Saint Timothy
Bishop
- Feast Day
- January 26
- Life
- d. 97
- Born
- Lystra, Lycaonia (modern Turkey)
Timothy was a disciple of Saint Paul and one of his closest collaborators. The Acts of the Apostles (16:1-3) introduces him at Lystra in Lycaonia as the son of a Jewish believing mother, Eunice, and a Greek father; his grandmother Lois had likewise come to faith (2 Timothy 1:5). Paul circumcised him on the second missionary journey, on account of the Jews of those regions, and took him as his companion.
Timothy traveled with Paul through Macedonia and Achaia, sharing in the foundation of the Churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. The salutations of six Pauline letters (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Philemon) name him a co-sender. The Letter to the Hebrews (13:23) reports his release from imprisonment.
Paul addressed two of his own pastoral letters to him, 1 and 2 Timothy. There Timothy is left in charge of the Church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3), instructed in the discipline of presbyters and deacons, and exhorted to "guard what has been entrusted to you" (1 Timothy 6:20). The second letter, written from Paul's last imprisonment, is among the most personal documents of the New Testament: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
Eusebius of Caesarea (Ecclesiastical History III, 4) records that Timothy was the first bishop of Ephesus. Later tradition, preserved in Greek sources from the fourth century onward, holds that he was killed about the year 97, beaten to death by a pagan crowd while preaching against an idolatrous festival. His memorial was joined to that of Titus on January 26 in the General Roman Calendar of 1969.
Timothy is honored as the prototype of the next generation of Christian leadership, the disciples whom the apostles formed and ordained. The pastoral letters addressed to him became, in the patristic Church, the charter of the office of bishop and presbyter. With Titus, his joint memorial follows immediately on the Conversion of Saint Paul, joining the apostle to those whom he sent forth as bishops in his place.
Patronages
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Catholic Churches Named After Saint Timothy
20 parishes on Catholic Church Times share Saint Timothy's name. Find their Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours:
- St. Timothy Parish
- St. Timothy's Church (St. Croix Parish) — Welshpool, NB
- St. Timothy — Philadelphia, PA
- St. Timothy — Curtis, MI
- St. Timothy — Miami, FL
- Saint Timothy Catholic Church — Los Angeles, CA
- St. Timothy — San Mateo, CA
- Saint Timothy Catholic Church — Union, KY
- St. Timothy’s Church — Morro Bay, CA
- Saint Timothy Catholic Church — Chantilly, VA
- Saint Timothy — Escondido, CA
- St Timothy Catholic Church — Norwood, MA
- St. Timothy — Warwick, RI
- Saint Timothy Community — Catonsville, MD
- St Timothy
- Sts.Titus and Timothy Parish, Kaeris — Kaeris
- Sts.Titus and Timothy Church, Kaeris — Kaeris
- Saint Timothy Church — Rangely, CO
- Saint Timothy Roman Catholic Church — Columbus, OH
- Saint Timothys Roman Catholic Church — San Mateo, CA
Sources