What was the relationship between Paul and Timothy?

Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother, who had become a Christian believer, and a Greek father. Timothy's home was in Lystra in the Roman province of Galatia in what is now Turkey. In his letters Paul wrote of Timothy with love and respect calling him his 'son' (in a Christian sense, not biological) whom he loved and who was faithful in the Lord. Paul said Timothy had a genuine spirit like his own. Timothy became a close associate of Paul. He was with Paul during much of Paul's second and third missionary journeys. Six of Paul's letters bear Timothy's name with Paul's in the opening greeting - 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. In the first letter to Timothy there are four main themes: * 1. To instruct Timothy in writing to oppose the false doctrines that Paul had personally urged him to oppose while they were together in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). * 2. To give Timothy the instructions needed to fight the good fight of faith ( 1 Timothy 1:18,19). * 3. To instruct Timothy in how God's New Israel of believers should conduct themselves in the church (1 Timothy 3:14,15). * 4. To instruct Timothy on how to conduct his pastoral ministry (1 Timothy 4:1-6:19) So for much of the first letter, we see Paul acting as a mentor to a new, young, church leader who would take over from him. At the time Paul wrote his Second Letter to Timothy he was anticipating that the time of his martyrdom was near. Unlike his situation during his first imprisonment in Rome, Paul on this occasion saw no chance of his being acquitted and released. (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He wrote this letter to say farewell. He desired to write one final Word of encouragement to his dear son in the faith, Timothy, an encouragement that would also benefit the church. It is likely that this letter is the last letter Paul wrote as it is believed that he wrote it in AD 67, just a short time before his execution in that same year. The main themes in the second letter are: * 1. To request Timothy to come to him as soon as possible that he might see his dear son in the faith one last time (cf. 2 Timothy 1:4; 4:9,21). * 2. To request Timothy to bring his warm cloak and books (cf. 2 Timothy 4:13). * 3. To encourage Timothy in his faith and ministry to guard and to preach the pure Word of God and the gospel that had been entrusted to him (2 Timothy 1:13,14; 3:14,15; 4:1,2). This Second Letter to Timothy is more personal in nature than Paul's other pastoral letters. He expresses his desire for Timothy's companionship (2 Timothy 1:4; 4:9,21). Winter was coming and so Paul needed Timothy to bring him his warm cloak that he had left in Troas (2 Timothy 4:13). He also desires to have his books and parchments, which probably contained the Old Testament Scriptures he needed for his comfort and strengthening for the ordeal that lay before him. This is probably one of Paul's most moving letters of a man waiting for the imminent executioner's sWord (he was beheaded as he held Roman citizenship rather than crucifixion, as well as being a Jew), but tradition has it that he went to his death peacefully and eager once more to meet his Lord.