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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.]

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

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. 1 Timothy 6:3 NIV

 

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 NIV

 

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:9 NIV

  1. Summarize the common themes from your reading of these passages (1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9).

Grab your Workbook Journal!
[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

Each passage refers to “sound” teaching or doctrine, and this word “sound” appears more in these three Pastoral letters than in the rest of the New Testament combined. The Greek behind this word has its root in the language of hygiene, and most literally refers to good health or wellness. Paul wants healthy churches and knows that healthy teaching is crucial to the wellness of believers.

Again, read the passages below from each of the Pastoral letters:

(False teachers) are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind. 1 Timothy 6:4-5 NIV

 

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23 NIV

 

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9 NIV

  1. Summarize the common themes from your reading of these passages (1 Timothy 6:4-5; 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9).
Key Themes in the Pastoral Epistles

Each passage encourages people to avoid “quarrels” and disputes over nonessentials. This is the false counterpart to the sound teaching Paul encourages in other passages. These disputes are “stupid,” “unprofitable” and “useless.” Above all, they are “unhealthy”—the opposite of the “health” and “wellness” Paul promotes in sound teaching and doctrine.