"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. … For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
— 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
People who search bible verses about Timothy want Scripture on Timotheos — the young disciple from Lystra with a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father, raised on the Scriptures by his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, whom Paul called "my true son in the faith," sent to the churches, and charged to set an example, fight the good fight, and correctly handle the word of truth — not only discipleship in general. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about Paul, Bible verses about discipleship, Bible verses about faith, Bible verses about courage, Bible verses about fear, Bible verses about the Word of God, Bible verses about mothers, Love and discipleship, and Bible verse of the day. Timothy here means Paul's co-worker and the recipient of 1 and 2 Timothy — distinct from generic discipleship lists.
Word study (lead theme). In Greek, Τιμόθεος Timotheos (Strong's G5095; Bible Hub G5095) — Timothy, "honoring God." Acts 16:1 calls him "a disciple named Timothy" living in Lystra. This list tracks that Timothy inventory — not a discipleship-alone twelve.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 1 dwells on Timothy's sincere faith, handed down from his grandmother and mother, and Paul's call to stir up the gift of God without fear (Bible Hub MHC 2 Timothy 1; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on 2 Timothy 1). (Discipleship and faith pages live elsewhere; this list centers Timothy the man.)
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12 Bible verses about Timothy
Acts 16:1-2. "Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him." Where Paul met him. See Bible verses about Paul.
1 Corinthians 4:17. "For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." Sent to Corinth. See Bible verses about the church.
Philippians 2:19-20. "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare." No one else like him. See Bible verses about friendship.
Philippians 2:22. "But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel." Like a son with his father. See Bible verses about servanthood.
1 Timothy 1:2. "To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." Son in the faith. See Bible verses about grace.
1 Timothy 4:12. "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Young, and an example. See Bible verses about faith.
1 Timothy 6:11-12. "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." Fight the good fight. See Bible verses about calling.
2 Timothy 1:5. "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." Lois and Eunice. See Bible verses about mothers.
2 Timothy 1:7. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." Not timid. See Bible verses about fear and Bible verses about courage.
2 Timothy 2:15. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." A worker approved. See Bible verses about the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:14-15. "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Taught from infancy. See Bible verses about discipleship.
2 Timothy 3:16-17. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Equipped by Scripture. See Bible verses about the Word of God.
How to use these verses
Pick one verse when you need Timothy — not twelve as a grind. If you feel too young or overlooked, start at 1 Timothy 4:12. If you are anxious, open 2 Timothy 1:7. If you are teaching or raising children in the faith, open 2 Timothy 1:5 and 3:14–15. If you are studying Scripture, open 2 Timothy 2:15 and 3:16–17. For his mentor, open Bible verses about Paul. For discipleship in general, open Bible verses about discipleship. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.
Questions people ask
What is the most famous Bible verse about Timothy?
1 Timothy 4:12 — "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young" — is the verse most tied to Timothy himself. 2 Timothy 1:7 and 2 Timothy 3:16 come from the same letters and are quoted just as often.
Who were Timothy's mother and grandmother?
2 Timothy 1:5 names his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and says his sincere faith first lived in them. Acts 16:1 adds that his mother was a Jewish believer and his father was a Greek.
What does the name Timothy mean?
Timotheos (G5095) means "honoring God," from the Greek words for honor and God.
Was Timothy Paul's son?
Not by birth. Paul calls him "my true son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2) and "my son whom I love" (1 Corinthians 4:17), and says Timothy served with him "as a son with his father" (Philippians 2:22).
How is Timothy different from discipleship alone?
Discipleship pages gather Scripture on following Jesus in general. This list centers Timothy the man — his family, his work beside Paul, and the two letters written to him.
