Read the books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. Focus on the following scriptures:
1 Timothy 1:1-20 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Titus 3:1-11
Paul, the apostle, was a consummate church planter, but he was also a concerned pastor. If Galatians was the first epistle written , 2 Timothy might be considered his last. It is in these “pastoral epistles” that we hear Paul, not addressing a particular church, but speaking directly to individuals who were considered leaders in the church as he encouraged them to be faithful in their service and consistent in their conduct as they conducted their lives in a manner that is consistent with the Gospel message.
The overall theme of these Pastoral Epistles is faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although these epistles are directed to specific individuals as leaders of our Lord’s Church, they also speak to everyone who is called to Godly living through faith in Christ. It is in these epistles that we see the one who is called to pastor a church is one who shepherds and oversees the work of the local church.
The Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is a believer’s only rule for faith and practice. Paul speaks to Timothy and Titus about teaching sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:8), the basis for Godly living and growth in grace. He encourages them to avoid fruitless discussions which cause distraction and threaten the unity and health of the church body (1 Timothy 1:3-4; Titus 3:9; 2 Timothy 2:16). Most importantly he exhorts them to live lives consistent with the Gospel call because the integrity of believers is the key to convincing others about the integrity of the Gospel (Titus 2:11-12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:7-9; 2 Timothy 2:21 ; 1 Timothy 5:20)
- How does Paul describe biblical leadership? What does it look like?
- What is the relationship between the Word of God and godly living?
- Considering 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- , what would you say is “all Scriptures” that Paul is referring to here?
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