Timothy's father (Greek, unnamed)
The Greek Father
Timothy's father was a Greek (gentile) who married the Jewish woman Eunice. He is not named in the Bible, but his Greek background explains why Timothy was not circumcised as a child, which Paul later arranged before the missionary journeys.
Famille
Événements clés
Mentioned as the Greek father
Luke tells us that Timothy's mother was a believing Jewish woman, but his father was Greek. This was a mixed marriage union known in diaspora communities.
1Paul came also to Derbe and then to Lystra. And there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.
Κατήντησεν δὲ ⸀καὶ εἰς Δέρβην καὶ ⸀εἰς Λύστραν. καὶ ἰδοὺ μαθητής τις ἦν ἐκεῖ ὀνόματι Τιμόθεος, υἱὸς ⸀γυναικὸς Ἰουδαίας πιστῆς, πατρὸς δὲ Ἕλληνος,
3and Paul wanted to take him along on the journey. So he circumcised him because of the Jews in that region, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.
τοῦτον ἠθέλησεν ὁ Παῦλος σὺν αὐτῷ ἐξελθεῖν, καὶ λαβὼν περιέτεμεν αὐτὸν διὰ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς τόποις ἐκείνοις, ᾔδεισαν γὰρ ἅπαντες ⸂ὅτι Ἕλλην ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ⸃ ὑπῆρχεν.
Reason for Timothy's lack of circumcision
Because his father was Greek, Timothy had not been circumcised as an infant according to Jewish custom. Paul later circumcised him out of consideration for the Jews in the area.
3and Paul wanted to take him along on the journey. So he circumcised him because of the Jews in that region, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.
τοῦτον ἠθέλησεν ὁ Παῦλος σὺν αὐτῷ ἐξελθεῖν, καὶ λαβὼν περιέτεμεν αὐτὸν διὰ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς τόποις ἐκείνοις, ᾔδεισαν γὰρ ἅπαντες ⸂ὅτι Ἕλλην ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ⸃ ὑπῆρχεν.