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NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey. Class X I: 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?
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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?
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2.1 Historical and Critical Issues in the pastorals 2.1.1 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)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • 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…
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • Linguistic & literary differences due to… • Greater liberties of amanuensis • Pastorals written for individuals (mandataprincipis –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
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • 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
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 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 (?)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 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), focusontheLaw (1:7); ascetictedencies (4:3-4) • ‘seared’ conscience (1:19; 4:1-2) • Confusion & improperconduct (2:1-15; 5:3-15; 6:1-2) • Love of money (6:5, 10, 17-18)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • Restoration of theCorrect doctrine • GodisuniqueCreator of theworld (2:5, 6:15-16, 4:3-5) • Christ – themediatior of Salvation (2:5-6, 3:16) • Godwantstosaveeveryone (2:4) • Patient &faithfulteaching of correct doctrine (2:7, 3:2, 4:6-11) • Correctconduct and behavior - ‘pillar of truth’ (6:1) • Restoration of prayer &goodworks (2:1-11) • Churchleaders: overseers/elders& deacons (3:1-13; 5:17-20) • Importance of character • Teaching and leadership of elders • Properconduct in thehousehold (2:1-6:2)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2.3 Situation, purpose and themes in Titus • Situationin Titus • Paul leftTitus in Cretetoorganizeelders 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 appointelders in every town, as I directed you” (1:5) • False teaching in Crete • Similar to 1 Timothy – mix of Judaismw/ ascetictendencies • Jewishmyths and Law (1:14, 3:9-11) • Asceticism (1:14-15) • Corruptteachers &love of money (1:15, 11)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • Paul’s response • Truth of faith and correctconduct • Properorganization of thechurch • Correct doctrine (1:9, 2:1, 15; 3:8) • God’sgrace and transformedlives (2:11-12; 3:4-8) • Correctbehavior and conduct • Character of leaders (1:5-9; 2:2) • Properbehavior in thehousehold (2:3-10) No mockery – makeChristattractive (2:5, 10)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2.4 Situation, purpose and themes in 2 Tim • Situation of Paul in 2 Timothy • Paul in prisonwaitingto die… (1:12, 16; 4:6) • Manyhaveadandoned Paul (1:15, 4:10; 2:17-18) • Shame of imprisonment (1:16; cf. Mark 14:27, 50) • Message: encouragementtostayfaithful (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 • Sufferingforthe sake of thegospel (1:8, 12; 3:10-12) • Examples – soldier, athlete, worker (2:3-7)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • Correct doctrine and false teachings • Importance of correctteaching (1:13, 3:14-17) • Passingonthetradition (“faith”) (2:2, 8, 4:2) • Importance of HS (2:14) • Humility of theservant of Christ (2:14-16; 2:22-26)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 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?
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • 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.)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 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
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 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
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 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)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • 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)
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • 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?
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • 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?
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • 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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