they die.
As Ezekiel 18 plainly teaches, each of us is responsible for choosing to obey God. And He will gladly give us that power as our hearts incline toward Him.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a Timothy—respected for my present goodness no matter what challenges dot my past.
Here is Timothy’s biblical debut. The man who would become the apostle Paul’s “dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17), recipient of two letters that became books of our Bible, is introduced as the child of a believing Jewish woman. “But his father,” the author of Acts tells us, “was a Greek.”
Luke may have meant that Timothy’s father was non-Jewish, from Greece, or both. The word but, however, seems to indicate a lack of Christian faith compared to Timothy’s mom. That was no impediment, though, to Timothy’s own acceptance of Christ and his growth in grace. The believers of his hometown of Lystra “spoke highly of him” (Acts 16:2), as did Christians in Iconium, a day’s journey away.
Timothy’s experience can (and should) be true of all of us, whatever “but his father” realities we face: was not a Christian, worked too much, was abusive, never came to ball games, acted hypocritically. Even great human dads sometimes disappoint their sons, if only by causing pain when they die.
As Ezekiel 18 plainly teaches, each of us is responsible for choosing to obey God. And He will gladly give us that power as our hearts incline toward Him.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a Timothy—respected for my present goodness no matter what challenges dot my past.
