Timothy
Why is it that Paul is on to another list of names? I thought he was finished.
Paul wrote the letter to the Romans while in Corinth. He has been staying at the home of Gaius, a wealthy Roman nobleman who was also a believer. It is likely that Gaius has provided Paul with an amanuensis or a scribal secretary who is writing this letter. It is also likely that as Paul was dictating the letter to the amanuensis, others, including Gaius, would take the time to listen to “The Epistle to the Romans” unfolding. So it is natural that Paul includes names of those in Corinth as well. We may even imagine that when this epistle was concluding, those gathered about him said, “send my Christian greetings to our dear friends at Rome too.” “Yeah say hi from me too.”
Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings,
Romans 16:21
He begins with Timothy, his young understudy. A disciple he met in Derbe, whose father was a Greek, and his mother a Jewess, and a believer in Christ. This same man he circumcised because of the Jews, and took him along with him, and was his companion in his travels, and of great assistance to him in the work of the ministry. Therefore here, he calls Tim his “work fellow”. He wrote two epistles to him afterwards when at a distance from him, in which he often calls him his son, his dear and well beloved son. Paul had a great affection for Timothy, because as a son with a father he served with him in the Gospel of Christ. It is only natural his name is included as he is his right hand man.
See Act_16:1; 1Co_16:10; 2Co_1:1, 2Co_1:19; Phi_2:29; 1Th_3:2; 1Ti_1:2; Heb_13:23 among many other verses which describe Paul’s relationship and experiences with Tim. You can do your own study on Paul and Timothy. It’s not hard. Hint hint.
Happiness is not found in the mere possession of money, it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D Roosvelt.
Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
Mother Teresa
The person who thinks he’s leading, and has no one following, is only taking a walk.
John Maxwell