The College Press NIV Commentary: 1, 2 Timothy & Titus
Overview
While several passages in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus have provided the fodder for tomes of theological discussion (e.g., 1 Tim 2:9-15 and the role of women; 1 Tim 3:11 and deacons; 1 Tim 3:1-8 and Titus 1:6-9 and the characteristics of those to serve as elders), the real value of these epistles lies in their message to two young ministers, to second generation believers in Ephesus and to a young church facing a pagan world in Crete. These epistles provide teaching which the church in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries needs to hear. The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus stand in a very close relationship to one another. They are written to fellow workers of the Apostle Paul; they are bound together by similar content; the false teachers who bear similar characteristics, a discussion of church leaders, similar situations for the churches addressed, and the same basic time-frame. Although the term "the Pastoral Epistles" has become a convenient designation for these three epistles which have much in common, it can be misleading. These epistles are not really a manual of pastoral theology. Only a fraction of these books contain what could be termed ecclesiastical teaching (1 Tim 3:1-13; 5:3-22; Titus 1:5-9). The three epistles are very different. Viewed as a whole, the epistles provide insight into ministry, enduring hardship, and understanding the essentiality of good works.
Top Highlights
“The call for ‘full submission’ probably should simply be seen as a call for women to live within their God-ordained role. The key to understanding ‘submission’ is not inferior value or worth but the recognition of one’s role in a relationship.” (1 Timothy 2:11)
“Paul’s concern is the headship of man and the recognition of divinely ordained roles. Paul’s concern is not dominance but role. In this regard Eve serves as representative woman.” (1 Timothy 2:13)
“Paul is probably referring to the various ‘places’ (house-churches) in which the Christians at Ephesus met” (1 Timothy 2:8)
“There are at least two primary interpretations for the phrase to ‘hand over to Satan’: some would suggest that Paul was allowing Satan to inflict the evil doers with physical illness,22 and others that the term is a semi-technical reference to disfellowshipping. The latter interpretation for this text and 1 Cor 5:5 seems most likely. Paul is turning the sinner back over to Satan’s sphere of influence and removing offenders from the fellowship of believers.23 The point of such action for Paul is always the redemption of the sinner. Here the discipline is clearly that they might learn ‘not to blaspheme.’ Discipline is to teach, not to punish. Here Paul hopes that turning the offenders over to the influence of Satan will teach them not to insult the Lord with their words and deeds.” (1 Timothy 1:20)
“The word ‘command’3 is a very strong word. When followed by the word ‘not’ and an infinitive, it carries the idea ‘forbid.’ Timothy is thus to forbid these people from teaching falsehood and devoting themselves to ‘myths and endless genealogies.’ The false teachers are spreading their falsehoods and spending their time in speculations that are both irrelevant and contrary to the gospel.” (1 Timothy 1:3)
- Title: 1, 2 Timothy & Titus
- Author: C. Michael Moss
- Series: College Press NIV Commentary
- Publisher: College Press
- Print Publication Date: 1994
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. 1 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Titus › Commentaries
- Resource ID: LLS:29.59.3
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-26T02:10:39Z
