Silas, Fellow Worker of St. Peter and St. Paul - 2012

Commemoration of Silas, Fellow Worker of St. Peter and St. Paul
February 10, 1012

The Lord be with you

Timothy had delivered Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians but Silas (also known as Silvanus) delivered his second letter. Apparently Silas had become Paul’s new deputy. He plays an important role in the Corinthian correspondence from this point on. Titus is not mentioned by name in Acts, but he is frequently referred to in Paul’s letters. (This little fact lets us know that 1) the book of Acts is not a comprehensive history and, 2) there are theological reasons behind what Luke chose to record in the book of Acts.) Titus was born of Gentile parents (Galatians 2:3) and was perhaps a native of Antioch, since he was in the delegation from Antioch to Jerusalem (Acts 15:2; Galatians 2:1-3), and he may have been converted by Paul (Titus 1:4). He and a companion were sent to Corinth after 1 Corinthians had been delivered there, because of reports Paul had received about that troubled congregation. The mission was a delicate one. Paul had expected to meet Titus at Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12-13), but instead Titus met him in Macedonia with good news (7:6, 13-14), and he returned to Corinth with Second Corinthians (8:6, 13, 23), where he apparently stayed for some time. The epistle to Titus gives the information that Titus had been left on Crete to oversee the organization of the churches there. Titus’s mission to Dalmatia is alluded to in 2 Timothy 4:10. Sometime after his stay in Corinth, Titus apparently joined the apostle Peter, likely serving as Peter’s secretary (1 Peter 5:12). One early tradition says that Titus was the first Bishop of Corinth. Another one says he was the first Bishop of Crete. He apparently died of natural causes at an old age.

Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, Your servant Silas preached the Gospel alongside the apostles Peter and Paul to the peoples of Asia Minor, Greece and Macedonia. We give You thanks for raising up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of Your kingdom, that the Church may continue to proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Rickert