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Story of Scripture New Testament – Pastoral Epistles- Session 7

Written by

Jay Downes

in

Pastoral Epistles: 1–2 Timothy & Titus

Led by Pastor Josh Vox Church

My Personal Class Notes-

Pastoral Epistles – Establishing the Church in Ephesus and Crete

Epistles of Paul to Timothy – Historical Background

Overview

  • Books: 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy
  • Author: The Apostle Paul
  • Recipient: Timothy, Paul’s beloved spiritual son and protégé in ministry
  • Genre: Pastoral Epistles (alongside Titus)
  • Purpose: To instruct and encourage Timothy in church leadership, doctrine, and personal integrity

Timothy – A Portrait of Leadership Against the Odds

Who Was Timothy?

Timothy was a young leader and spiritual son to the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:2; 4:12). His backstory is one of broken barriers and divine purpose.

  • Mother: A Jewish believer named Eunice
  • Father: A Greek Gentile (unnamed in Scripture)
  • Mixed heritage made Timothy a mamzer in Jewish terms—an illegitimate or ritually impure child under Jewish law:
    • He likely wasn’t circumcised.
    • Couldn’t attend synagogue.
    • Couldn’t read from the Torah.

Despite this, Paul saw in Timothy something the world dismissed. He chose him. Paul circumcised Timothy (Acts 16) to allow ministry to both Jews and Gentiles, demonstrating that the Gospel breaks cultural boundaries.

Paul’s Choice: A Social Outcast as a Church Leader

Timothy became Paul’s most trusted companion—entrusted with churches, doctrine, and leadership. This is a stunning reversal: the Gospel advanced through someone the religious system would’ve disqualified.

1 Corinthians 1:28–29
“God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

1 Timothy

  • Date Written: c. AD 62–64
  • Location Written From: Possibly Macedonia, following Paul’s first Roman imprisonment

Purpose:

  • To instruct Timothy, left in Ephesus, on how to organize and shepherd the local church.
  • Provides pastoral guidance: qualifications for elders and deacons, handling false teachers, public worship, and conduct in the household of God.
  • Emphasis on sound doctrine, godliness, and church order.

Key Themes:

  • Defending against false doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3–7)
  • Qualifications for church leadership (1 Timothy 3:1–13)
  • The role of women in worship (1 Timothy 2)
  • Godliness and contentment (1 Timothy 6:6–10)

1 Timothy – Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Chapter 1 – Guard the Gospel

Paul warns Timothy about false teachers and urges him to uphold sound doctrine. He reminds Timothy of the purpose of the law, his own testimony of grace, and the importance of staying faithful in the fight for truth.

Chapter 2 – Prayer and Public Worship

Instructions on prayer for all people, especially leaders. Paul emphasizes godly behavior and gives controversial but contextual guidance on the roles of men and women in worship.

Chapter 3 – Qualifications for Leaders

Outlines the qualifications for overseers (elders) and deacons—emphasizing character, self-control, family leadership, and spiritual maturity. Paul refers to the church as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

Chapter 4 – Train Yourself in Godliness

Paul warns of coming false teachers and encourages Timothy to stay grounded in Scripture and disciplined in godliness. “Let no one despise your youth” becomes a key challenge to lead with integrity and example.

Chapter 5 – Honor in Church Relationships

Instructions for caring for widows, honoring elders, and managing church discipline fairly. Paul provides guidelines for relational conduct and leadership responsibility.

Chapter 6 – Godliness and Contentment

Paul confronts greed and false motives among teachers. He exhorts Timothy to pursue righteousness, fight the good fight of faith, and guard the deposit of truth until Christ returns.

2 Timothy

  • Date Written: c. AD 66–67
  • Location Written From: Rome, during Paul’s final imprisonment before his execution under Nero

Tone: More personal, urgent, and intimate

Purpose:

  • Paul’s farewell letter—his last recorded writing.
  • Meant to strengthen Timothy in courage, endurance, and faithfulness in the face of suffering and persecution.
  • A charge to guard the Gospel, preach the Word, and stay faithful even when others fall away.

Key Themes:

  • Perseverance in ministry despite suffering (2 Timothy 1:8–12)
  • The inspiration of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17)
  • Final charge to preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1–5)
  • Paul’s final reflections: “I have fought the good fight…” (2 Timothy 4:6–8)

Historical Context

  • Christianity was spreading rapidly, but false teachers, heresy, and Roman pressure threatened the church.
  • Paul saw Timothy as a faithful young leader to anchor churches and carry the Gospel forward.
  • These letters are foundational for understanding Christian leadership, church structure, and discipleship.

2 Timothy – Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Chapter 1 – Unashamed of the Gospel

Paul encourages Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God. He reminds him of his spiritual heritage and calls him to suffer unashamedly for the Gospel, guarding it by the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 2 – Be Strong and Endure

Paul calls Timothy to be like a soldier, athlete, and farmer—enduring hardship, training with discipline, and laboring with hope. He urges faithful teaching and warns against quarrels and ungodly chatter.

Chapter 3 – Last Days and the Power of Scripture

Paul describes people in the last days as lovers of self and rebels against truth. He charges Timothy to stay grounded in what he’s learned, highlighting the inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture.

Chapter 4 – Finish the Race

Paul gives his final charge: “Preach the word… in season and out.” He reflects on his own life as a completed race and a poured-out offering. He warns of desertion by some but affirms God’s faithfulness to the end.

Titus – History, Context, and Study Overview

  • Author: The Apostle Paul
  • Recipient: Titus, a Greek believer and one of Paul’s trusted co-workers
  • Date: Around AD 63–65, likely after Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment
  • Location: Written while Paul was in Macedonia or Nicopolis
  • Genre: Pastoral Epistle (alongside 1 & 2 Timothy)

Who Was Titus?

  • Titus was a Gentile convert (Galatians 2:3) and a spiritual son to Paul (Titus 1:4).
  • He played a key role in Paul’s ministry, particularly in conflict resolution and church organization (see 2 Corinthians 7:6–15).
  • Paul entrusted him with delicate missions, including delivering letters, raising relief funds, and appointing leaders.
  • Titus was left on the island of Crete to set in order the churches, which were young and disorganized.

Purpose of the Letter

Paul wrote to:

  1. Instruct Titus on how to organize the Cretan churches
  2. Appoint qualified elders who would guard doctrine and model integrity
  3. Rebuke false teachers, particularly those from the circumcision party
  4. Emphasize sound doctrine that produces good works

Themes in Titus

  • Doctrine must lead to godly living
  • Church leadership requires integrity
  • The grace of God trains believers in holiness
  • Rebuking false teaching is a pastoral duty
  • Salvation is by grace, but it transforms behavior

Chapter-by-Chapter Summary of Titus

Chapter 1 – Appointing Godly Leaders

Paul begins by reminding Titus of his apostolic mission. He urges him to appoint elders in every town who meet specific moral and doctrinal qualifications. These leaders must be able to teach sound doctrine and refute false teachers, especially those stirring up division for dishonest gain—many of whom were from the circumcision group (Jewish legalists).

Key verse:
Titus 1:16
“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

Chapter 2 – Teaching Sound Doctrine and Godly Living

Paul instructs Titus on what to teach different groups in the church: older men and women, younger women, younger men, and even slaves. The point: sound doctrine produces sound behavior. He anchors this in the grace of God, which has appeared to train us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return.

Key verses:
Titus 2:11–12
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

Chapter 3 – Good Works Flowing from Grace

Paul reminds the church to be subject to authorities, gentle toward others, and to remember their own past—they were once lost, but now saved not by works but by God’s mercy. The regeneration of the Holy Spirit makes believers new. Out of that transformation, Paul urges devotion to good works, while also warning to avoid foolish controversies and reject divisive people after repeated warnings.

Key verse:
Titus 3:5
“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”

Why Titus Still Matters

Titus gives a blueprint for:

  • Healthy church leadership
  • Sound doctrine connected to real life
  • Confronting false teachers with boldness and clarity
  • Living in a culture hostile to truth (like Crete) with grace, courage, and faithfulness

It’s short—but sharp. Practical—but theological. A letter for pastors, elders, and every believer called to live out the Gospel with integrity.

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