Τιμόθεος

Timótheos

G5095 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Timótheos — a personal name meaning 'honoring God' or 'one who honors God.' In the New Testament, it refers specifically to a companion and co-worker of Paul, a member of an Israelite (Judean/Greek heritage) family from Lystra. The broader sense is simply a male personal name indicating reverence or respect toward God.

Semantic Range

personal name meaning 'one who honors God'; specifically, the companion of Paul in the New Testament

Root / Etymology

From τιμή (honor, value, price) and θεός (god, God); a compound name common in Greek onomastics of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Indicates 'one who honors God' or 'honored by God.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Τιμόθεος was a common Greek personal name in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Its composition with τιμή and θεός follows a widespread pattern of names suggesting piety or devotion to a deity. In the New Testament, most prominently in Pauline letters and Acts, Τιμόθεος designates a specific historical figure: a younger co-worker and trusted delegate of Paul, portrayed as of mixed Judean and Greek parentage (Acts 16:1–3). Later Christian tradition rendered the name as 'Timothy' or 'Timotheus' in English. Greek sources outside the New Testament also attest Τιμόθεος as a common name. The NT does not use the name for anyone except Paul's associate, and the ancient translation tradition reflects this. The meaning 'dear to God' (as in Strong's) misrepresents the active sense of τιμάω (to honor); the name more precisely means 'one who honors God.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from τιμή and θεός; dear to God; Timotheus, a Christian:--Timotheus, Timothy.

Root Family

Τιμόθεος (Timotheos) — honor, value, God, deity

Root τιμ-, θεο- to honor, to value, God, deity

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5095-04 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timothy Honoring-God one Timotheos 12
G5095-03 Τιμόθεον timotheon N ACC M SG Timothy Honoring-God Timotheos 6
G5095-02 Τιμοθέῳ timotheo N DAT M SG To Timothy to Timotheos Timotheos 2
G5095-05 Τιμοθέου timotheou N GEN M SG Timothy of Honorer-of-God Timotheos 2
G5095-01 Τιμόθεε timothee N VOC M SG Timothy O Honorer of God Timotheos 2

Occurrences in Scripture

24 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5095-04 Acts 16:1 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timothy Honoring-God one Timotheos
G5095-04 Acts 17:14 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timotheus Honoring-God one Timotheos
G5095-03 Acts 17:15 Τιμόθεον timotheon N ACC M SG Timothy Honoring-God Timotheos
G5095-04 Acts 18:5 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timothy Honoring-God one Timotheos
G5095-03 Acts 19:22 Τιμόθεον timotheon N ACC M SG Timothy Honoring-God Timotheos
G5095-04 Acts 20:4 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timothy Honoring-God one Timotheos
G5095-04 Romans 16:21 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timothy Honoring-God one Timotheos
G5095-03 1 Corinthians 4:17 Τιμόθεον timotheon N ACC M SG Timothy Honoring-God Timotheos
G5095-04 1 Corinthians 16:10 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timothy Honoring-God one Timotheos
G5095-04 2 Corinthians 1:1 Τιμόθεος timotheos N NOM M SG Timothy Honoring-God one Timotheos