Timothy and Titus were two of Paul’s faithful associates. When problems arose in a church, Paul knew he could depend on either one of them to handle the situation. In these three epistles, Paul encourages his younger colleagues in their roles as pastors. He advises them on worship, leadership, integrity issues, and generation gaps. With confidence, the aging apostle passes the torch of faith and exhorts them to be Christ’s representatives on earth. John Calvin’s exploration of the key passages of these three pastoral epistles not only provides historical insight into the early church, but also guidance and encouragement for pastors and lay leaders today.
“Second, the glory of God’s one and only Son, which John states was seen in Christ, John 1:14, was not made up of outward show or worldly grandeur but was nearly all spiritual.” (Page 64)
“the duties that belong to different vocations. He tells Titus to teach these carefully all the time, and he also” (Page 174)
“A pastor needs two voices, one for gathering the sheep and the other for driving away wolves and thieves.” (Page 184)
“So it is hardly surprising that many people doubt the authority of Scripture. For although God’s majesty is displayed in it, only those who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit have eyes to see what should have been obvious to all, but, in fact, is only visible to the elect. This is what the first clause means, that we owe to the Scripture the same reverence that we owe to God, since it has its only source in him and has nothing of human origin mixed with it.” (Page 155)
“The pastor should not exercise his office of teaching merely at his own chosen times to suit his own convenience but sparing himself no labor or trouble should drive himself on. The people should constantly wake up those who are asleep, stop those who are rushing headlong in the wrong direction, and correct what is wrong in this vain world.” (Page 158)
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