Apply Thyself to Reading Timothy

Attende Lectioni!

Apply thyself to reading Timothy"! -
Thus spoke St.Paul, Apostle to the youth.
To be his chosen mate in ministry.
To preach the gospel's message and its truth.

He'd met the youth at Lystra as a teen,
Son of a Jewess and a Grecian dad,
With intellect superb and learning keen,
By Hebrew and by Grecian culture fed.

Young Timothy grew up a spledid teen.
Well educated, bright and erudite.
That could not but in every effort win.
As Greek and earnest scholar Israelite

St. Paul did see it and remarked on it.
And hoped to win him as companion,
The youth so well imbued with Holy Writ.
Could serve the Lord as Paul's beloved son.
.
Six years from thence he met him yet again.
He'd grown in knowledge fit for ministry,
And the bright youth had grown into a man.
Devout and learned with charm and comity.

Who would soon serve St. Paul as delegate
The young communities to oversee.
Would be anointed Bishop Surrogate
For tasks divers of choice as his trustee. .

To see new churches built and spirits won
And ascertain the Lord's Word took deep root
As faithful most devout and loving son,
While his great mentor other goals pursued.

Of two Epistels the recipient
Lo! Number One and Two that bear his name.
That strength and courage to their hearers lend.
And that all Christian Churches now proclaim.

Of martyrdom he won at last the crown.
Stoned unto death by pagan jealousy
That killed a man of eminent renown,
The great and much beloved Saint Timothy.

We know not if his mentor heard of it
But in his memory long rang the plea:
"Apply thyself to reading Holy Writ!

"Attende Lectioni Timothy! "

(Copyright) Elizabeth Dandy

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