1-2 Timothy, Titus

1 Timothy

Authorship

In the modern era of biblical scholarship, those that study these texts have questioned whether 1 Timothy (and for that matter all 3 pastoral epistles) was written by Paul. One reason for this is that this text uses a significant number of words not found in Paul’s authentic letters. The style of these letters does not correspond to authentic letters of Paul. Another reason is that the events described in the pastorals seem to occur after the events in Acts 28. These letters do specifically say that they are written by Paul, and so modern readers who are aware of the scholarship concerning these texts have a bit of a conundrum. Are these forgeries? If so, what does this say about these letters? Are they perhaps in a middle ground area when it comes to authorship – not literally from the pen of Paul, but also not outright forgeries? Can a middle ground be established here? This seems to be the approach of Thomas Wayment as he works readers through his introduction to 1 Timothy, and to me seems to be a plausible approach. As I have written in other posts, modern Christian readers can view these texts as authentically inspired of God while not having them be a 100% view of the proposed author. 1

Purpose in Writing

1 Timothy has two main purposes: to give guidance to the early Christian readers of the letter as they navigate issues regarding church leadership, and to counteract false teachings circulating around the turn of the first century A.D. The issues 1 Timothy are dealing with are probably from a time 40-50 years after the life of Paul. 2

The letter is written as if it is from Paul to Timothy to assist in fighting false teaching. The letter says that Paul left Timothy in Ephesus while he traveled to Macedonia (1 Timothy 1.3), and Paul feared that he would not be able to return to Ephesus in the future (1 Timothy 3.14-15).

Issues Addressed in 1 Timothy

Teach Correct Doctrine

1. Some will teach false doctrine – 1 Timothy 1.3-7
2. Dealing with Asceticism 1 Timothy 4.1-5
3. Guard the deposit ( παρακαταθήκην φύλαξον – depost guard) of our faith – 1 Timothy 6.20

Counsel on Prayer and Worship

1. Paul writes that women are “less” than, something modern readers find wrong. – 1 Timothy 2.11-14
2. Be silent! – 1 Timothy 2.11

Church Administration

1. Paul mentions 2 guys excommunicated – Hymenaeus & Alexander – 1 Timothy 1.20 – see also 1 Corinthians 5.4-13
2. Calling of Bishops – 1 Timothy 3.1-13
3. Caring for the widows- 1 Timothy 5.1-16
4. Financial support for the Elders – 1 Timothy 5.17-25

Interesting Counsel

1. Modest clothing and unbraided hair – 1 Timothy 2.9
2. Avoid “hasty” ordinations – 1 Timothy 5.22
3. A “little” wine – 1 Timothy 5.23
4. The “love of money” is the root of all evil – 1 Timothy 6.10
5. Counsel to slaves – 1 Timothy 6.1-2

Notes on 1 Timothy

1. Edgar Goodspeed, in his study of Ephesians, has shown that the Greek texts of other Pauline epistles has been reworked into the text of Ephesians. In this manner, one can say that the text is Pauline, while Paul may not have been the technical “author” of this text, these are in a sense, his words. See the last 50 pages of Edgar Goodspeed, The Meaning of Ephesians, University of Chicago Press, 1932. Another scholar has written, “In view of the widespread custom of pseudonymous authorship in antiquity it is easier to assume that a loyal disciple of Paul used several previously unpublished messages of the apostle and expanded them to deal with the conditions confronting the church a generation after Paul’s death.” See: The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha: Expanded Edition, Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 1440.
2. From the standpoint of the history of development of church constitution the epistles (1-2 Timothy, Titus) belong to the time of the turn of the century. The Pastoral Epistles, Fortress Press, 1972, p. 4.

2 Timothy

The same issues regarding authorship apply to this letter as 1 Timothy. From the text, it appears as if Paul thought he might die soon (2 Timothy 4.6-8).

From the account in Acts we see that Timothy was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother who had become a Christian (Acts 16.1). Because of his religious upbringing he received from his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1.5; 3.15), Timothy was already converted to Christianity by the time he met up with Paul. Paul, upon meeting Timothy, made him his missionary companion and the two worked closely together. Timothy is mentioned several times in Paul’s letters (1-2 Thessalonians and 2 Corinthians).

2 Timothy is a pastoral letter from a veteran missionary to a younger associate, urging endurance as the main quality of a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy is told to not be ashamed of the gospel message (2 Timothy 1.8-18); and is encouraged to handle suffering like a good soldier (2 Timothy 2.1-13). Timothy is advised on handling false teachers (2 Timothy 2.14-19) and to purify himself (2 Timothy 2.20-26). He also addresses the apostasy of his day (2 Timothy 3.1-7, 4.1-4).

Teach Correct Doctrine

1. Guard that which was given to you (παρακαταθήκην φύλαξον) – 2 Timothy 1.14
2. Paul laments those who have abandoned truth – 2 Timothy 1.16

The Way of Faithfulness

1. Certain Christians received Paul well – 2 Timothy 1.16-18 “The house of Onesiphorus” – see also 3 Nephi 19. We talk about this extensively in the podcast, the key in a careful reading of this text is to identify how the author uses the words them and their. In my reading of the text, the author is speaking about the 12 Nephite disciples of Jesus. This is critical in our understanding of the text and how the Lord operates in each dispensation – he entitles witnesses to represent him. How we accept and follow these witness is critical in understanding our discipleship. Once we have a spiritual witness of their calling as true messengers of Heavenly Father and His Son, it is vital that we heed their counsel and teaching.
2. Christians should act Christlike in their speech and demeanor – 2 Timothy 2.21-26
3. Worth of scripture – 2 Timothy 3.15-16
4. Endure sound doctrine, the idea is that due to apostasy, many turn away from right teaching  – 2 Timothy 4.3

Application

1. What are you building your life with? Gold and silver or wood and clay? – 2 Timothy 2.20, 3.17
2. Avoid arguing when trying to teach the Gospel – 2 Timothy 2.23
3. Paul understands Timothy’s youth and gives appropriate counsel – 2 Timothy 2.22; 1 Timothy 4.12 (A better translation of the  Greek of 1 Timothy 4.12 says “do not permit anyone to look down on you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” 1
4. Want to have a healthy spirit? Paul says we need to listen to sound teaching (2 Timothy 4.3). This is directly tied to our understanding of the Lord’s pattern in teaching his children as detailed in 3 Nephi 19 – The Lord communicates to man via the Holy Ghost and Apostolic teaching.

Notes on 2 Timothy

1. Thomas Wayment, The New Testament: A Translation for Latter-day Saints, Religious Studies Center, BYU, Provo, 2019, p. 383.

Titus

Authorship

We have the same issues with Titus as the rest of the pastoral epistles. There is a possibility that this letter may represent Paul’s thoughts and ideas, but that these were textualized by a later faithful Christian closely associated with Paul.

I. Introduction (1:1-5)

A. Purpose of the Epistle: The Task of Titus, who is left in Crete (1:5)

II. Appointing Elders & Rules for Bishops (1:6-9)

III. Setting Things in Order (1:10–3:14)

A. Handling Ebionites, Judaizers and False Teachers (1:10-16)

B. Right behavior in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus (2:1-15)

1. Instruction to different groups (2:1-10)

a. Older Men & Women (2:2-3)

b. Younger Women & Men (2:4-8)

c. Slaves (2:9-10)

d. Hope for all men in preparation for the Second Coming (2:9-14)

C. Being a Christian in the context of a Roman Empire (3:1-15)

1. Obey the Authority of the Empire (3:1-2) These later texts seem to indicate a time when Christianity fell in with the Roman Empire. There is tension throughout the New Testament: is Christianity for or against the Roman Empire? An argument can be made that much of the New Testament speaks against human empire, establishing a heavenly empire with Christ as king. 1

2. How we respond to Jesus, knowing his mercy is the source of power (3:3-8)

3. Avoid Foolishness (3:9-11)

4. Providing for God’s People (3:12-14)

5. Farewell (3:15)

Notes on Titus

1. Scot McNight, Joseph Modica, Jesus is Lord, Caesar is not, IVP Academic, 2013.