In Irving L Jensen book Jensen's Survey of The New Testament He states that Timothy was a native of Derbe and was the son of a Gentile father and Jewish mother. As a child he had been instructed by his mother of the Old Testament Scriptures. His mother named him Timothy which meant "honoring God" or "honored by God" because she had faith in God
According to Jensen, Timothy .was possibly converted in Paul's first journey to Derbe.
Timothy was in his late teens when he was saved. On Paul's second journey to Derbe
Timothy was recommended to Paul by the Christians in that area. Paul met with Timothy, circumcised him and ordained him into the ministry by making him his assistant. Jensen states that from that time forward Timothy was Paul's closest
