How old was Timothy when he was ordained by Paul?

February 26th 2015 | 107976 views 

Tradition has it that Timothy was about sixteen years old when he and his mother were converted to Christianity. Presumably, this occurred during the Apostle Paul’s visit to their home at Lystra. Paul had a close bond with Timothy as he addressed him as “my son Timothy.” (1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:2)  This was probably because Timothy first heard the Gospel through Paul. “I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also. Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:5, 6)​

When Timothy was about 21 years old, Paul picked up Timothy on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1). From that time on, Timothy was closely identified with the Apostle in his service of the truth. Paul left Timothy with the church at Ephesus so that Timothy might help them overcome some difficulties. It was while he was serving this church, that he received the two epistles which bear his name.

The book of 1 Timothy was written around fourteen years afterward when Timothy was in his early to mid-thirties. Since he was a younger man fulfilling the service of a church elder, the Apostle needed to write, “Let no man despise thy youth.” (1 Timothy 4:12.) In this scripture, the Greek word for “youth” is "neotes". The concept of “youth” was used to signify an adult of military age through the age of forty.

The Apostle Paul gave Timothy advice to seek the approval of God first before considering what others may think.  He urged him to “Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)  This verse teaches that the ability to understand the Word of God is gained through the study of His Word - not by studying men’s traditions or organized theology.

Timothy was recognized as an elder in the church because of his spiritual development and knowledge of God’s divine plan. By his aptness to teach, he was well qualified to feed the flock of God and to be an overseer of it. But Timothy was not a lord, not a ruler, and not a master--merely privileged to call believers to listen to the voice of the great Shepherd and his twelve chosen assistants, the Apostles.  

Let every child of God, the younger as well as the older, strive to be an example worthy of imitation--an example of one earnestly and faithfully endeavoring to copy the Master in his daily life. Let each of the Lord’s children individually realize his personal responsibility.  Let each one ask himself the question: Am I “an example of the believers”? (1 Timothy 4:12)

 

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