Preface to Pastoral Epistles:
The following 3-epistles viz. 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus are called Pastoral Epistles. These are the individual letters from Paul to Timothy, Titus and generally discussed as a group, sometimes with the addition of letter to Philemon. Apostle Paul has written these epistles with the view of Pastoral responsibility for the churches and also discussed the issues of Christian living, doctrines and leadership. The term “pastorals” was popularized in 1703 by D. N. Berdot and in 1726 by Paul Anton.
1- TIMOTHY: (Gospel leads to practical, visible changes in believers’ lives).
Author: Apostle Paul.
Date: AD 64 Paul wrote the 3-letters of timothy and Titus during the last months of his life.
Key Place: From Macedonia after spending 3-year stay in Ephesus.
Theme: The letter’s theme is that the gospel leads to practical, visible change in believers’ lives. The true gospel, in contrast to false teaching, must and will always lead to godliness.
Purpose: To encourage young Timothy to oversee the churches.
To whom written: Timothy
Key people: Paul and Timothy
Timeline of Timothy and Apostle Paul:
| Incidents: | Year (A.D) |
| Paul’s second Missionary journey with Timothy | 49-51 |
| Paul was arrested and writes 1st letter to Timothy. | 62 – 64 |
| Paul was martyred in Rome | 66 – 67 |
Key verses:
“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity”(4:12)
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Preserve in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”(4:16)
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s” (6:10)