The Pastoral Epistles - Relating with unbelievers (original) (raw)
Related papers
Pastoral Theology in the Letters of Paul: The Basis for Paul's Pastoral Responsibility
Hill Road, 2014
This essay discusses the basis for Paul’s pastoral concern through the study of the language, rhetoric, and themes Paul uses to refer to the church and his own responsibility in relation to it. The aim of this paper is to analyze this body of evidence within the Pauline letters in order to better understand Paul’s pastoral expectations for his congregations, the nature of Paul’s pastoral responsibility, and the contours of his pastoral concern. Paul’s use of the language of progress, maturity, and growth with respect to the church reveals that he understands that salvation is not a punctiliar event but continuous. Paul’s pastoral role is that of a parent who longs for a child’s development and maturation; his task is to assist the church on their journey of faith. Paul’s frequent use of the rhetoric of “being worthy” reveals that he considers the congregation’s conduct to be of vital importance. The reason for this is the reality of the gospel of Jesus––those who accept this gift must also live in a manner worthy of it. The language of “calling” reveals that the power of the gospel enables Gentiles to become part of Israel, whom God called and elected to be his own people; God’s people are to be holy as he is holy, and consecrated to his service. Paul also uses a sacrificial metaphor to describe the church, revealing his desire to present the church as a perfect and pleasing offering to God. By observing Paul’s thanksgiving for his churches, one can observe what Paul values most, and what he wishes to promote in his communities. The phrase “faith and love” appears most often in Paul’s thanksgiving, revealing Paul’s concern for the church to continue and progress in a faith that is enacted in love. Finally, Paul’s rhetoric of seeing the church as the grounds for his boasting in Christ reveals his joy in seeing the progress of his churches, who receive the word of God with joy, who endure under persecution, and who live as God’s children in the world like stars shining in the night sky. The language Paul employs is highly illuminating for understanding his view of the church’s identity and mission, as well as his own pastoral role with respect to the church. Paul has a vision of what the church should be, and an understanding of his role in fulfilling that vision. Inevitably, attempts to engage with Paul’s pastoral concern and responsibility will lead to a better understanding of his thought and writings, and yield practical insights for the modern pastor that will contribute to a more Biblical vision of pastoral care.
Pastoral Theology in Paul's First Letter to Timothy
Dissertation for LAEL Graduate School, 1996
This dissertation examines the Pastoral Theology of the apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy. It seeks to answer the question, "What principles of Pastoral Theology is Paul teaching to the pastors of our generation in his letter to the young preacher Timothy?" This question needs a Biblical answer because pastors face a very difficult challenge today. There is much Satanic opposition causing distraction from Spirit-filled ministry. Many Pastors are frustrated and facing burn out. Others are spiritually defeated and being manipulated by Satan. The answer for the church lies within the covers of the Bible. Paul is the apostle for this church age. His letter is important for study. In pursuing this goal the researcher has examined the general themes of pastoral theology in relationship to Pauline doctrine. The relevant literature was reviewed and the background of First Timothy was examined in relation to this design. The text of Paul's letter to Timothy was studied and translated from the original Greek. The background, history and linquistical significances were considered in the interpretation of the text. The investigator followed the basic outline of Paul's text to bring out its intended meanings. Commentaries and word studies were researched to explore the rich definitions of the text. This interpretation was explained in relationship to practical needs in pastoral ministry. The main body of the paper deals with Paul's application of theology to pastors. Paul warns against false doctrine and exhorts ministers to proclaim Christ as the theme of preaching. Worship in the church centers on the importance of prayer, the sound doctrine of the Scriptures and discipline. The pastor himself is to be an example of godliness to his congregation. He must continually guard against false teachers with their divisive doctrines. He has a great responsibility in dealing with various groups within the church. Special instruction is given for the care of widows. The final message for the pastor concerns the end times and patience until the return of Christ. The servant of the Lord must be content and committed. With false teachers seeking to undermine the church the Pastor is commissioned to earnestly contend for the faith.
The Spirit in the Pastoral Epistles: Inspiring, Gifting, Sanctifying Presence
BRILL eBooks, 2022
The pneumatology of the Pastoral Epistles (pe) appears at first glance to be rather limited. The term pneuma occurs only seven times in the pe. In this essay, I will address the seven references in canonical order and then summarize the pneumatology of the pe. The pe reinforce the traditional systematic theological perspective of the role of the Spirit as active in revelation and the salvation process and as empowering persons for service. The Holy Spirit is the main person of the Trinity actively working in eschatological salvation for all by bringing forth the fruit of holiness and working powerfully through the sufferings of gifted persons.
JSPL 9.1-2
In his article titled “The Meaning of ἐπιϕάνεια in the Pastoral Epistles,” Rob van Houwelingen argues and concludes that ἐπιϕάνεια is used in 1 Timothy and Titus, on the one hand, to refer to the second coming of Christ, while it is used in 2 Timothy, on the other hand, to refer to the first coming of Christ. He further argues that the testamentary nature of 2 Timothy, unlike 1 Timothy and Titus, accounts for Paul’s focus on the first epiphany of Christ therein. While van Houwelingen’s article title and conclusion suggest an analysis that encompasses comprehensive lexical and conceptual elements, he, however, undertakes only a lexical study of the noun cognate ἐπιϕάνεια, without justifying the exclusion of the verbal (and other) cognates. In response, this article undertakes a comprehensive analysis of all the cognates and concepts of ἐπιϕάνεια in the Pastoral Epistles, focusing on their salvific, ethical, and consummative dimensions. It concludes that, in each of the three letters, depending on the context, ἐπιϕάνεια as a concept is used both in reference to the first and second comings of Christ. The emphasis is, however, more on the first than the second epiphany. Moreover, both epiphanies share an ethical significance that connects them together.
Michael Tilly, Ulrich Mell, Gegenspieler - zur Auseinandersetzung mit dem Gegner in Frühjüdischer und Urchristlicher Literatur, Tübingen: M, 2019
The reader of the Pastoral Epistles [PE] is stricken by the virulent polemic against alleged false teachers and their adherents. Some of these are mentioned by name, in connection with various claims. They are said to have suffered shipwreck in their faith, to have gone astray from the truth and from faith, to have harmed Paul or have abandoned him out of love for this world. This paper explores the function of the charges against the opponents in the discourse of the Pastoral Epistles. Secondly, it addresses the reception of these “opponents” in the debate about the true interpretation of Paul, as attested in the Acts of Paul and Thecla [APTh]. To start with my premises, I read the epistles as pseudonymous, more specifically as forged epistles, which belong to a corpus in virtue of numerous thematic and verbal similarities. Nevertheless, after an introductory section on orthodoxy and the denigration of the dissenters I discuss each letter separately. I finally turn to the APTh as a response to the PE. I argue that the views and lifestyle promoted by the alleged heterodox teachers, silenced by the PE, constitute an alternative interpretation of Paul. The PE create orthodoxy by marking alternative readings of Paul as heterodox and by construing opponents through a process of othering. Some decades later, the APTh, relying on the PE and responding to them, recur to a sophisticated procedure of constructing opponents, to defend their own interpretation of Paul, different from that of the PE.