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1-2 Timothy and Titus: Pastoral Epistles

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Pastorals (1 Timothy 1–6; 2 Timothy 3–4)
    20 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    False Teaching (1 Timothy 1; Titus 1–3; 2 Timothy 1–4)
    18 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Church Government (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1–2 Review)
    18 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Mentoring in Ministry (1 Timothy 1, 6, 2 Timothy 1–4 Review)
    21 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Women in Ministry (1 Timothy 2–3, 5, 1 Corinthians 11 Review)
    21 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

The Pastoral letters—1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—are believed by many to be the last written of any of the surviving Pauline letters. Unlike some of Paul’s other letters, the moral and ethical instruction in these three letters is the core of Paul’s message. He wants believers to live out their faith in a way that impresses non-believers and shows them the beauty and freedom of the Christian lifestyle.

With this context in mind, read the passages below, one from each of the Pastoral letters:

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.
1 Timothy 3:2 NASB

 

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NASB

 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.
Titus 2:11-12 NASB

  1. Taking into perspective the context of the passages above, summarize their common themes:

Each of the verses in the previous question instruct believers to live deliberate, disciplined lives. The bolded words in those verses basically means “moderation” or “moderate.” Paul doesn’t want any extreme or indulgent behavior among Christians to turn away non-believers.

Read the passages below, one from each of the Pastoral letters: 

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness. 
Titus 1:1 NASB

 

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing.
1 Timothy 6:3-4 NASB

 

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB

2. Summarize the common themes from these passages:

Themes of the Pastoral Letters

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.
Titus 1:1 NASB

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing.
1 Timothy 6:3-4 NASB

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money . . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB

Each of the verses above includes the word godliness, and this word appears more often in the Pastoral Epistles than the rest of the New Testament combined. This word strikes at the heart of Christian morality, which is about likeness to God and imitating his character. Paul wants believers to reveal the love and character of God to the world around them.