The church observes January 26 as the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus.They were long-term companions of Paul who supported him in his southern European Missionary Journey. Paul’s pastoral epistles to these figures, as well as some of Paul’s other letters and The Acts of the Apostles, provide insight into their work in the church’s early history.
Timothy came from the family of a Christian mother – Eunice – and a Christian Grandmother – Lois. Acts 16:3 tells of his circumcision. 1 Timothy 1:18, 4:17 and 2 Timothy 1:6 recount his ordination by Paul with the laying on of hands. He traveled with Paul and was present at the establishing of Churches in Corinth, Thessalonica, and Philippi. He sometimes served as Paul’s representative in congregations when Paul himself was unable to be present.
Paul had determined that Timothy’s circumcision was necessary for service in the community where Timothy began his ministry. Paul decided, however, that Titus would not undergo that procedure in a significant withdrawal from Jewish tradition. We find the entire account in Galatians 2:1-3. Much of Titus’ work involved collecting the great offering for the Jerusalem church (2 Corinthians 8:16-17). He was Paul’s designate to deliver Paul’s “painful letter” to the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:6-7). Paul appointed him bishop of the Church at Crete as we read in Titus 1:4-5.
So today is a day of celebrating and remembering two hard-working servants of the gospel in the church’s early days.
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