Difference between revisions of "Timotheus"

<p> (Τιμόθεος, ''Honoring God,'' a frequent name in Greek and Roman history; see Athen. 10:419; 14:626; Livy, 42:67; Pliny, 7:57; 34:19, 34; 36:4, 9), the name of three Jews'(such, at least, by association). </p> <p> '''1.''' A "captain of the Ammonites" (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 5:6), who was defeated on several occasions by Judas Maccabaeus (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 5:6; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 5:11; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 5:34-44). B.C. 164. He was probably a Greek adventurer (comp. Josephus, ''Ant. 12'' :8, 1) who had gained the leadership of the tribe. Thus [[Josephus]] (''Ibid. 13'' :8, 1, quoted by Grimm, ''On 1 Maccabees 5, 6'' ) mentions one "Zeno, surnamed Cotylas, who was despot of Rabbah" in the time of [[Johannes]] Hyrcanus. </p> <p> '''2.''' In 2 Macc. a leader named Timotheus is mentioned as having taken part in the invasion of [[Nicanor]] (&nbsp;2 Maccabees 8:30; &nbsp;2 Maccabees 9:3). B.C. 166. At a later time he made great preparations for a second attack on Judas, but was driven to a stronghold, Gazara, which was stormed by Judas, and there Timotheus was taken-and slain (&nbsp;2 Maccabees 10:24-37). It has been supposed that the events recorded in this latter narrative are identical with those in &nbsp;1 Maccabees 5:6-8, an idea rendered more plausible by the similarity of the names [[Jazer]] and Gazara (in Lat. Gazer, Jazare, Gazara). But the name Timotheus was very common, and it is evident that Timotheus the Ammonitish leader was not slain at Jazer (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 5:34); and Jazer was on the east side of Jordan, while Gazara was almost certainly the same as Gezer. (See [[Gazara]]); (See [[Jaazer]]). </p> <p> It may be urged further, in support of the substantial accuracy of 2 Macc., that the second campaign of Judas against the first-named Timotheus (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 5:27-44) is given in &nbsp;2 Maccabees 12:2-24 after the account of the capture of Gazara and the death of the second-named Timotheus there. Wernsdorf assumes that all the differences in the narratives are blunders in 2 Macc. (De Fide Libr. Macc. § 70), and in this he is followed by Grimm (On 2 Maccabees 10,'24, 32). But, if any reliance is to be placed on 2 Macc., the differences of place and circumstances are rightly taken by Patricius to mark different events (De Libr. Macc § 32, p. 259). </p> <p> '''3.''' The Greek form of the name of TIMOTHY (See [[Timothy]]) (q.v.), the special follower of Paul (&nbsp;Acts 16:1; &nbsp;Acts 17:14, etc.). He is called by this name in the A. V. in every case except &nbsp;2 Corinthians 1:1; Philenm, 1; &nbsp;Hebrews 13:23, and the epistles addressed to him (&nbsp;1 Timothy 1:2; &nbsp;1 Timothy 1:18; &nbsp;1 Timothy 6:20; &nbsp;2 Timothy 1:2). </p>