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Title: Topic 14Disputed Letters: The Pastorals (1

1
Topic 14 Disputed Letters The Pastorals (1 2
Timothy and Titus)

Authenticity most scholars doubt authenticity.
Six main problems for authenticity of Pastorals
Vocabulary/style 306 words not found in
undisputed letters language more similar to
writings of early 2nd cent.
Theology differs from undisputed letters
No emphasis on Cross, Spirit, grace vs. law,
flesh vs. spirit, etc.
Practical moral piety emphasis on sound
doctrine, good works faith body of
doctrine (the faith creedalism).
Church order more developed than in Pauls day
bishops, elders, deacons formally installed by
laying-on of hands (institutionalization).
Supposed situation of Paul does not fit into
known life of Paul.
1 Tim. 13 left Timothy in Ephesus and went to
Macedonia (cf. 2 Cor. 11 Acts 201-6 Timothy
is with Paul in Macedonia).
Tit. 15 left Titus on Crete (mission there
otherwise unknown).
2 Tim. 4 9-20 prison in Rome one hearing went
well expects death asks Timothy to come sends
news of events 2 years earlier to Tim. (who
participated in them is closer to them).

A. Authenticity cont.
Six main problems for authenticity of Pastorals
cont.
Gnostic false teaching may be Marcionism (early
2nd cent.)
Opponents forbid marriage and wine (1 Tim. 43
523) as Marcion did.
Antitheses of the falsely so-called knowledge
(1 Tim. 620) Marcions main writing was called
The Antitheses.
External testimony no early evidence of
existence.
Earliest canons (Marcion P46) did not include
Pastorals.
No clear reference in Apostolic Fathers earliest
quotes come from end of 2nd cent.
(Any of these problems can be explained away
their cumulative weight convinces most scholars
of inauthenticity.)
Attempts to salvage authenticity
Amanuensis theory Paul gave free hand to his
secretary.
Fragment hypothesis (P. Harrison) isolates 5
genuine fragments used by final author of letters.

Date and place of writing
If authentic mid-60s must presuppose release
from Roman imprisonment new travels 2nd
imprisonment.
If inauthentic c. 100 (or later) probably in
Asia Minor.
Occasion
Oppose Gnostic teaching of ascetic type,
advocating celibacy and food restrictions (1 Tim.
13-7 41-5 523 620 2 Tim. 214-19 Tit.
110-16).
May be Marcionism or proto-Marcionism.
Marcion rejected OT god of law for Jesus God of
grace.
Thought he was restoring pure gospel of Paul.
Created NT canon of Luke 10 letters of Paul.

Teaching of the Pastorals
Reflect period of early catholicism (cf.
Horrell, p. 137)
Loss of imminence of Parousia no sense of
eschatological urgency settling down for
indefinite stay.
Growing creedalism faith as relationship with
God giving way to the faith as creed, sound
doctrine.
Increasing institutionalization spontaneous,
charismatic leadership giving way to formal,
fixed offices.
Author opposes false teaching by appealing to
Scripture (2 Tim. 316 1 Tim 41-5).
Apostolic tradition (2 Tim. 21-2).
Church order (1 Tim. 31-13 517-19 Tit.
15-8)
Bishops (overseers)
Presbyters (elders)
Deacons (servants)
(Cf. Ignatius of Antioch c. 110.)

Teaching of the Pastorals cont.
Teaching on women differs from undisputed
letters.
Regulation of widows (1 Tim. 53-16)
Only older widows should be supported by church.
Younger widows should marry (cf. 1 Cor. 7).
Advocates modesty, silence, submissiveness not
to teach or have authority over men (1 Tim.
28-15 cf. 1 Cor. 1434-35).
None of this is specifically Christian, but is
common ethical teaching in both Jewish and
Hellenistic writers.
Plutarch women should be silent in public do
their talking with and through their husbands.
Rabbis women not permitted to lead in prayers
restricted to domestic role.
Aristeas women are weak by nature subject to
false reasoning.
Philo women are soft subject to being deceived
as Eve was.
Pastorals tend to accommodate to prevailing
culture, rather than challenge it (as Paul did)
settling down in world avoids giving offense.
(Humphries teaching on women is
culture-specific.)
Teaching is situation-specific Opposes ascetic
heresy and requirement of celibacy by putting
women back in traditional domestic role.

Teaching of the Pastorals cont.
Teaching on women differs from undisputed
letters.
4) Cf. Craig Keener, Paul, Women and Wives
Not rules for all time but treating a specific
problem.
Women were esp. vulnerable to false teaching
because they were typically not educated (not
allowed to be).
Paul proposes a short-term and a long-term
solution
i. Short-term women refrain from teaching.
ii. Long-term women become educated
(progressive for that day).