Every TIME I see one of those, 'KEEP CALM,' absurdity phrases - I think of Timothy!!  Meek, genteel, gentle, CALM, Timothy!!  Who was Timothy??  He was an apostle of Christ (first & foremost), a disciple of the Apostle Paul, who wrote 1st & 2nd Timothy, as letters to his beloved Timothy ... But his story - is a GREAT one.. & so - without further ado... 'Ere we go...

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Timothy was born c. AD 17, in Lystra in Lycaonia, (now part of a very industrial present-day Turkey)...

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Born into a rather well known religious family.. Timothy was taught & well versed in Scripture from the time he popped outta his mothers womb!  Born of a Jewish mother who had become a Christian believer early on, and a Greek father.  Both his mother and grandmother are noted as eminent for their zeal for righteousness and faith!! I can attest!!  I had a mother with a HEAVY & HEARTY zeal for the Lord!!  John 16:23&24, was her mantra!!  Worked awesomely for me; If I had a headache.. She could pray and away it went... Stomach aches ~ GONE!!  Chicken Pox??  Didn't stand a chance!!  Sometimes, she would pray.. then ask.. 'Is it gone??' (meaning the pain or sickness..)  Sometimes it would be ~ other times a little remained.. And she would just start thanking God that it was gone ~ and it always WENT!!  ANYTHING that ailed me ~ Mom could pray away!!  She instilled in ME that, the substance of faith.. (that which is UNseen), is more real than the things I could see!!  Thus with that enstilled in me.. It has definitely made my faith waaay stronger!!  Annywaay...  I love the Rembrandt painting of Timothy as a child, with grandma!!

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In a rather crude lil factoid from Wiki (with my normal sarcasm, highlighted for yah..

Timothy's father was a Greek Gentile.  Thus Timothy had not been circumcised, so upon becoming the Apostle Paul's disciple - Paul circumcised him with his own hand!!  According to the text in Acts 16:1–3, this was to ensure Timothy's acceptability to the Jews whom they would be evangelizing.  The Jews were a tough crowd..  I've never understood how the Jews would know if he was circumcised or not?!?  Unless, (merely speculating 'ere).. They 'maybe' had a custom of it not being uncommon to ask to see someones wanger willie to see if they were circumcised or not!!  Amazingly - Timothy would go on to become Paul's greatest & constant companion and co-worker in preaching.  Annd it ABSOLUTELY goes without saying, after that & still sticking around..  He was a guaranteed faithful & loyal, albeit, temporarily, a lil bit physically sore, disciple!! FoSho!!  

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Timothy may have been subject to ill health or "frequent ailments", and Paul encouraged him to "use a little wine for your stomach's sake.. Based on 1 Corinthians 16:10,  there is a suggestion or perception that he was, by nature reserved, shy, and timid... For, Paul says to the Corinthians... "When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord".  If, indeed, this was true, nothing wrong with that!!  Some people are quiet.. Despite the boldness with which I write these stories with, I am rather reserved & quiet.  All my life - seems to be an issue with some people!!  Usually LOUD people!! 🗣👤  I figure Jesus gave us 2 ears and only 1 mouth for a REASON!  I'll give the loud folk a moment to process that over their 'talking.' 🤫🤭

 

FACTOID:  Convicted serial killer the Iceman (aka Richard Kuklinski), who is repped to be the killer of 500+ people... when asked if there was anything in particular that would make someone a target for death.. Said he.. "YES!  A loud person!! I can't STAND loud people!! 🤐 AGAIN, I'll just let the loud.. Process that!! 🤔

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BTW - Thanks be to the Catholics...  We can now have a gander at what's purported to be a bone fragment of Timothy's... Annnd (there's more🙄) *WARNING - SKULL PHOTO.. DON'T click if that kinna thing repulses you!!

his encased 💀 skull, in a mid-evil type helmet!  Whoop! There it is!!

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His relationship with Paul was close and Paul entrusted him with missions of great importance. Timothy's name appears as the co-author on 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon.

 

Paul wrote to the Philippians about Timothy, "I have no one like him" (Philippians 2:19–23). When Paul was in prison and awaiting martyrdom, he summoned his faithful friend Timothy for a last farewell.  

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Nearing the end.. He became a bishop..

The apocryphal Acts of Timothy states that in the year 97 AD, the 80-year-old bishop tried to halt a procession in honor of the goddess Dianaby... preaching the gospel. The asshole reflective angry pagans beat him, dragged him through the streets, and stoned him to death.. Really - they did him a favor and sent him home.. Howev.. It's not the way ANY servant of God, especially genteel Timothy, should have went..  Makes him a martyr in MY BOOK!!

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Two locales, (as in the case of Noah), claim to have him planted in their ground!!  Termoli Cathedral, in Italy.. and Church of the Holy Apostles, in Istanbul...

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RIP Timothy.. through and through - You proved you were a saint!!