Today the church remembers Timothy and Titus, Companions of Saint Paul.
Both Timothy and Titus were Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews, converted by
Paul. Each seems to have accepted the Christian faith at the end of a
long and deep personal struggle. It was not an easy step to take. Nor
did the early church find it easy to accept a Gentile into the
"Household of the faithful".
These men became close friends of Paul, and they accompanied him on several of his missionary journeys where they proved to be invaluable assistants, especially in the Greek cities of Corinth and Thessalonica.
From Paul's letter to Titus, which is contained in the New Testament,
we assume that the apostle left Titus on the island of Crete. Titus is
believed to have been the chief organizer of the church on that island.
Paul frequently used Timothy as a trouble-shooter and follow-up man in
his ministry. Timothy followed Paul to Rome and visited him in prison
there, but escaped the Neronian persecution. Timothy spent his last days
witnessing to Christ in Ephesus where, according to Eusebius, he was
beaten to death by a mob of pagans among whom he had opposed the
licentious festivities of the goddess Diana.
The General Roman
Calendar venerates Timothy together with Titus with a memorial on 26
January, the day after the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. From
the 13th century until 1969 the feast of Timothy (alone) was on 24
January, the day before that of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Along with
Titus and Silas, Timothy is commemorated by the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and the Episcopal Church on 26 January.
Almighty God, you called
Timothy and Titus to be evangelists and teachers, and made them strong
to endure hardship: Strengthen us to stand fast in adversity, and to
live godly and righteous lives in this present time, that with sure
confidence we may look for our blessed hope, the glorious appearing of
our great God and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
