Category:Pastoral Letters (subject)

The Pastoral Letters are three letter in the New Testament, written in the tradition of Paul, namely, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy & Titus. Scholars see these texts as early 2nd-century documents.

Overview

Major Themes

BISHOPS

Whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way---for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert... Moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders... (1 Tim 3).

A bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain... (Titus 1:7-9)

SLAVES

Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor... Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved... (1 Tim 6)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling.... And masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality... (Eph 6:5-9)

WOMEN

“Women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.” (1 Tim 2:11-12)

“As in all the churches of the saints, women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” (So says Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, where however he also talks of women who “pray or prophesy,” 11:5. Is it the passage in 1 Cor 14 a later interpolation?

WIDOWS

Honor widows who are really widows. If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents ... The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives ... Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once; she must be attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children ... But refuse to put younger widows on the list ... I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households... (1 Tim 5:3-16)

[[The teaching here contradicts what Paul says in 1 Corinthians: "A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord. But in my judgment she is more blessed if she remains as she is" (1 Cor 7:40)]]

Luke 8:1-3 (NRSV) -- [1] Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, [2] as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, [3] and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

AGAINST ECCESSIVE ASCETISM

[There are] liars [who] forbid marriage and demand abstinence from food, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected... (1 Tim 4:3ff)

“No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent aliments.” (1 Tim 5:23).

Jesus was revealed in the flesh... (1 Tim 3:16)