The Pastoral Epistles Through the Centuries
Blackwell Bible Commentaries
1. Edition March 2020
272 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Further versions
Drawing on scholarly insights and a comprehensive array of texts
from the entirety of Christian tradition, The Pastoral Epistles
Through the Centuries explores the rich legacy of the Pastorals
as it has unfolded over the centuries.
* Explores the important role of the New Testament letters to
Timothy and Titus, known collectively as the Pastoral Epistles, in
the development of early Christianity
* Surveys the many theological, cultural, literary, political,
and artistic uses of the Pastorals, and the broader influence these
letters have had throughout the ages
* Considers the Pastorals' complex influence on issues such
as church structure and rites, the roles of women in Christian
religious life, the authority of scripture, and the development of
monastic orders
* Examines the many ways in which language and concepts from the
Pastoral Epistles (such as "fight the good fight" and
"the root of all evils") have filtered into our
cultural vernacular
* References the works of major theologians and interpreters from
all periods, and places special emphasis on traditionally
underrepresented interpreters
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
Historical Overview 1
The Interpretations 4
Areas of Interpretive Interest 8
The Commentary 14
1 1 Timothy 1 16
The Salutation (1:1-2; 2 Tim. 1-2; Titus 1:1-4) 17
The Opponents: Speculators (1:3-7; 4:1-5, 7; Titus 3:9) 19
The Opponents: On the Law (1:8-11) 23
"Paul" (1:12-17; Titus 3:3-4) 25
The Opponents: Excommunication (1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:17; 4:14-15) 27
2 1 Timothy 2 32
The Church: Politics (2:1-2; Titus 3:1) 33
Theological Speculation: Christ as Mediator (2:4-6) 36
Women: Silence in the Church (2:8-14) 39
3 1 Timothy 3 49
The Church: Bishops and Deacons (3:1-13; 5:1, 17; Titus 1:5-9) 49
Theological Speculation: The Mystery (3:14-16) 59
4 1 Timothy 4 64
The Opponents: End Times (4:1-10; 2 Tim. 3:1) 65
5 1 Timothy 5 73
Women: Widows (5:1-10) 74
The Church: Elders (5:17-22; Titus 1:5) 83
Timothy (5:23-25) 86
6 1 Timothy 6 89
The Church: Slaves (6:1-2; Titus 2:9) 90
The Church: Wealthy Christians (6:6-10, 17-19) 95
Theological Speculation: God's Dwelling and Being (6:12-16; 1 Tim. 1:17) 104
The Opponents: Dissent (6:2b-5, 20, 2 Timothy: 12, 14) 110
7 2 Timothy 1 114
The Thanksgiving (1:3-7) 115
Timothy: Ordination (1:6-8; 1 Tim. 1:18, 4:14-15) 117
Theological Speculation: God's Plan (1:9-10; 4:1, 8; 1 Tim. 6:14; Titus 1:2; 3:4-5) 120
"Paul" (1:13-18; 4:11, 19) 125
8 2 Timothy 2 129
The Church: Pauline Succession (2:1-2) 129
The Church: Christian Soldiers (2:3-7) 132
"Paul": The Gospel (2:8-10) 138
Theological Speculation: Divine Consistency (2:11-13; Titus 1:2) 139
The Opponents (2:14-18) 145
The Church: A Large House (2:19-26) 147
9 2 Timothy 3 153
The Opponents: Home Breakers (3:1-9) 154
"Paul": Suffering (3:10-13) 158
The Church: Scripture (2:14-17) 160
10 2 Timothy 4 168
The Opponents: Entertaining Teachers (4:1-4) 168
"Paul": The Good Fighter (4:6-8; cf. 1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:5) 175
Conclusion and Greetings (4:9-22) 184
11 Titus 1 189
The Salutation (1:1-4; 2 Tim. 1:9) 190
The Opponents: Cretan Liars (1:9-16) 191
12 Titus 2 203
The Church: A Household Code (2:2-10) 203
Theological Speculation: Christ the God (2:11-14) 206
13 Titus 3 213
The Church: Baptism (3:1-11) 214
The Opponents: And Also Some Friends (3:10-11, 13) 218
Conclusion 226
Brief Biographies 230
Bibliography 236
Index of Biblical References 252
General Index 256
