NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey

NTS 501 NT INTRO AND SURVEY

Class XI: 1-2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon

1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

1.1 Introduction to the pastoral epistles• What are some peculiar features of pastorals epistles?

• What are some doctrinal and practical conclusions that are often supported by appealing to the pastoral letters?

• To what extent do pastoral epistles contain themes, tone & concerns that are similar to the undisputed Paul’s letters?


2.1 Historical and Critical Issues in the pastorals2.1.1 The Authenticity of pastorals• Common reasons given to support inauthenticity

• Language & style atypical• Vocab. closer to Greek philosophers, ethical teachers & 2nd century ap.

fathers – undisputed letters more LXX vocab.• ‘sound teaching’; ‘good conscience’ etc.

• Differences in theological ideas• Salvation linked to epiphany (1Tim 3:16; 2Tim 2:9-10);

righteousness/faith emphasize human behavior & correct belief; accommodation to society instead of ‘radical Paul’

• More developed church structure• Overseer/elder & deacon w/ more clearly defined functions (1Tim 3:1-13;

5:3-22; 2Tim 2:2; Tit1:5-7; cf. 1Clem; Did) - compare e.g. Rom 12:6-8; 1Cor 14:26-33

• Leaders in undisputed not appealed to settle congregational disputes (Phil 1:1; 1Th 5:12-13; Rom 12:8)


• Handling of false teaching in pastorals• Rejection of false teachings & appeal to tradition (1Tim 1:8;

4:1; 3-5; 6:5-10, 20; 2Tim 1:13-14; ) – no real refutation based on Scripture (comp. Gal 3-4; 2Cor 10-13) “the saying is sure”

• Historical circumstances in pastorals not found elsewhere• Titus presupposes Paul’s visit to Crete (1:5)• 1 Tim presupposes that Paul left Tim in Ephesus

Most scholars think that cumulative arguments indicate pastorals were not written by Paul

• A considerable number of scholars still favor authenticity because…


• Linguistic & literary differences due to…• Greater liberties of amanuensis• Pastorals written for individuals (mandata principis –public

document from ruler to official spelling out responsibilities)• Theological inconsistency argument assumes that Paul was

writing a systematic theology (how much latitude argument?) • Pastorals are more like 1 Thess and Phil than Rom or Gal• Little use of LXX since pastorals are not argumentative letters

• Second career option or gaps in Paul’s chronology• After 1st imprisonment Paul released: to Spain & back to east• Paul’s chronology contains a number of gaps


• Proposal of pseudepigraphy is illogical• Why would somebody composed a letter so obviously

difference from the authentic letters?• Inauthenticity betrays ideologically driven motives

• First to doubt authenticity were liberal protestant b/c pastorals were too thought to be too close to early Catholicism

• Some sections not palatable for modern sensibilities (1Tim2:8-15)

• Mediating positions – pastorals as…• Expansions of Paul’s personal notes (1Tim1:18-20; 3:14-15;

2Tim 1:16-18; 4:9-21; Tit 3:12-15)• 2Tim as authentic – “suspicion by association”

• Most arguments about inauthenticity only apply to 1Tim & Tit


2.1.2 Authenticity, place, provenance• Option 1: Paul as the author [gaps in the narrative]

• 1 Timothy (from Macedonia) & Titus, 52-56 AD (Ephesus)• 2 Timothy, AD 60-64 (Rome)

• Option 2: Paul as the author – 2nd career option• 1 Timothy & Titus, c. 63-66 AD (Macedonia & Ephesus)• 2 Timothy, AD 65-67 from Roman prison

• Option 3: Pseudepigraphical letters• 80–120 AD (?)


2.2 Situation, purpose and themes in 1 Timothy• Purpose: “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in

Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer” (1Tim 1:3)

• Response to false teaching & conduct• False doctrines: myths and geneologies (1:4; 4:7), disputes

(1:6), focus on the Law (1:7); ascetic tedencies (4:3-4)• ‘seared’ conscience (1:19; 4:1-2)• Confusion & improper conduct (2:1-15; 5:3-15; 6:1-2)• Love of money (6:5, 10, 17-18)


• Restoration of the Correct doctrine • God is unique Creator of the world (2:5, 6:15-16, 4:3-5)• Christ – the mediatior of Salvation (2:5-6, 3:16)• God wants to save everyone (2:4)

• Patient & faithful teaching of correct doctrine (2:7, 3:2, 4:6-11)

• Correct conduct and behavior - ‘pillar of truth’ (6:1)• Restoration of prayer & good works (2:1-11)• Church leaders: overseers/elders & deacons (3:1-13; 5:17-20)

• Importance of character• Teaching and leadership of elders

• Proper conduct in the household (2:1-6:2)


2.3 Situation, purpose and themes in Titus• Situation in Titus

• Paul left Titus in Crete to organize elders and refute false teachings (1:5, 9; 2:1)

• “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you” (1:5)

• False teaching in Crete• Similar to 1 Timothy – mix of Judaism w/ ascetic tendencies• Jewish myths and Law (1:14, 3:9-11)• Asceticism (1:14-15)• Corrupt teachers & love of money (1:15, 11)


• Paul’s response • Truth of faith and correct conduct• Proper organization of the church

• Correct doctrine (1:9, 2:1, 15; 3:8)• God’s grace and transformed lives (2:11-12; 3:4-8)

• Correct behavior and conduct• Character of leaders (1:5-9; 2:2)• Proper behavior in the household (2:3-10) No mockery – make Christ attractive (2:5, 10)


2.4 Situation, purpose and themes in 2 Tim• Situation of Paul in 2 Timothy

• Paul in prison waiting to die… (1:12, 16; 4:6)• Many have adandoned Paul (1:15, 4:10; 2:17-18)

• Shame of imprisonment (1:16; cf. Mark 14:27, 50)• Message: encouragement to stay faithful (2:1)

• Examples of faithfulness• Lois and Eunice (1:5); Onesiphorus (1:16-18)• Jesus (2:2) and Paul (1:11-13, 2:9-10, 3:10-11, 4:6-8, 16-18)

• Persecution and trials • Suffering for the sake of the gospel (1:8, 12; 3:10-12)• Examples – soldier, athlete, worker (2:3-7)


• Correct doctrine and false teachings• Importance of correct teaching (1:13, 3:14-17)• Passing on the tradition (“faith”) (2:2, 8, 4:2)• Importance of HS (2:14)• Humility of the servant of Christ (2:14-16; 2:22-26)


3.1 The Role of women in the pastoral epistles• Women in the church and household

• Importance of child bearing (1Tim 2:15; 5:14) • Managing household (1Tim 5:14; Tit 2:5)• Submission to husband (1Tim 2:11; Tit 2:5)• Modesty, clothing and apparel (1Tim 2:9, 15)• Good life and shunning evil (1Tim 2:10)• Sensual and prone to gossip (1Tim 5:11-13; 5:6)• More easily deceived (1Tim 2:14; 2Tim 3:6)• Limited ministry roles (1Tim 2:8-12; 3:11; 5:9-10) How should this be understood? • Demeaning, stereotyping?• Immutable gender roles and ministry patterns?


• Basic views and hermeneutical implications• Option 1: the role of women needs to be understood in

light of the socio-historical context – not timeless truths• Backlash against gnostic heresy or worship of Artemis• Directed to wealthy women (had time, money, and were

targets of the false teachers)• Directed to unlearned women teachers

• Option 2: Timeless truths about gender roles• Divinely mandated gender roles and ministry functions

• Option 3: Outright rejection of women’s roles as presented in the pastorals• Denigrating women and militates against God’s other

principles such as love, justice, and equality To think about: how does stereotyping function in NT? (Pharisees, women, ‘Jews’ etc.)


3.2 Things to ponder• What, if any, are the theological implications for regarding

pastoral letters as pseudepigrapha?

• Do pastoral letters domesticate or ‘tone down’ Paul’s radical teaching? How so, or why not?

• How should the portrayal of women’s roles in the pastoral epistles be understood? How does that compare with passages about women in Paul’s undisputed letters & Acts? • 1Tim 2:9-11, 15; 3:11; 5:11-14; Tit 2:5• Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom 16:1-3, 7; 1Cor. 16:19; 2Tim. 4:19


4.1 Introduction to Philemon • Shortest of Paul’s letters (335 words in Greek)

• Only personal letter that is undisputed

• Some interesting features• Paul, slavery & history of effects• Honor & shame, favors and rhetoric


4.2 Historical and Critical Issues• Undisputed letter – Ephesus AD 54-55; Caesarea AD 58-

60 or Rome AD 60-61• Situation & Purpose

• Written to Philemon – a friend• In Colossae? (cf. 1:2, 10-15//Col 4:9, 17)• Wealthy and influential person (1:15-16; 1:2)• “dear friend and co-worker” though indebted to Paul (1:1, 19)

• Onesimus – Philemon’s run-away slave• Dear & useful for Paul in prison, “my own heart” (1:10-13)

• Recent convert (1:11, 16)• Wronged Philemon & financial loss (1:18)

• Paul’s appeal to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus• Welcome Onesimus back in godly manner (1:16-17)


• The lot of run-away slaves in the Roman Empire• Severe punishment – even execution • Roman Law: Paul obligated to return him• Slave could appeal to master’s colleague/friend for arbitration

Not fugitive• Paul mediates a conflict

• Paul’ appeal• Asks for favor “in the Lord” (1:20)• Onesimus - voluntary service to Paul in ministry (1:13-14)• Grant freedom to Onesimus (1:15-16)• God’s providence in the process (1:15)


• Paul’s rhetoric• Public letter for congregation as well as to Philemon (1:2, 25)• Appeal to Philemon’s generosity (1:4-7)• Philemon owes his life to Paul (1:19)• Paul in prison mentioned three times (1:1, 9, 23)

Could Philemon really deny the request?


• Paul and slavery – what was Paul’s view on it?• All equal in Christ (Gal 3:28; cf. 1 Cor 7:21-24)• Obedience to masters (Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-25; 1Tim 6:1-2)• What about in Philemon? – what of 1:16-17; cf. 1:20?

• Onesimus becomes Paul’s slave? (1:20, 13, 11)• Becomes Paul’s (free) co-worker? (1:16) Not as mere property (cf. 1:17)

• Is Paul’s language a polite way of asking O’s freedom?

• Would the letter been preserved had the appeal not heeded?

• Curiosity: Onesimus the bishop of Ephesus (Ign. To Eph. 1:3)• The same Onesimus?• Onesimus – a common slave name• Would another slave have risen to a position of bishop?


• History of effects in US• Used to “return the run-away slaves”

• Slavery in the ancient world – few remarks• Not racially based• Born slaves; debt slavery; voluntary slavery• Tasks - good to terrible (mines vs. Caesar’s household)• Sacral manumission (bought freedom in the name of a god)


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NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey