Early Christian Communities Session 5

1
Early Christian Communities Session 5

• Pastored Church, inthe Pastoral Epistles

2
Reading, on the Pastorals

•  Conzelmann, H., The Pastoral epistles a
  commentary. 1972
• Donelson, L.R. Pseudepigraphy and Ethical
  Argument in the Pastoral Epistles 1986 (large
  sections online)
• Marshall, H., A critical and exegetical
  commentary on the Pastoral Epistle. 1999
• Murphy-O'Connor, J., The Authenticity of Second
  Timothy (in A Critical Life, ch.14 the last
  years)
• Spicq, C., Les Epitres Pastorales. 1969

3
The Importance of Church Structure

• The Pastorals are the most formal, ex professo
  treatment of sub-apostolic continuance in the New
  Testament (Brown, Churches, ch.2)
• In this scenario, Pauls thoughts turn to the
  Christians he is leaving behind. His interests
  are now no longer primarily missionary but
  pastoral he is concerned with tending the
  existing flock.

4
Similar shift, in the Peter image

• In the first part of Jn 21 (1-11) Peter the
  fisher of men makes a miraculous catch of fish
  and drags ashore a net bulging with 153 large
  fish.
• Then the imagery changes from missionary to
  pastoral, as Jesus ignores the fish and instructs
  Peter to feed his lambs or sheep (Jn 2115-17).

5
Mirrored in 1 Peter

• Just as Paul the missionary, when pictured as
  dying, becomes primarily Paul the pastor
  preserving those whom he has converted,
• so in the Petrine equivalent of the pastoral
  epistles, Peter gives sheep-tending advice (1 Pt
  51-3)

6
Letters Addressed to Pastors

• Paul, an apostle To Timothy, my loyal child in
  the faith remain in Ephesus so that you
  instruct certain people not to teach any
  different doctrine.. 1Tm 1.1-4
• I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is
  within you through the laying on of my hands
  2Tm 1.6
• To Titus, my loyal child in the faith .. I left
  you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you
  should put in order what remained to be done Ti
  1.5ff

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the Pastorals are different

• They differ from the other letters of the Pauline
  corpus, in
• (1) language,
• (2) literary style,
• (3) theological perspective,
• (4) church organization,
• (5) the nature of the opposition the church has
  to face.

8
Are they peudepigraphic?

• Yes, because they differ so much from Pauls
  known style and outlook
• No, because Paul was writing to Pastors, late
  and the early Christians would not easily accept
  a writing as being from Paul, if it only emerged
  after his death
• Or maybe on the basis of an authentic letter (2
  Tim), the other two gained acceptance

9
The Duties of Timothy (i)

• To be a stabilising leader in the church at
  Ephesus handing on the tradition
• instruct certain people not to teach any
  different doctrine (heteroxy) 1.3
• To appoint suitable local leaders (bishops and
  deacons 3.1ff) who are sober/reliable
• To fight the good fight 1.18, loyal to his
  Pauline inheritance

10
The Duties of Timothy (ii)

• To ensure that the liturgy is reverent and
  orderly 2.1-4
• Lead a God-directed life, nourished on the words
  of the faith and of the sound teaching 4.6
• Set the believers an example in speech and
  conduct 4.12ff
• Pay close attention to yourself and to your
  teaching 4.16
• How to pastorally care for different groups 5.1ff

11
The Duties of Titus

• To be Pauls loyal child in the faith we share
  1.3
• To put in order what remained to be done
• To appoint in every Cretan town 1.5, elders who
  are hospitable, lovers of goodness, prudent,
  upright, devout, and self-controlled.
• Teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. 2.1
• Give suitable pastoral advice to the various
  groupings, men, women, young, old, slaves or free
  2.2ff

12
The Ordination Texts

• Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was
  given to you through prophecy with the laying on
  of hands by the council of elders. 1 Tm 4.14

13
Conservative Tone, vs Heresy

• Teach and urge these duties. Whoever teaches
  otherwise and does not agree with the sound words
  of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is
  in accordance with godliness, is conceited,
  understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving
  for controversy and for disputes about words.
  From these come envy, dissension, slander, base
  suspicions, 5 and wrangling among those who are
  depraved in mind and bereft of the truth,
  imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

14
Qualities of Local Pastors

• a bishop must be above reproach, married only
  once, temperate, sensible, respectable,
  hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not
  violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a
  lover of money. 3.1ff
• Deacons likewise must be serious.. 3.8
• The Women likewise must be serious, not
  slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all
  things. (are they deacons?)

15
Tasks of Local Pastors

• Basically, to conserve the tradition as is clear
  in the final exhortation
• Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you.
  Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of
  what is falsely called knowledge 6.20

16
The Churchs Identity Call
17
What prompted the Pastorals?
18
Personalia, in 2 Timothy 4

• As for me, I am already being poured out as a
  libation, and the time of my departure has come.
• Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with
  you, for he is useful in my ministry.
• I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
• When you come, bring the cloak that I left with
  Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all
  the parchments.
• Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm the
  Lord will pay him back for his deeds.