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Question: What is known about the name Greek name "Timothy" in the Book of Mormon?
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The name "Timothy" in the Book of Mormon
Questions
Critics have argued that "Timothy" is an unlikely Nephite name, since it is of Greek origin.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
Detailed Analysis
Hugh Nibley pointed out:
- [R]emember...that in Lehi's day Palestine was swarming with Greeks, important Greeks. Remember, it was Egyptian territory [prior to being seized by Babylon] at that time and Egyptian culture. The Egyptian army, Necho's army, was almost entirely Greek mercenaries. We have inscriptions from that very time up the Nile at Aswan-inscriptions from the mercenaries of the Egyptian army, and they're all in Greek. So Greek was very common, and especially the name Timotheus.[1]
Compare: Lachoneus
It would thus not be at all surprising for Lehites or Mulekites to be familiar with the name "Timothy" (or a derivative), or even for a "Timothy" to have accompanied Mulek's party of immigrants.