Timothy and Titus 		January 26
Companions of St Paul 
Timothy was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice, who was a “believer”. He was already a disciple when Paul visited Lystra on his second missionary journey. Timothy had presumably become a Christian at some earlier date, perhaps during Paul’s first visit to the district. Whether he was already known to him or nor, on the recommendation of the local church, Paul decided to take Timothy as his travelling companion and assistant. To avoid all suspicion from other Jews, Paul had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3).
The first mention of Titus (Galatians 2:1) is in connection with the visit of Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem for the Council in 48 CE. Since Titus, unlike Timothy, was wholly Greek, Paul did not think he needed to undergo circumcision, and later makes the point that the Jerusalem church did not insist on this either (Galatians 2:3).
Timothy and Titus both figure in Paul’s letters, each being mentioned about a dozen times. By contrast, in Acts, where Timothy’s name occurs six times, Titus is not referred to at all. The impression given by the various references is that Timothy took over from John Mark the role of close personal assistant to Paul and was sometimes entrusted by Paul with special missions, and that Titus was a rather older man, who first appears as part of the delegation from Antioch. Later, Paul sent him to the troubled church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 7 and 8). Later still according to the Pastoral Epistles, each was sent as Paul’s representative, Timothy to Ephesus (1Timothy 1:3) and Titus to Crete (Titus 1:5). Both are instructed to govern their respective churches and appoint officers of the church. This evidence is complicated by debates over the authenticity of the Pauline authorship of the Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus).
Timothy and Titus are commemorated together on the day following the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. We remember them as devoted, hardworking and much-travelled companions of the great missionary and teacher. Later tradition regarded both men as bishops: Timothy as the first bishop of Ephesus and Titus as the first bishop of Crete. The much later Acts of Timothy records Timothy’s death as a martyr. Titus is said to have died on Crete.
For Liturgical Use
Timothy, half Greek and half Jewish, and Titus, wholly Greek, were two of Paul’s most loyal and devoted companions. Timothy was the co-sender (always with Paul and often with Silas as well) of several letters, and Timothy and Titus were Paul’s representatives on special missions. We remember them today, the day after the feast of the Conversion of St Paul, as his hardworking and much-travelled companions and helpers. They remind us that loyal and devoted support plays an important part in any leader’s mission.

Sentence
Because they have set their love upon me, I will deliver them, says the Lord; I will uphold them because they know my name. 		Psalm 91:14
Collects
Loving God,
your servants Timothy and Titus went with Paul
and shared his labours for the spread of the gospel;
grant that we, like them, may be ready
to bear witness and to suffer in your service;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

God of Timothy and Titus,
Paul’s companions,
who went where he could not go,
may there always be people
willing to go where you send them
Psalms 	112	119:9-16
Readings
Exodus 18:17-20, 24-26	Help for a leader
2 Timothy 1:1-8 		To Timothy
Or Titus 1:1-4		To Titus
Matthews 24:42-47		Good stewards
Post Communion Sentence
Through us God spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing Christ. 
				2 Corinthians 2:14