Heidegger's Bible Handbook: 1 Timothy: Inscription

1. The inscription. A description of Timothy. The fictions of Metaphrastes, Lapide, and others, concerning him.

This Epistle is inscribed to Τιμοθέῳ γνησίῳ τέκνῳ ἐν πίστει, Timothy, my own son in the faith, 1 Timothy 1:2. That Timothy was born of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Luke related in Acts 16:1. His mother was Eunice and his grandmother Lois, both highly commended from the sincerity of their faith, 2 Timothy 1:5. Theodoret names Lycaonia[1] as his fatherland. From childhood he learned the holy scriptures, 2 Timothy 3:15. First, he became a disciple, that is, a Christian; afterwards, because of his liveliness of nature, readiness, and extraordinary faith, witnesses of which were the brethren at Lystra and Iconium, Acts 16:2, he was chosen by Paul as a companion in his travels; and finally, although young in age, yet advanced in the reputation of faith and virtue, he went forth as a συνεργὸς/fellow-laborer of Paul in the gospel in various legations for the sake of the Gospel and of the Church, and on that account highly commended by the Apostle, Romans 16:21;[2] 1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10, 11; 1 Thessalonians 3:2;[3] Philippians 2:20, 22. He was also imprisoned for the sake of Christ, but was released from prison, Hebrews 13:23. Finally, that he was constituted Bishop at Ephesus, is asserted by the Ancients, Eusebius in Church History, book III, section 4, Chrysostom, Theophylact, and others. And, that he succeeded John, Metaphrastes relates. The audacious fiction of Cornelius à Lapide, the frenzies of other Papists concerning Timothy, for example, that he was made Archbishop and Primate of all the Churches of Asia Minor; the Most Illustrious Crocius, once a Venerable Teacher, solidly refutes in his Prolegomena on 1 Timothy.

[1] In central Asia Minor. [2] Romans 16:21: “Timotheus my workfellow (Τιμόθεος ὁ συνεργός μου), and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.” [3] 1 Thessalonians 3:2: “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ (συνεργὸν ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ), to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith…”