Saint Terentius
Tertius
Bishop of Iconium and Martyr
A disciple of the seventy-two, Terentius (or Tertius) was the secretary of Saint Paul, writing the Epistle to the Romans under his dictation. Having become Bishop of Iconium, he completed the work of his predecessor Sosipater before dying a martyr by the torture of thorns.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT TERENTIUS OR TERTIUS, BISHOP OF ICONIUM, AND MARTYR;
SAINT JESUS, SURNAMED THE JUST, BISHOP OF ELEUTHEROPOLIS; — SAINT ARTEMAS, BISHOP OF LYSTRA (1st century).
Identity and ministry in Iconium
Terentius, one of the seventy-two disciples, becomes bishop of Iconium following Sosipater, where he continues the evangelization and performs miracles.
These holy figures were among the seventy-two disciples: they were fully enlightened in the light of faith regarding divine matters.
Terentius, or Tertius , was instituted as b Térentius, ou Tertius Disciple of Jesus, Bishop of Iconium, and scribe of Saint Paul. ishop of Iconium after Sosipater: he put the finishing touches on what the latter had left unfinished; he conferred the grace of baptismal regeneration upon those who had only prepared for it imperfectly; he performed brilliant wonders in that city, and it was he who wrote the Epistle to the Romans. He says, in fact, at the end of that epistle, that he wrote it under the dictation of the apostle Saint Paul saint Paul Apostle cited by Saint Jerome to illustrate divine decrees. :
Scribe of Saint Paul
Recognized for his virtue, Tertius served as secretary to the Apostle Paul, writing the Epistle to the Romans under his dictation.
"I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, gree t you i Tertius Disciple of Jesus, Bishop of Iconium, and scribe of Saint Paul. n the name of the Lord."
It is a great mark of his virtue that Saint Paul found him worthy to be the first repository of his thoughts, and that he used him to write under his dictation. Saint Dorotheus, the Chronicle of Alexandria, and the Synaxaria of the Eastern Churches rank him among the seventy-two disciples and add that he ended his apostolate through martyrdom, by the torture of thorns.
Other disciples: Jesus Justus and Artemas
The text also mentions Jesus surnamed Justus, bishop of Eleutheropolis, and Artemas, bishop of Lystra, both members of the seventy-two disciples.
Saint Paul also speaks of the following disciple in his Epistle to the Colossians:
"Jesus, who is called Justus," he tells them, "greets you, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. These are the only ones of the circumcision who work with me for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me."
"Jesus, surnamed Justus," add the Eastern monuments, "was made bishop of Eleutheropolis, and by the teaching of the truth he brought all its inhabitants to the knowledge of God." According to Saint Epiphanius and the Greeks, he was placed by Jesus Christ in the rank of the seventy-two disciples, and worked in the evangelical ministry with the other Apostles.
Artemas, another disciple of Jesus, Artémas Disciple of Jesus and Bishop of Lystra. was made bishop of Lystra, an important city of Isa Lystre Episcopal see of Artemas. uria, on the borders of Lycaonia. There, this true and devoted minister of Christ overturned the artifices of the demon, destroyed his snares and his reign, and established that of the Son of God there. He is likewise counted among the number of the seventy-two disciples by the Chronicle of Alexandria and by Saint Dorotheus. Saint Paul speaks of him thus in his Epistle to Titus:
"When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there."
End of life and martyrdom
While his companions died peacefully, Terentius completed his apostolate through martyrdom, tortured by thorns.
These disciples fought generously for the true religion, exposed themselves to the greatest dangers for its cause, and rendered their souls to God through a peaceful death, with the exception of Saint Terentius or Tertius, who was martyred.
Abbé Malatre, Histoire des soixante-douze disciples.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Named among the seventy-two disciples
- Secretary to Saint Paul for the Epistle to the Romans
- Succeeds Sosipater as Bishop of Iconium
- Evangelization and baptisms in Iconium
- Martyrdom by the torture of thorns
Miracles
- Performed striking miracles in the city of Iconium
Quotes
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I greet you in the Lord, I, Tertius, who wrote this letter
Epistle to the Romans