Overview: Neither of the two letters of Paul to Timothy\u00a0are thought to have been written by St. Paul. Linguistic facts\u2014such as short connectives, particles, and other syntactical peculiarities; use of different words for the same things; and repeated unusual phrases otherwise not used by Paul\u2014offer fairly conclusive evidence against Pauline authorship and authenticity. Both epistles are usually considered \u201ctrito-Pauline,\u201d meaning that they were probably written by members of the Pauline school a generation after his death, likely between 80 and 100 CE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The authorship of the letter of Paul to Titus\u00a0is disputed. Given many of the similarities in content and style to the two Letters of Paul to Timothy, it is possible that this work is also a trito-Pauline epistle, written a generation after the death of St. Paul. In fact, the three letters together are often called Pastoral Letters, as they were written to instruct and admonish the recipients in their pastoral office rather than to address the specific problems of congregations like many of the other Pauline epistles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Timothy and Titus were two of Paul\u2019s young associates in the ministry. The main purpose of the letters was to instruct them as pastors and teachers. Regardless of who wrote the letters, there is always something that we can learn from these writings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. What are some of the qualifications for overseers (pastors)?
2. What will deacons obtain if they have served well?\u00a0\u00a0
3. Why did Paul write these things to Timothy?<\/p>\n\n\n