Timothy

Saint Timothy

Also known as
• Timotheus
The guy next to Paul

Memorial
• 26 January

Profile
His father was a Greek gentile, his mother Eunice was Jewish. We know that the Greek dad had his way as Tim was never circumcised as a child. The depth of his strict Jewish upbringing is debatable, but his mother and grandmother had faith which they passed on to him. He was converted to Christianity by Saint Paul the Apostle around the year 47, he became a partner, assistant and close friend of Paul accompanying him on many missions along with Titus, whose feast is also today, and Mark.

He and Paul fervently defended Gentile converts not having to undergo Mosaic Law especially circumcision in order to follow “The Way”. In Galatians 2:11-22 Paul even recounts how he rebuked Peter the Prince of the Apostles for eating with the Jewish Christian population instead of the Gentile folk in order to make a more satisfying appearance to the Jews. Yet Paul forced Timothy to get circumcised as an adult in order to placate the indigenous Jewish population because they were going to be in an area of devout Jews. Can you imagine that conversation?

“But Paul, you said…”
“I know what I said, Tim, but can you please be practical? These guys are very serious when it comes to this stuff.”
“You just got through hollerin’ at Peter for trying to make nice with these folk…..That’s easy for you to say we’re not discussing you and your anatomy are we?.…”
“I know, we can discuss this later, I’ll write you a letter...”
And so on…

In spite of the forgoing or maybe because of the forgoing Tim settled down, stopped wandering and was appointed the head (i.e. BISHOP) of the Church in Ephesus. Titus was the bishop in Crete. In the Bible we find two canonical letters from Saint Paul to Timothy and one to Titus. In the second letter he tells Timothy: “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpas at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments,” (2 Tim 4:13). When asked to provide a bible verse for reflection I give that one.

He was martyred for opposing the worship of the goddess Diana some sources say Dionysis. Does it really matter? The hunt or wine Tim still got whacked……He was stoned to death about the year 97

Patronage
• against intestinal disorders
• against stomach diseases