Unlimited: Timothy, My Co-Worker

Jan 19, 2024 699

Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews (Romans 16:21).

The four people mentioned here were with Paul in Corinth when he wrote this epistle to the church in Rome. It is possible that Lucius might be the Roman name for Luke who was the author of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Jason could be the same person who showed Paul hospitality while he was in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5–9). Sopater is probably the person with the same name from Berea who travelled with Paul at the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4.) Many of these identifications may not be certain, however, if they are, they suggest a close-knit and supportive community of believers throughout the Gentile churches.

We are all called to be workers in the Gospel, and we all work alongside one another.

However, we know who Timothy is, because he is one of Paul’s principal co-workers in the Gospel. Timothy was a young man who had distinguished himself in the faith. He served as Paul’s representative to various churches and later as a pastor in Ephesus (1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 2:19; 1 Tim. 1:3).

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul called him “his dear son” (2 Tim. 1:2). This shows Paul’s love for Timothy, particularly since we are unaware of whether Paul had any literal children himself. However, here Paul calls Timothy “my co-worker.” Could there be a greater honour?

Spiritual Application

We are all called to be workers in the Gospel, and we all work alongside one another. In what ways are you a co-worker in the Gospel?

– Eliezer Gonzalez

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