P a S T O R Al E P I S T L E S Pastor Brett Peterson

p a s t o r al e p i s t l e s
Pastor Brett Peterson

Course Syllabus

ã Brett Peterson

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Pastoral Epistles

Coastland University

Pastor Brett Peterson

COURSE DESCRIPTION

We will do a complete study of the Pauline Pastoral Epistles - grasping the truths and making accurate exposition of the Bible.

If you can not make it to a class (or if you will be late), you MUST call the instructor prior to your absence.

AVAILABILITY FOR CONSULTATION / QUESTIONS / PRAYER

I will be available before and after class. I will always be available by phone.

Cell 949-977-0903, Hm. 949-888-5777 or e-mail .

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. READING

To be assigned

2. LECTURE

All15 lectures must be attended. 50% of your grade will be classroom participation.

3. PAPER

Each student will choose a topic from the Pastoral Epistles and do a research paper on how it should be applied in the church today. This is 25% of your grade.

4. FINAL EXAM

There will be a take home final exam worth 25% of your grade.

Pastoral Epistles Bibliography

Clark, Gordon H., The Pastoral Epistles; Jefferson, Maryland: The Trinity Foundation, 1983

Conybeare, W. J. and J. S. Howson, The Life and Epistles of Saint Paul, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Reprint 1962

Kent, Homer A., The Pastoral Epistles, Chicago: Moody Press, 1958

Knight, George W. III, The Pastoral Epistles, a Commentary on the Greek Text, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1992

Lea, Thomas D. and Hayne P. Griffin, Jr., The New American Commentary, Volume XXIV, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PASTORAL EPISTLES

These books will give us the advice we need to be good Pastors and leaders in the Church. They are very practical in nature and compel us to live lives worthy of our calling.

Timothy and Titus were very close to Paul and they accompanied him on many of his journeys. Timothy is mentioned in ;

· Acts, xvi, 1;

· xvii, 14, 15, 1;

· xviii, 5;

· xix, 22;

· xx, 4;

· Rom., xvi, 21;

· I Cor., iv, 17;

· II Cor., i, 1, 19;

· Phil., i, 1;

· ii, 19;

· Col., i, 1;

· I Thess., i, 1;

· iii, 2, 6;

· II Thess., i, 1;

· I Tim., i, 2, 18;

· vi, 20;

· II Tim., i, 2;

· Philem., i, 1;

· Heb., xiii, 23;

and Titus in ;

· II Cor., ii, 13;

· vii, 6, 13, 14;

· viii, 6, 16, 23;

· xii, 18;

· Gal., ii, 1, 3;

· II Tim., iv, 10;

· Tit., i, 4.

History

Nero was emporer of Rome. He wanted to rebuild Rome. The Senate delayed his wishes, so, he set Rome on fire. It burned 7 days.

“Nero fiddled while Rome burned” – Summer of 64 AD.

Nero Persecutes The Christians, 64 A.D.

Beginnings of Christian Martyrdom

The following account was written by the Roman historian Tacitus in his book Annals published a few years after the event. Tacitus was a young boy living in Rome during the time of the persecutions.

"Therefore, to stop the rumor [that he had set Rome on fire], he [Emperor Nero] falsely charged with guilt, and punished with the most fearful tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were [generally] hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of that name, was put to death as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius, but the pernicious superstition - repressed for a time, broke out yet again, not only through Judea, - where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also, whither all things horrible and disgraceful flow from all quarters, as to a common receptacle, and where they are encouraged. Accordingly first those were arrested who confessed they were Christians; next on their information, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much on the charge of burning the city, as of "hating the human race."

Timothy , according to the ancient Roman martyrology, died Bishop of Ephesus. Most believe that during the Neronian persecution (64AD) John arrived at Ephesus, where he lived with Timothy until he was exiled to Patmos under Domitian. Timothy, who was unmarried, continued Bishop of Ephesus until, when he was over eighty years of age, he was mortally beaten by the pagans. According to early tradition Titus continued after Paul's death as Archbishop of Crete, and died there when he was over ninety.

The Pastoral Epistles; First Timothy, Titus, and Second Timothy—written in that order, are called Pastoral because they are written to church leaders.

Major theme of the books

The duties of Pastors outlined in these books can be broken down to two major themes:

1. to defend sound doctrine and

2. maintain sound discipline.

(1Tim 1:3). The apostle also deals with numerous problems that would arise in the church and gives advice as to how they should be handled.

Titus continues with these major themes and exands on them.

II Timothy is Paul writing in a more personal way to his spiritual son. This is right before his death.

Focus of this class

This will be a very unique class – we will go through the books at the lecture, and discuss the homework assigned each week. You need to be at every class to get the most value out of this course. If you can’t make it to class, call me to set up a time we can discuss what you missed.

The main goal of this class is to ‘stir up the gifts’ that God has given you and to encourage you to begin to do what Paul is exhorting us to do!

Remember my motto, “Ministry is not a future goal, it is a daily call.”

I think we will all be blessed and grow as we study these compelling books!

Homework for the first week: Read the book of I Timothy several times. As you read, note any questions you have or comments you want to share with the class.

I. AUTHOR: THE APOSTLE PAUL

A. External Evidence: Pauline authorship of the Pastoral

Epistles1 was virtually undisputed until the modern

Times.

1. Here are some of the criteria we use to establish this book:

a. 1 Timothy:

1) Individual Proofs:

a) Cited by Clement of Rome

b) Cited by Polycarp

c) Cited by Hermas

d) Cited by Didache

e) Cited by Irenaeus

f) Named as authentic by Clement of

Alexandria

g) Cited by Tertullian

h) Cited by Origen

i) Named as authentic by Cyril of

Jerusalem

j) Named as authentic by Eusebius

k) Named as authentic by Augustine

2) The Canons (see "d" below)

b. 2 Timothy:

1) Individual Proofs:

(Same as above)

c. Titus:

1) Individual Proofs:

a) Cited by Pseudo-Barnabas

b) Cited by Clement of Rome

c) Cited by Irenaeus

d) Cited by Diogenetus

e) Named as authentic by Tertullian

f) Cited by Tertullian

g) Cited by Origen

h) Named as authentic by Cyril of

Jerusalem

i) Named as authentic by Eusebius

j) Named as authentic by Augustine

2) The Canons (see "d" below)

d. The Canons--All of the Pastorals Are Named as

Authentic in the Following:

1) The Muratorian Fragment

2) Barococcio

3) Apostolic

4) Cheltenham

5) Athanasus

B. Internal Evidence:

1. Opening Statements: The opening statements in

each letter which ascribe authorship to Paul

support authenticity (1 Tim. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1;

Titus 1:1)

II. DATE: Although it is difficult to be exact, it seems that

the Pastoral epistles were written some time between AD 62-

68: 1 Timothy AD 62/63; Titus AD 63/66; 2 Timothy AD 67/68

B. Dates Suggested:

1. I Timothy and Titus seem to have been written not

long before Paul's death,29 perhaps during the

years between Paul's first and second Roman

imprisonments30

2. II Timothy seems to have been written when Paul's

death was imminent

3. In accordance with Hoehner's chronology this

would place the Pastorals with the following

dates:

a. Timothy in the fall of AD 62 or 63

b. Titus in the summer of 63/66

c. Timothy in fall of 6734
**For those of you who attend our Sunday night study, you remember that Nero began his persecution against the church in July of 64 AD.

III. The Recipients:

A. Timothy:

1. Timothy was the personification of the mystery to

the church in that he was the son of a Gentile

father and a Jewish mother (Acts 16:1)

2. Timothy lived in Lystra and no doubt first heard

the gospel message during Paul's first missionary

journey there (Acts 14:6; 16:1)

3. Paul took on Timothy as a promising prot‚g‚, and

became like a spiritual father to him (1 Tim. 1:2;

2 Tim. 1:2; Phil. 2:22)

4. Timothy became one of Paul's fellow-labors (Rom.

16:21; 1 Cor. 16:10; Phil. 2:19-22; 1 Thess. 3:2)

and faithful representative and messenger (Acts

19:22; 1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Cor. 1:19; Phil. 2:19; 1

Thess. 3:2,6)

B. Titus:

1. Titus was one of Paul's converts, or at least one

of his protégés (Titus 1:4)

2. Nothing is known about his conversion or his

family other than that he was a Gentile whom Paul

refused to allow to be circumcised by those in

Jerusalem as an expression of the freedom of the

gospel (Gal. 2:3)

3. Titus represented Paul in Corinth (2 Cor. 2:13;

7:6-7,13-15; 8:6,16-17)

4. Between Paul's two Roman imprisonments Paul

visited Crete with Titus and left Titus behind to

continue the work which they had begun (Titus 1:5)

5. Sometime during Paul's second Roman imprisonment

Titus left Crete and traveled to Dalmatia for

what were probably evangelistic purposes (2 Tim.

4:10)

6. Titus 2:6-7 may imply that Titus was still a

comparatively young man when Paul wrote to him

Although these letters were addressed to Timmy and Titus, the letters were most likely read to the entire church.

In fact, since then, the letters have been read by every church and studied by those called into ministry as a manual on church leadership!

C. The Churches

1. Specifically Fee writes, "The purpose of 1

Timothy, then arises out of these complexities.

The letter betrays evidences everywhere that it

was intended for the church itself, not just

Timothy. But because of defections in the

leadership, Paul does not, as before, write

directly to the church, but to the church through

Timothy. The reason for this would have been

twofold: to encourage Timothy himself to carry out

this most difficult task of stopping the erring

elders, who had become thoroughly disputatious,

and to authorize Timothy before the church to

carry out his task. At the same time, of course,

the church would be having the false

teachers/teachings exposed before them, plus

Paul's instruction to Timothy about what he was to

do. Thus the letter, though addressed to Timothy,

turns out to be all business"

We will attempt to cover 1 chapter per class. Please read the chapter assigned and note any questions or comments you have on that chapter, so we can discuss them at the following class.

Don’t just read the chapter one time – you should read the entire chapter every day, so that you know the chapter well before class.

As you read, note any comments/questions on a sheet of paper that I will look at each class.

What are your goals this semester?

1.______________________________

2.

3.

1 TIMOTHY

Theme: Church Life and Leadership

This book is relevant to us, because it is directed to younger men who served with Paul and represent the next generation of church leaders.

Timothy is to “fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience” (1:18-20). The heart of Paul’s instruction to Timothy focuses on the lifestyle that is appropriate within the church. His instructions touch on prayer (2:1-8), women (2:9-15), the choice of “overseers” (3:1-7) and “deacons” (3:8-13), and concludes with a liturgy of praise (3:14-16). These instructions are intended to help Timothy “know how people ought to conduct themselves in . . . the church of the living God.”

Paul then shifts his focus to Timothy himself. It is apparent that although Paul dearly loved Timothy, and sent him on important missions, Timothy by nature was shy and hesitant.

But Timothy is to do more. He is to “command and teach” the truth, and is not to “let anyone look down on you because you are young.” And the exhortations continue: Timothy is to “be diligent in these matters,” “give yourself wholly to them,” and “persevere in them” (4:10-16).

Paul then returns to the issue of Christian conduct within the church, with instructions for several specific groups. He touches on the relationship between the older and the younger (5:1-2), on the ministry of widows (5:3-16), on the respect due elders (5:17-25), and on the duty slaves owe believing masters (6:1-2). Paul then warns against false teachers, who are exposed by their behavior and unhealthy attitude toward money (6:3-10).

Paul, in the end of this book, gives us as well as Timothy a demand for our lives – here in South Orange County: “Fight the good fight of the faith . . . without spot or blame,” and to “command” God’s people to do good (6:11-19). Even Paul’s farewell contains exhortations, reminding us again that Paul remains concerned not about Timothy’s commitment but about his “toughness” and his ability to stand under pressure (6:20-21).