Written by Paul J Bucknell on December, 12, 2019
Pastoral Epistles Overview: Developing Church Leadership— 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus
The Apostle Paul believed that the troubles leaders face in a church have both a cause and a solution. Throughout these pastoral epistles (1, 2 Timothy, and Titus), the Apostle Paul both diagnoses these church problems as well as provides helpful solutions. These solutions might not always be easy or instant but always improve the situation.
Troubles Churches Might Face
Tensions in the church can lessen the confidence of a pastor. Paul wrote these letters to encourage Timothy and Titus, the two Christian leaders, to stand strong in God’s Word so that God’s sheep might be protected.
Solutions Churches Might Use
Paul supplied a significant number of instructions and exhortations to these young pastors so that they might stand strong in their calling to God and faithfully carry out the needed steps to protect the flock of God.
Project: Analyze a Church’s Health
Think of a church that you are familiar with. Identify any struggles that are threatening the welfare of the church. Paul does this exact thing in these epistles.
- Be objective as possible.
- Briefly describe each problem.
- Identify what harm is threatening God’s people.
- Take steps to strengthen that which is being weakened.
#1 Difference in Church Policies
The main purposes of 1 Timothy and Titus focus on better defining the function of the church and helping the elders to handle different church problems and policies rightly. In this case, inefficient or nonexistent policies enabled false teachers to exert undue influence on the church. Often a pastor is unaware of problems until numerous people have been hurt. Each new wave of false doctrine, by necessity, by God’s grace leads to clearer standards.
- 1 Timothy 2:1-15; 3:1-16; 4:10-16; 5:1-25; 6:1-6, 17-19
- Titus 1:5-9; 2:1-15; 3:1-10
Teach Authoritative Guidelines
“But in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Assignment
- Go through the above sections of scripture and list what church policies Paul instructed them?
- Why is each of these instructions important? Are they essential today?
- Are any of the areas that Paul mentioned needed for the church you attend? If so, which ones? If not, what areas of need exist?
- Are the leadership standards only for the leaders? Why or why not?
#2 False Teachers
False teachers are as destructive today as ever. (Some might say worse due to media, and yet, this same media provides warnings about the excesses of certain teachers.)
The Apostle Paul foresaw at the end of his life a tsunami of attacks coming against the church of God. He responded with three letters. We call them the Pastoral Epistles: 1, 2 Timothy, and Titus. After Paul’s first imprisonment, he was released. He visited different places, including the island of Crete, an island only 160 miles long south of Greece and Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. He wrote this letter to Titus around 62 AD from somewhere in Macedonia.
If Paul made his last charge to the Ephesian elders in 57 AD, then it was a mere five years before the scene in 1 Timothy develops (62-63 AD). Paul persevered in the battle to keep the Ephesus church pure and strong. He did the same thing for the church in Crete through Titus. Titus was also written soon after Paul’s release from prison (end of Acts). 2 Timothy was written a little bit later before he was martyred.
Teach the Word of God
- 1 Timothy 1:1-11, 18-20; 4:1-9; 6:3
- 2 Timothy 1:14-18; 2:14-26; 3:1-9; 4:1-4
- Titus 1:10-16; 3:9-11
From above, we see Paul busily confronting these false teachers. They were full of advice. Paul was very critical of them, but he countered their efforts by teaching four things. Let’s look at Acts 20:17 and 28-31.
17 ... He sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. (Acts 20:17, 28-31, NASB)
Qualifications for Leaders
Paul taught the qualifications for an elder (1 Tim 3:1-2; 2:12; Tit 1:5-9). The false teachers couldn’t live by God’s standard.
Inspired new Leaders
He encouraged the qualified to contemplate to join the ministry (1 Tim 3:1).
Content of Teaching
He made sure one’s teaching was based on God’s Word (2 Tim 3:16).
Instructions on how to train
He instructed those on training (2 Tim 2:2; Tit 2:1-5).