Son of a Greek father
and Jewish mother, Saint Timothy was a follower of Saint Paul ever
since he had heard him preach. He accompanied Saint Paul during his
apostolic journeys, and was made the first bishop of Ephesus by him.
On this day, of the year 97 A.D., Saint Timothy, the
Apostle, was martyred. He was born in the city of Lystra of the district
of Lycaonia in Asia Minor, to a Greek father who worshipped the stars
and a Jewish mother whose name was Eunice. (Acts 16:1-2, Timothy 1:5)
When Saint Paul preached in Lystra, this saint
heard his teachings and saw the signs that God wrought by his hands. He
believed and was baptized. Timothy rejected the gods of his father and
forsook the faith of his mother. He became a disciple of Saint Paul the
Apostle, followed him in his travels, and shared his labors.
In the year 53 A.D., Saint Paul ordained Saint Timothy bishop over the city of Ephesus and the neighboring cities.
Saint Timothy preached there and converted many to the Christian faith and
baptized them.
St. Paul wrote two epistles to Saint Timothy: the
first of which was in 65 A.D., and the second was shortly before 67
A.D., urging him,
"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine, continue
in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who
hear you." (1Timothy. 4:16)
He also wrote to him about the qualifications of
bishop, priest, deacon, and the widow. He cautioned him also about false
prophets and commanded him not to lay his hand on one in haste but only
after thorough examinations and testing.
St. Paul called Timothy his son and his
beloved. Saint Timothy delivered four epistles for Saint Paul: the first was
the Epistle to Corinth, the second to Philippi, the third to
Thessalonica, and the fourth to the Hebrews.
St. Timothy shepherded the flock of Christ
extremely well, and he illumined minds by his teachings, instructions,
and admonitions. He continued to rebuke the Jews and the Greeks,
therefore they envied him and congregated against him and started
beating him until he was martyred in the city of Ephesus. The believers
took his body and buried it.
When he wanted to denounce the goddess
Artemis, who was
worshiped in Ephesus, the pagans stoned him in the year 97. Saint Pauls
letters to Timothy were written for him.
