First And Second Timothy Titus And Philemon

"Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." (1 Thess 4:14). The epistles of the New Testament provide unparalleled insight into the realities of the life of the early church, guidance for those called to lead the church, and comfort in the face of pressing theological questions. Among those letters are 1 and 2 Thessalonians, which address questions about the expected return of Christ, the pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, written to two of Paul's coworkers who were overseeing early churches, and Philemon, which concerns the relationship between a slave and his master. The Protestant Reformers of the sixteenth century also found wisdom and guidance in these letters. For example, Martin Luther reminded the Christians of his day that Paul had encouraged believers "not to sorrow over the dead as others who have no hope, but to comfort each other with God's Word as having a certain hope of life and of the resurrection of the dead." In this volume of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture, Lee Gatiss and Bradley Green guide readers through a diversity of early modern commentary on the epistles of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Readers will hear from familiar voices and discover lesser-known figures from a variety of theological traditions, including Lutherans, Reformed, Radicals, Anglicans, and Roman Catholics. Drawing upon a variety of resources—including commentaries, sermons, treatises, and confessions—much of which appears here for the first time in English, this volume provides resources for contemporary preachers, enables scholars to better understand the depth and breadth of Reformation commentary, and seeks to bring guidance and comfort in the midst of today's challenges.

First and Second Timothy and Titus are designated Pastoral Letters because they deal with leadership and organizational issues of the early Christian community. Probably written after the death ofPaul, they nevertheless express what Paul himself would have and could have written to community leaders. Second Timothy gives the greatest amount of biographical material we have aboutPaul. The Letter to Philemon, a miniature but authentic Pauline jewel, is a masterpiece of persuasion regarding a slave's freedom. Terence J. Keegan's perceptive commentaries on these precious remnants of first century Christianity provide information and insight regarding the gradual growth of the church. There are pertinent lessons here for today's shepherds and their flocks. Terence J. Keegan, OP, serves as the executive vice president and treasurer at Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island.

This commentary is a combining of three volumes of Paul's letters into one volume. Included are the three pastoral letters and Philemon. I have purposely kept the pastoral letters together but they were not written in said order. In fact Philemon was the first of the four and was written during the apostle's first Roman imprisonment. After his release, he wrote First Timothy and Titus. Then after his second arrest at Troas and during his imprisonment just prior to his execution by Nero he wrote his final letter to his "son in the faith" - Timothy". In these commentaries more than 20 different translations of the Bible were consulted and also more than 22 commentators. The reader will be encouraged and challenged as he/she reads this work with an open mind ready to see what the Lord is saying through His servant.

Paul's letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon offer practical instructions to Christian leaders and workers. Written by the apostle well-schooled in debate and persuasion, the inspired words of these theologically rich and practically viable epistles provide godly wisdom to churches of all ages in the administration and direction of the Lord's work, by faithfully applying God's timeless truth recorded in these small, yet powerful books.

Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus have sometimes been labelled his 'Pastoral Epistles'. Scholars have assigned them to a later period in Paul's ministry, when churches he founded were more settled in structure, perhaps after release from his first imprisonment in Rome and during a second (which may be true). Others postulate a later pseudonymous writer, claiming to be Paul (which may not be true). The fact is that all Paul's letters are 'pastoral' in content, full of paternal care and concern for his converts and their fellowships. What really distinguishes these is that they are addressed to individuals rather than churches. So it seems more appropriate to classify them as his 'Personal' correspondence.

In our modern times we use many idioms and other forms of speech that would leave someone living twenty centuries ago baffled. The reverse is true. Our culture has evolved since then, and therefore the message and doctrinal content of the Apostle Paul's epistles becomes cryptic. With Understanding the New Testament you can gain new understanding on hundreds of phrases and verses in these four epistles.