The Epistles

&
The Practical Christian Life

Class 4
The Pastoral Epistles
© John Stevenson, 2008
 Course Outline
Week Week Week Week Week
One Two Three Four Five
Intro to Paul’s Epistles & Theology
Paul; The
Epistles Life & Doctrinal Pastoral General
as a Death Epistles Epistles Epistles
genre
 Session Objectives
• Use basic hermeneutical principles for
interpreting and applying epistles.
• See the Big Idea of the Pastoral
Epistles.
• Continue developing skills to assess
aspects of current worldview, ethical
practice, and church life in light of
theological principles taught in the
epistles.
Foundational Prophetic Pastoral
Prison Epistles
Epistles Epistles Epistles

Romans Ephesians
1 Timothy
1 Corinthians Philippians 1 Thessalonians
2 Timothy
2 Corinthians Colossians 2 Thessalonians
Titus
Galatians Philemon
Christ & the Christ & the Christ & second Christ & the
cross church coming congregation
Soteriological Christological Eschatological Ecclesiological
 Authorship of the Pastoral
Epistles
• Not questioned until early 1800’s.
• Absent from Marcion’s canon.
• Absent from P46, one of earliest
Pauline manuscripts.
• Vocabulary and style notably different
from Paul’s other epistles.
 Role-Play

A member of your church has

been taking a college class in
which he has been told that the
Pastoral Epistles are not authored
by Paul. What would you say?
The First Epistle
to Timothy

From Father
to Son
 Macedonia

ASIA MINOR
GREECE
 Ephesus
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapters 3-4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Instructions…
In the
face of
false
teachings
• Timothy’s mission in Ephesus (1:2-5).
• The Problem: Teachers of the Law
(1:6-11).
• Thanksgiving for God’s mercy (1:12-
17).
• Timothy’s commission (1:18-20)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapters 3-4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Instructions…
In the About
face of men and
false women
teachings
• A call for men to pray
(2:1-8).
• A call for women to
adorn themselves
modestly and with
good works (2:9-15)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapters 3-4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Instructions…
In the About
face of men and For leaders
false women
teachings
• Qualifications for
leaders (3:1-16)
• False teachers (4:1-11)
• Personal instructions to
Timothy (4:12-16)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapters 3-4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Instructions…
In the About About
face of men and For leaders the
false women elderly
teachings
• Honor to the
elderly (5:1-2)
• Care for widows
(5:3-16)
• Honor for elders &
leaders (5:17-25)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapters 3-4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Instructions…
In the About About In the
face of men and For leaders the face of
false women elderly false
teachings teachings
• Slaves & Masters (6:1-2)
• Those who seek financial profit (6:3-10)
• A charge to personal faithfulness (6:11-
16)
• Instructions to the rich (6:17-19)
• Conclusion (6:20-21)
The Epistle to
Titus

Adorning the
Gospel of
God
Nicopolis


Crete
TITUS – Adorning the Doctrine of God
1:1-9 1:10-16 2:1-10 2:11-15 3:1-15
Leaders Laity

True
Leaders Paul, a bond-servant of
God, and an apostle of
• Opening Salutation Jesus Christ, for the
(1:1-4). faith of those chosen of
God and the knowledge
of the truth which is
according to godliness,
(Titus 1:1).
TITUS – Adorning the Doctrine of God
1:1-9 1:10-16 2:1-10 2:11-15 3:1-15
Leaders Laity

True
…in the hope of eternal life,
Leaders
which God, who cannot lie,
promised long ages ago,
• Opening Salutation 3 but at the proper time
(1:1-4). manifested, even His word, in
the proclamation with which I
avyeudhj qeoj was entrusted according to the
commandment of God our
Savior;
TITUS – Adorning the Doctrine of God
1:1-9 1:10-16 2:1-10 2:11-15 3:1-15
Leaders Laity

True
Leaders

• Opening Salutation (1:1-4).

• Titus’ Job Description: To
appoint elders in every city
(1:5).
• Qualifications for
elders/overseers (1:6-9)
TITUS – Adorning the Doctrine of God
1:1-9 1:10-16 2:1-10 2:11-15 3:1-15
Leaders Laity

True False
Leaders Teachers

• The Problem of Rebellious

Men (1:10-11)
• The Testimony of Rebellious
Men (1:12-13).
• The Solution for Rebellious
Men (1:13-16)
TITUS – Adorning the Doctrine of God
1:1-9 1:10-16 2:1-10 2:11-15 3:1-15
Leaders Laity

Instructions
True False
to Various
Leaders Teachers
Groups

• Old men
• Old Women
• Young Women
• Young Men
• Titus as an example
• Slaves
TITUS – Adorning the Doctrine of God
1:1-9 1:10-16 2:1-10 2:11-15 3:1-15
Leaders Laity
Living for
Instructions
True False the
to Various
Leaders Teachers appearing
Groups
of Jesus
• The Grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation…
• Instructing us…
– To deny ungodliness
– To live…
• Looking for the appearing of Jesus
TITUS – Adorning the Doctrine of God
1:1-9 1:10-16 2:1-10 2:11-15 3:1-15
Leaders Laity
Living for
Instructions Living in
True False the
to Various the light
Leaders Teachers appearing
Groups of Jesus
of Jesus
• Reminder to do good works
• Reason for good works
• A Call to good works
• Rejection of those who cause
divisions
• A practical exercise in good works