Pauline epistles cont'd

XV. I Timothy

Author – Paul
When – Written about 64 A.D.
To Whom – Timothy, a disciple of Paul. He was very close to Paul. They had a father-son relationship. Paul first met Timothy during his second missionary journey through Asia Minor (present-day Turkey.) See Acts chapter 16. At the time this letter was written, Timothy was working with the church in Ephesus.
Purpose – Timothy was having to deal with a multitude of problems within the church of Ephesus – false teachings that created division and confusion, distractions that hampered worship services, poor leadership, and division based on wealth or social standing. In this letter, Paul gave Timothy instructions on how to confront these issues. He also offered encouragement to Timothy who was experiencing disrespect from the older members of the Ephesian church because of his young age. Read I Timothy chapter 4
Key verse – I Timothy 1:15-17

XVI. II Timothy

Author – Paul
When – Written about 67 A.D. from Rome shortly before Paul’s death. Chronologically, II Timothy is the last epistle Paul wrote that we have in the New Testament.
To Whom – Timothy, a disciple of Paul. He was very close to Paul. They had a father-son relationship. Paul first met Timothy during his second missionary journey through Asia Minor (present-day Turkey.) See Acts chapter 16. At the time this letter was written, Timothy was still working with the church in Ephesus.
Purpose – Paul knew that his death was near. His letter to Timothy can be read as his “Farewell Address” to Timothy and the Church. Paul was alarmed at the state of the Church. False teachings and factionalism plagued the Church. Persecution of Christians was on the rise. Given all this, Paul exhorted Timothy and the Church to remain faithful to Christ, to persevere in the face of adversity, to continue to preach the Gospel, to oppose false teachings, and to pursue righteousness. Paul informs Timothy that he, Paul, has fulfilled his mission on earth and is ready to accept his heavenly rewards.
Key verses – II Timothy 3:15-17; 4:6-8

XVII. Titus

Author – Paul
When – Written about 64 A.D.
To Whom – Titus, a Gentile Christian who worked closely with Paul. Titus acted as Paul’s “muscle.” If a church was experiencing problems – factionalism, false teaching, unrighteousness - Paul sent Titus to restore order. Example – Paul sent Titus to the church of Corinth to address and correct their many problems (II Corinthians chapters 7 and 8.) At the time Paul wrote this letter, Titus was overseeing the churches on the island of Crete off the coast of Greece. Paul and Titus had worked together to preach the gospel to the Cretans. When Paul moved on to his next destination, he left Titus with the responsibility to organize the Cretan churches and establish them in the true faith.
Purpose – Crete had a reputation for being an immoral society. Also, there was a Jewish presence on the island that did not get along with the native Cretans. The believers in Crete were immature in faith and were in need of instruction to overcome these obstacles. From reading Titus, Paul apparently found the Cretans to be difficult to minister to which is probably why he appointed Titus, “his muscle,” to oversee and establish the churches in Crete. Paul instructed Titus in the qualifications of church officials known as elders who would oversee individual churches. Paul exhorted Titus to rebuke false teachers (Titus chapter 1) and address immorality that plagued the Cretan church (Titus chapter 3.) Paul gave Titus specific instructions on what to teach the old and young, men and women, husbands and wives (Titus chapter 2.)
Key verses – Titus 2:11-15; Titus 3:3-8

XVIII. Philemon

Author – Paul
When – Written about 60 A.D. probably when Paul was imprisoned in Rome
To Whom – Philemon, a wealthy believer in Colosse, his family, and the believers meeting in his home.
Purpose – Paul wrote to Philemon to be lenient to his runaway slave Onesimus. Onesimus had fled Colosse and made his way to Rome where he met Paul in prison. Through his contact with Paul Onesimus became a Christian and assisted Paul with his ministry. The two developed a close friendsip. Onesimus is returning to Colosse and his master Philemon. Paul writes Philemon to accept Onesimus in love and as a brother in Christ not in anger and as his master. Receive him not as a slave but as a man. Welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me, Paul. He was confident that Philemon would do the right thing. Onesimus did return to Philemon bringing with him not only Paul’s letter to Philemon but also a letter Paul wrote to the church in Colosse that is the New Testament epistle known as Colossians. Read Colossians 4:7-9
Key verses – Philemon 1:6-7