1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Thessalonians (Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament | ACNT)
Overview
1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are traditionally called the Pastoral Epistles, due to their aims and contents: they provide instructions for pastoral oversight of congregations, giving considerable attention to the qualifications and duties of congregational leaders who function as pastors. Some commentators have judged these epistles harshly, claiming that they reflect a version of Christianity concerned with organization and structure. These letters are said to lack the earlier zeal for the Gospel, the freedom of life in the Spirit, and the sense of the church as the dynamic people of God in pilgrimage.
As Arland J. Hultgren shows, the Pastoral Epistles are the work of a faithful witness to the Gospel, setting forth a synthesis of Christian doctrine and moral teaching. They keep the church faithful to its calling under the lordship of Christ, and serve as primary documents for studies in the doctrine of the church and its ministry.
The book of 2 Thessalonians, containing only three chapters, is the shortest in the New Testament with the exception of Philemon. Yet because of its subject matter, is remains one of the most interesting, and has enjoyed an extensive, influential, and even controversial history of interpretation. In 2 Thessalonians, Paul encourages the persecuted, warns against idleness, and describes the Day of the Lord. Roger Aus’s commentary on 2 Thessalonians contains an outline, bibliography, and chapter-by-chapter exegetical and interpretive analysis of the entire epistle.
- Discussion of historical issues, such as authorship, dating, and location
- Textual and literary notes
- Bibliographies and suggestions for further reading and study
- Scripture references linked to your Greek New Testament or English translation
Top Highlights
“the Pastorals are taken in their present form to be pseudonymous” (Page 12)
“They are portrayed here in 2 Timothy as a pilgrim people who are on the way to salvation. This salvation is ‘in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory’ (2:10b). It is a future inheritance, which is a distinctly different understanding from that of the heretics who hold that the ‘resurrection is past already’ (2:18) and think that the glory of salvation is present. The elect, like Paul, are to endure and serve as people on the way to salvation.” (Page 121)
“This section is similar to 1 Cor. 14:33b–36, a passage which is not likely to be from the hand of Paul, for, among other reasons, it is not consistent with 1 Cor. 11:5.8 It appears to be a later interpolation, perhaps based on 1 Tim. 2:11–12, but in any case reflecting a similar view.” (Page 68)
“But here it is more definitely a ‘conversion,’ since it involved a move from ignorance and unbelief to knowledge and belief. Grace overflowed for him with faith and love as a result (1:14).” (Page 58)
“Here the exhortation is that Timothy be strong in the strength which grace provides. Grace is itself a power in the Pastorals (1 Tim. 1:14; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 2:11).” (Page 118)
- Title: I-II Timothy, Titus, II Thessalonians
- Authors: Arland J. Hultgren, Roger David Aus
- Series: Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament
- Publisher: Fortress Press
- Print Publication Date: 1984
- Logos Release Date: 2011
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. Pastoral Epistles › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Thessalonians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Titus › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9780806688749, 0806688742
- Resource ID: LLS:AUGCOMNT75TI
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T16:34:56Z
Arland J. Hultgren is a graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. His Th.D. in New Testament is from Union Theological Seminary in New York. Since 1977 he has been a professor of New Testament at Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary.
Roger David Aus studied at St. Olaf College, Harvard Divinity School, Luther Theological Seminary, and Yale University, from which he received his Ph.D. in 1971. An ordained Lutheran clergyman, he has since served a German-speaking congregation in West Berlin, Germany, which granted him a study leave in Jerusalem, Israel in 1981.