1st and 2nd Timothy

INTRODUCTION The pastoral epistles are the letters that Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus in the New Testament. These books include 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. The title “Pastoral” comes from the instructional nature of the letters themselves. Timothy was an assistant to Paul during his ministry. He was taught the scriptures as a child by his mother who was named Eunice. Both Timothy and his mother were probably converted during Paul’s first missionary Journey. There is also evidence supporting that Paul led Timothy to the Lord because he calls Timothy his “son in the faith.”[1] Timothy was highly recommended by the Christians in Lystra and Iconium at a young age. Titus was also a minister who accompanied Paul on at least one of his missionary trips. During Paul’s ministry in Crete, he raised new churches that Titus would have direct influence over. These letters are primarily instructions for the general functions within the church. Collectively they provide guidelines for all forms of leadership within the local church body. Paul touches on the subjects of women, elders, deacons, and overseers in relationship to authority and function. Before discussing the restrictions and responsibilities of each of these, I’ll briefly provide the historical setting for the pastoral epistles as well as the different views of Paul’s Authorship. Historical Setting These three letters were written after Paul was first imprisoned in Rome at the conclusion of Acts. The order and dates of Paul’s ministry between the release of his first imprisonment and his second imprisonment are not known. It is commonly accepted that he wrote the bulk of the pastoral epistles between A.D 60 and his death around A.D 67 to 68. Most believe that he began writing his first letter to Timothy within a year of being released from prison in Rome around A.D. 63. Paul informs Timothy that he left him in Ephesus so that he could go into Macedonia. There’s no evidence that he went

Bibliography: Beausay, William II. The Leadership Genius of Jesus (Ancient Wisdom for Modern Business). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1197 Brindle, Wayne A Howe, E. Margaret. Women & Church Leadership. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1982. Naylor, Robert E. The Baptist Deacon. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1955. Stendahl, Krister. The Bible and the role of Women. Stockholm: Fortress Press, 1966. [2] William Beausay, “The Leadership Genius of Jesus,” (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1197) [3] Ibid 4 Jim Samra, “The Gift of Church,” (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan 2010) 5 Ibid 6 Howard B Foshee, “The Ministry of the Deacon,” (Nashville, TN: Convention Press 1968) 7 Ibid 10 Robert D. Dale, “Leadership For a Changing Church,” (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press 1998) 11 Ibid 12 Jan Charter, “Developing Leadership in the teaching church,” (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press 1985) 13 E 14 Krister Stendahl, “The Bible and the Role of Women,” (Stockholm: Fortress Press, 1966) 15 Wayne A 16 Robert E. Naylor, “The Baptist Deacon,” (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1955) 17 Howard B Foshee, “The Ministry of the Deacon,” (Nashville, TN: Convention Press 1968)