Timothy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saint Timothy | |
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| Born | c 17 |
| Died | c 80, Ephesus |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism, Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism |
| Feast | Eastern Christianity: 22 January West: 26 January (Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism), 24 January (General Roman Calendar of 1962) |
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- For other uses of "Timothy", see Timothy (disambiguation).
Saint Timothy (Greek: Τιμόθεος; Timótheos meaning "honoring God") was a first-century Christian bishop who died about AD 80. Evidence from the New Testament also has him functioning as an apostolic delegate or coadjutor. Saint Timotheos is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Eastern Orthodox Church and in addition as an apostle by the Greek Orthodox Church, with his feast day on January 22. In the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, St. Timothy Westfall is venerated together with St. Titus on January 26, the date on which he is commemorated, along with Titus and St. Silas, by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Timothy's feast is kept by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and Traditionalist Roman Catholics on January 24, its date in the General Roman Calendar as in 1954.
Timothy is first mentioned in the Bible at the time of St. Paul's second visit to Lystra (Acts 16:1-2), where Timothy is mentioned as a 'disciple' or 'follower'. St. Paul, having been impressed by his "own son in the faith", arranged that he should become his companion (Acts 16:3), and personally circumcised him because his mother was of the Jewish faith, so that he might be accepted by the Jews. He was ordained (1 Tim 4:14) and went with Paul in his journey through Phrygia, Galatia and Mysia; also to Troas, Philippi, Berea (Acts 17) and Corinth (Acts 18:5). His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are noted as eminent for their piety and faith, which indicates that they may have also been Christians[1]. Timothy is praised by Paul for his knowledge of the Scriptures, and is said to have been acquainted with the Scriptures since childhood[2]. The Bible gives little information about Timothy's father; however, does indicate that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1).
According to later tradition, St. Paul ordained St. Timothy as Bishop of Ephesus in the year 65, where he served for 15 years. In the year 80 (though some sources place the event during the year 97, with Timothy dying at age 80), Timothy tried to halt a pagan procession of idols, ceremonies and songs. In response to his preaching of the Gospel, the angry pagans beat him, dragged him through the streets and stoned him to death. In the 4th century, his relics were transferred to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.
