We know of Sts. Timothy and Titus from Paul's letters of the same name. We know that they were companions of Paul on his missionary journeys. We call them bishops because Paul appointed them to be in charge of communities of believers in Ephesus and Crete respectively as overseers, to maintain and teach the faith, to worship and celebrate the sacraments, and to guide the people in the right way of living. Because Paul appointed them, they were able to continue to spread the faith. As bishops they were successors to the first apostles.
One reason we believe what we believe is because of apostolic succession, bishops succeeding each other all the way back to the first twelve apostles. Our bishops maintain the same role in the Church as did those first twelve. They are called to witness to the truth of the love of Jesus for us, to spread the Good News of salvation to all the world, to serve the people under their care.
Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy: "I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have...." In his letter to Titus, Paul writes: "I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done ...." Timothy and Titus had the privilege of knowing Paul, who knew Jesus. Our bishops knew the bishops who ordained them and so on. We have the surety, through the apostolic succession, that our bishops are guiding us to God.
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