CHAPTER 9

Pastoral Letters
(1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy)

Chapter 7 looked at the four letters that Paul wrote while he was a prisoner in the city of Rome. After being in a Roman prison for about two years, Paul was finally released. Now Paul, as a free man, was able to move about helping believers, preaching the gospel to unsaved people, starting and strengthening churches. During this time of freedom, Paul wrote two letters, 1 Timothy and Titus.

Toward the end of his life, Paul was again thrown into prison in Rome (see 2 Timothy 2:9). This was Paul's second and final Roman imprisonment. This time he would not be released; instead, he would be put to death! As Paul sat in his dungeon, he sent one more letter to Timothy which we now call the book of 2 Timothy. In this book we have Paul's last recorded words. It was the last (surviving) letter Paul ever wrote and as he wrote it Paul knew that the day of his death was drawing near.

All of Paul's other letters (except for Philemon) were written to churches, but these three letters were written to two men, Timothy and Titus. Both of these men were Pastors (Shepherds) which means that they were leaders in their churches.  Just as a shepherd is to take care of the sheep, these men were responsible to take care of the believers who were in their churches. This is why these three letters are often called "Pastoral Letters" or "Pastoral Epistles."

Where did Timothy carry on his ministry as a Pastor (1 Timothy 1:3)? E__________________ Where did Titus carry on his ministry as a Pastor (Titus 1:5)? On the island of C_______________.  Can you find these two places on a Bible map?

We learn about Timothy in the book of Acts, chapters 16-20 (see especially Acts 16:1-3). Titus is not mentioned in the book of Acts, but we learn about him in some of Paul's other letters (see 2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:6,13,14; 8:6; 12:18; Galatians 2:1,3). Both of these men were faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The letters to Timothy and Titus have a great message for us today. As we read the things which Paul wrote to these men, we begin to understand what kind of a man a Pastor should be. We also begin to discover what the church should really be like. Then we must ask, "Is my church like this?" "Am I in the right church?" "Is my Pastor really doing what God wants him to do?"

As we study these three books, we learn at least five things about the Pastor and his preaching. These same five things should also be true in the life of every believer, as we share God's Word and tell others about our wonderful Lord and Saviour:

1) THE PASTOR MUST PREACH SALVATION.

There are many churches that do not teach God's way of salvation. There are many churches where the pastor, priest or minister never tell people about the GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION which we learned about in Chapter 5. You could attend these churches every Sunday for years and never learn how to be saved (or never even learn that you need to be saved).

When Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus, he had much to say about salvation! Paul wanted these men to preach and teach concerning the wonderful salvation that is found in Jesus Christ!

Why did Christ Jesus come into the world (1 Timothy 1:15)? ____________________________________ Who does God desire to save (1 Timothy 2:3-4)? ______________________  For whom did Christ give His life a ransom (1 Timothy 2:6)?  __________________  [Note:  "Ransom" means that Christ gave up His life as a substitutionary sacrifice paying the full penalty for sins under God's judgment.]  Who is the only MEDIATOR (the One who goes between) between God and men, and the only One who can bring us to God (1 Timothy 2:5)? __________________________________ Who must we put our trust and our hope in (1 Timothy 4:l0 and 6:17)? ______________________________________________

How is a man saved or justified, by his own works and good deeds or by God's grace (Titus 3:7)? ________________________________ In the following chapters, find a verse which teaches that a person is not saved by his own good works:

Titus chapter 3, verse __________

2 Timothy chapter 1, verse ______

In the following chapters, find a verse which teaches that if a person is really saved (and God lives within him), then he will perform good works:

Titus chapter 3, verse _________

Titus chapter 2, verse _________

2) THE PASTOR MUST PREACH CHRIST.

In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul determined that he would preach and make known _______________________________ and Him crucified! There are many churches today that do not preach Christ. Some preach politics or philosophy. Others preach that we should help and love our neighbors. Some preach against war, poverty and crime. Others preach religion (man trying to get to God in man's own way). Paul was different than all of these. He encouraged Timothy and Titus to preach Christ! Man's only hope is found in the Son of God.

Complete the following matching problem which will help you to see that the Pastoral Letters are filled with truth about the Christ whom Paul preached:

1. ______ Christ is my righteous Judge.
2. ______ Christ is my Mediator. A. 1 Timothy 1:1
3. ______ Christ is my Lord. B. 1 Timothy 1:2
4. ______ Christ is my Saviour. C. 1 Timothy 2:5
5. ______ Christ is my Substitute who died for me. D. Timothy 2:6
Titus 2:14
6. ______ Christ is my hope. E. 1 Timothy 3:16
7. ______ Christ is God manifested in the flesh. F. 2 Timothy 1:10
8. ______ Christ is a real man (a descendant of David) who really died but who was raised again from the dead. G.

H.

I.

2 Timothy 2:8

2 Timothy 4:1,8

Titus 1:4

9. ______ Christ is the One who abolished death.
J.

Titus 2:13
10. ______ Christ is the Great God who is coming again.

3) THE PASTOR MUST PREACH THE ENTIRE BIBLE.

Some churches preach just from the Gospels, from the Psalms or from other favorite passages. But there is much from God's Word that they never preach. Other churches teach salvation all the time, but they do not help the people understand how to live the Christian life. John 3:16 is a wonderful verse, but there is more than John 3:16 in the Bible. If God had only wanted us to know John 3:16, then He would have given us a very small Bible!

What did Paul tell Timothy to preach (2 Timothy 4:2)? ________________________ If a person is going to preach the Word, then he must study God's Word of truth (what verse in 2 Timothy chapter 2 shows the need for careful study of God's Word of truth? Verse _______ ). How much of God's Word is profitable for us according to 2 Timothy 3:16?

  1. Just the New Testament
  2. Just the New Testament and Psalms
  3. Just the Gospels and Psalms and Proverbs
  4. All of it (all 66 Books of the Bible)
     

What will God's Word do for me (2 Timothy 3:16)?

4) THE PASTOR MUST PREACH CHURCH TRUTH.

The Pastor must understand what God has said about His church. The main reason why Paul wrote the book of 1 Timothy was so Timothy might know how to B_____________________ himself (conduct himself) in the house of God which is the church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15). The Pastoral letters have a great deal to say about the local church or the local assembly. These books tell us about the organization of the church, the officers of the church, the doctrine (teaching) of the church, the enemies of the church, the worship of the church and the future of the church.

Many people today do not understand what the church really is and what the Bible teaches about the church. For example, many churches today have men who call themselves "priests." Do the pastoral letters say that there should be priests in the church? Many churches today have men called "trustees." Do the pastoral letters say that there should be "trustees" in the church? What should there be in the church (1 Timothy 3:12 and 1 Timothy 5:17)? D_____________ and E_____________   There are many other practices taking place in churches today which these letters do not mention.  Also there are many things said in these letters which are not being practiced by churches today! Why is this so?

5) THE PASTOR MUST PREACH NOT JUST BY LIP BUT BY LIFE

A good pastor must practice what he preaches or else the people who listen to him will say, "Your actions speak so loud that we can't hear what you are saying!" He must preach the truth and live the truth. Timothy was told not only to take heed unto the doctrine (make sure his teaching was right) but also to take heed unto "thyself" (make sure his living was right)!

In 1 Timothy 4:12 (see also Titus 2:7), Timothy was told to be an example of [to] the believers, so that they could look at Timothy and say, "That's what a believer should be!" Paul also told Timothy to exercise himself unto _____________________________ (1 Tim. 4:7). Physical exercise is important (1 Timothy 4:8), but spiritual exercise is far more important. What are some of the things we should do in the physical realm so that we can be physically strong and healthy? What are some of the things we should do in the spiritual realm so that we can be spiritually strong and healthy?

Paul wanted Timothy and Titus to be spiritually strong! In 2 Timothy chapter 2, can you find the verses which go along with each of these illustrations?

Paul wanted Timothy to be . . .

A good SOLDIER Verse ________
A good ATHLETE (one who "strives for the masteries"--KJV) Verse ________
A good husbandman or FARMER Verse ________
A good WORKMAN Verse ________

What is the spiritual meaning behind each of these? In other words, in what ways should a Pastor be a good soldier? In what ways should a believer be a good soldier? etc.

The Apostle Paul was one who not only taught the truth, but who also lived the truth. If a person lives well, he is also able to die well (see Philippians 1:21). When Paul wrote the book of 2 Timothy he was in prison and he knew that the day of his death was soon coming. Was Paul ready to die (2 Timothy 4:6)? ______ Why wasn't Paul afraid of departing from this life (Philippians 1:23)? _____________________________________________ Was Paul ashamed of the way he had lived as a Christian (2 Timothy 4:7)? _____ Was Paul looking forward with joy to that moment when He would stand before the righteous Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:8)? _____

Not long after Paul sent this letter to Timothy, he was executed by the Romans (beheaded by a Roman sword), and immediately he went to be with Christ which is far better! (Please write this verse correctly: Philippians 1:21: "For to me to live is Christ and to die is a great loss and a great tragedy!"  _____________________________________________________________________________

They could put Paul in prison and they could put him to death, but they could not stop the Word which he preached.   "The Word of God is not B_______________ (2 Timothy 2:9)?


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