Timothy

1Paul came to the town of Derbe and then to Lystra. A follower of Jesus named Timothy lived there. His mother was Jewish and believed in Jesus. His father was Greek.

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

NoteJewish means a person from the family God chose long ago. Greek means his father came from a different people, not Jewish.

2The believers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy.

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him. So he had Timothy circumcised because of the Jews living in that area. They all knew his father was Greek.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

NoteCircumcision was a small cut made on a boy's body. It was a sign that he belonged to the Jewish people. Paul did this so Jewish people would listen to Timothy.

4As they went from town to town, they passed on the rules to obey. The apostles and leaders in Jerusalem had decided on them. Apostles were the men Jesus sent out to teach.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

NoteThese rules came from a big meeting of leaders in Jerusalem. They decided what people who were not Jewish should do.

5So the groups of believers grew stronger in what they believed. More people joined them every day.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

13Then the Jews in Thessalonica heard that Paul was teaching God's word in Berea. So they came there too and stirred up the crowds.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

14Right away the believers sent Paul off toward the sea. Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Berea.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

NoteThey sent Paul toward the sea so he could sail away safely. Timothy was a young helper who traveled with Paul.

15The men who traveled with Paul brought him all the way to Athens. Then they went back with this message for Silas and Timothy: come to Paul as fast as you can.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

NoteAthens was a famous Greek city. People came there to learn and to talk about ideas.

1After this, Paul left the city of Athens. He went to the city of Corinth.

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

NoteAthens and Corinth are cities in Greece. Corinth was busy and full of ships and traders. Paul walked and sailed a long way between the two.

2There he met a Jew named Aquila, who was born in Pontus. Aquila had just come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They came because Claudius, the ruler of Rome, had ordered all Jews to leave that city. Paul went to see them.

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

NoteJews are God's people, the family of Israel. Pontus was a land far away, by the Black Sea. Rome was the biggest, strongest city in the world then. Its ruler could order people to move away, and they had to go.

3Paul stayed with them and worked with them. They made tents for a living, and so did Paul.

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

NoteTents were made of tough cloth or leather, sewn by hand. Travelers and soldiers slept in them. Teachers like Paul often had a trade so they could pay for their own food.

4Every Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, Paul talked with people in the synagogue, the place where Jews met to worship. He tried to help both Jews and Greeks believe.

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

NoteThe Sabbath was the day each week when Jews rested. They did no work and met to worship God. Greeks were people who were not Jews. Many of them came to listen too.

5Then Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. After that, Paul spent all his time teaching. He told the Jews that Jesus is the Christ, the King God had promised to send.

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

NoteChrist means "the chosen one." God's people had waited a very long time for him. Macedonia was a land to the north, where Paul had been before.

21After all this, Paul made up his mind what to do next. He would travel through Macedonia and Achaia and then go to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have been there, I must see Rome too."

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

NoteMacedonia and Achaia are two parts of Greece. Rome was a huge city far to the west. Rulers in Rome were in charge of all these lands.

22He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia. Paul himself stayed in Asia a while longer.

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

1The noisy trouble in the city stopped. Then Paul sent for the followers of Jesus. He hugged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia.

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

NoteMacedonia was a land north of Greece. Paul had visited friends there before.

2He traveled through that area. He said many things to help the people stay strong. Then he came to Greece.

And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

3He stayed in Greece for three months. He was about to sail to Syria. But the Jews made a secret plan against him. So he chose to go back through Macedonia instead.

And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

NoteSyria was a land far to the east. People traveled that far by ship.

4Some men traveled with Paul toward Asia. Sopater from Berea went with him. So did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica. Gaius from Derbe and Timothy went too. Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia went as well.

And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

NoteAsia here does not mean the whole continent. It was one small area, in the country we now call Turkey.

5These men went on ahead of us. They waited for us in the city of Troas.

These going before tarried for us at Troas.

NoteThe man writing this book was traveling with Paul now. That is why he says we and us.

6We sailed from Philippi after a Jewish holiday called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Five days later we met the others in Troas. We stayed there seven days.

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

NoteUnleavened bread is bread with no yeast, so it stays flat. Jewish families ate it for a week every spring. It helped them remember leaving Egypt long ago.

14I am not writing this to make you feel ashamed. I am warning you, because I love you like my own children.

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

15You may have ten thousand teachers who watch over you in Christ. But you do not have many fathers. I became your father when I told you the good news about Jesus.

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

NoteTen thousand just means a very big number here. Rich families paid a servant to walk their child to school. That servant watched over the child all day. Paul says those helpers are not the same as a father.

16So I am asking you: live the way I live.

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

17That is why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is faithful to the Lord. He will remind you how I live for Christ. I teach the same thing in every church, everywhere.

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

NoteTimothy was a young man who traveled with Paul. He helped Paul teach people about Jesus. A church was a group of people who met to follow Jesus. They often met in someone's house.

10If Timothy comes, make sure he has nothing to fear while he is with you. He does the Lord's work, just as I do.

Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

NoteTimothy was a young man who traveled with Paul and helped him. Paul often sent him to visit churches.

11So no one should look down on him. Send him on his way in peace, so he can come back to me. I am waiting for him and the other believers.

Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

1This letter is from Paul. God chose Paul to be an apostle, one of the men Jesus sent out to tell about him. Timothy, our brother, writes with me. We write to God's church in the city of Corinth. We write to all of God's people in the whole area called Achaia.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

NoteAn apostle was a man Jesus sent out to tell people about him. Corinth was a big, busy city by the sea in Greece. Achaia was the whole area of land around that city. A church then was not a building. It was a group of people who followed Jesus and met together, often in someone's house. Paul calls Timothy his brother. They were not from the same family. People who followed Jesus called each other brothers and sisters.

2We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you. We pray they will give you peace.

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteLetters long ago started with a greeting like this one. Paul wishes them kindness and peace instead of saying hello. Christ is not Jesus' last name. It means the special king God promised to send.