The First and Second Epistles to Timothy, and the Epistle to Titus form a distinct group among the letters written by Paul, and are now known as the Pastoral Epistles because they were addressed to two Christian ministers. When Timothy and Titus received these epistles they were not acting, as they had previously done, as missionaries or itinerant evangelists, but had been left by Paul in charge of churches; the former having the oversight of the church in Ephesus, and the latter having the care of the churches in the island of Crete. The Pastoral Epistles were written to guide them in the discharge of the duties devolving upon them as Christian pastors. Such is a general description of these epistles. In each of them, however, there is a great deal more than is covered or implied by the designation, “Pastoral”—much that is personal, and much also that is concerned with Christian faith and doctrine and practice generally.
In regard to the genuineness of the epistles there is abundant external attestation. Allusions to them are found in the writings of Clement and Polycarp. In the middle of the 2nd century the epistles were recognized as Pauline in authorship, and were freely quoted.
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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Pastoral Epistles The, Timothy, Titus, Paul's letters, Paul's epistles, Letter to Timothy, Letter to Titus, Epistle to Titus, Epistle to Timothy
Bible reference(s): 1Ti 1:1, 2Ti 1:1, Tit 1:1
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.