January 26

Saints Timothy and Titus

Memorial · Remembered by Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans

Paul’s trusted co-workers who led young churches in Ephesus and Crete

Timothy and Titus were two of the Apostle Paul’s closest co-workers in the first century. Timothy came from Lystra, in Asia Minor, the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice. A letter written in Paul’s name recalls that his faith was first handed on by his grandmother Lois and his mother. Titus was a Greek convert, and Paul took him to Jerusalem as living proof that Gentiles could belong to the Church without being circumcised.

Both were sent wherever trouble was brewing. Timothy carried messages to Thessalonica and Corinth and was left to guide the church in Ephesus. Titus helped heal a painful rift with the Corinthians and was later left to organise the churches of Crete.

Three New Testament letters are addressed to them. Later tradition calls them the first bishops of Ephesus and Crete and says Timothy was killed by a pagan crowd around 97. They are remembered the day after Paul’s conversion, as the helpers who carried his work forward.

Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12 · BSB

A prayer

God of every generation, you gave Timothy and Titus to stand beside Paul, carrying the Gospel and caring for young churches. Give us a faith handed on with love, courage to serve wherever we are sent, and patience to build up your people in truth and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.