A True Son of the Faith
St. Timothy was a man of many titles: disciple and friend of St. Paul, bishop of Ephesus, martyr, confessor, and missionary. Born to a Christian family in Lycaonia, his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois are mentioned in the Bible and commended by St. Paul for their faith when he writes in 2 Timothy 3:15, “from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
We also learn from Scripture that Paul’s and Timothy’s close friendship started when Paul met Timothy on his second missionary journey to the region. It was then that Paul asked Timothy to join him on his various travels. Paul clearly saw in him a man suited to the tasks of an evangelist (Acts 16:1-3). Thus Timothy was ordained and mentored by the apostle throughout much of his life. Together they went to Asia Minor and Greece before Timothy was directed to visit Corinth and other cities on his own. Later, St. Paul made Timothy the bishop of Ephesus.
While both Paul and Timothy suffered imprisonment on their missionary journeys, they stayed in close correspondence with each other throughout their lives. St. Paul always spoke highly of Timothy’s service to him, calling him a “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:1-4). St. Paul even wrote to Timothy from his captivity, asking him to come visit so that he might see him before he died. Early Church tradition holds that St. Timothy was with St. Paul in Rome when the latter was beheaded.
As far as Timothy’s own fate, it was while he was serving in Ephesus that he was also eventually martyred around AD 97. Church tradition holds that he was stoned to death.
A Brief History
St. Timothy’s Day has been celebrated by the Church on January 24th from at least the thirteenth century on, strategically placed right before January 25th: the Conversion of St. Paul. Likewise, it is appropriate that Ss. Timothy’s and Titus’s days (celebrated on January 26th) are placed close together on the Church’s calendar and bookend St. Paul’s date, as they were both trusted companions of the great apostle.
Throughout the centuries since his ministry, the remembrance and commemoration of St. Timothy has been especially important for the clergy of the Church, who have found in the epistles that St. Paul wrote to him an abundance of inspiration and guidance for their own ministries. Consequently, this day can be a time of great gladness both for ordained servants of the Church and for all those Christians who benefit from their ministries.
Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God: that the solemn feast of Blessed Timothy, Thy Confessor and Bishop, may both increase our devotion and further our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Lessons
Epistle
Gospel
Resources
Issues, Etc. interview with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger on Saints Timothy and Titus
Issues, Etc. interview with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Kloha on Timothy
Propers found in Daily Divine Service Book: A Lutheran Daily Missal, edited by the Rev. Heath Curtis
References:
1. Treasury of Daily Prayer. Concordia Publishing House. 2008.
2. Weedon, William. Celebrating the Saints. Concordia Publishing House. 2016.
Images:
1. St. Timothy from The Calendar of Saints, Jacques Callot, France, ca. 1600.
2. Timothy with his Grandmother Lois, Willem Drost, The Netherlands, ca. 1650 or 1654.
3. St. Paul Sending a Letter to Timothy, Unknown, France, 1372.
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