The commentary itself displays a wide array of fresh insights. In treating Paul’s concern with his opponents in Timothy, for example, Towner suggests that dangerous trends outside the church were also in Paul’s mind as he addressed the behavior of women who were active as teachers in the church. Centered on a superb translation of the Greek text and complemented with thorough footnotes, bibliographical citations, and indexes, this commentary will soon become a standard reference for busy pastors, students, and scholars.
Editor's Preface
Author's Preface
Abbreviations
Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION AND AGENDA
THE LETTERS TO TIMOTHY AND TITUS IN THE EARLIEST CENTURIES
Reception and Canonicity
Text and Translation
READINGS OF THE LETTERS IN THE MODERN ERA:
INTERPRETIVE OPTIONS AND THE AUTHORSHIP QUESTION
The Traditional Paradigm and Its Status Today (the Minority Interpretation)
The Second Imprisonment Theory
Locating the Letters within the Acts Framework
The Modern Paradigm (the Majority Interpretation)
The Modern Paradigm and Its Methodology
Assessing the Modern Paradigm
Pseudonymity
Illegitimate Historical Disjunctions
Illegitimate Literary Disjunctions
The Search for a Historical Middle Ground:
"Allonymity"
READING THE LETTERS IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Literary Character of the Letters to Timothy and Titus
The Unity and Individuality of the Letters
The Literary Character of the Letters
Reading the Letters as Letters:
The Historical Character of the Letters to Timothy and Titus
Ephesus and Crete: Cities and Churches
Elements of Historical and Cultural Setting
False Teaching/Opposition/Cultural Movements
The Organization of the Churches
The Addressees: Timothy and Titus
Unity and Diversity of Theological and Thematic Elements
Shared Elements of Theology
Salvation in Jesus Christ
The Pauline Gospel and Mission
The Holy Spirit
The Christian Life
Church and Leadership
The Authority and Use of Scripture
In Search of a Christological Center:
Savior and Epiphany
The Trajectories of Christology in the Three Letters
Christology in 1 Timothy:
"Christ Jesus, himself human"
Christology in Titus:
Christ Jesus, Co-Savior
Christology in 2 Timothy:
The Lord Jesus Christ, Paradigm of Suffering and Vindication
Unity and Diversity in the Christology of the Letters to Timothy and Titus
Theological Perspective, Structure, and Message in the Letters
1 Timothy: The Oikonomia Theou and Oikos Theou
The Theological Perspective of 1 Timothy
The Structure and Message of 1 Timothy
Titus: The God Who Does Not Lie and the Cultural Deception of Crete
The Theological Perspective of Titus
The Structure and Message of Titus
2 Timothy: Suffering and Succession
The Theological Perspective of 2 Timothy
The Structure and Message of 2 Timothy
PAUL AND THE LETTERS TO TIMOTHY AND TITUS:
DEFINING THE PARAMETERS
Paul and the Letters to Timothy and Titus
Paul's Letters within His Mission:
Letters to Churches and Letters to Coworkers
The Authorship Enigma: Open Questions
Farewell to the "the Pastoral Epistles"?
THE FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY
OPENING GREETING (1:1-2)
The Writer
The Recipient
The Greeting
BODY OF THE LETTER (1:3–6:21A)
Ordering and Organizing God's Household:
Part I (1:3–3:16)
Regarding False Teachers and False Doctrine (1:3-20)
Timothy's Commission: Engaging the Opponents (1:3-7)
Excursus: Conscience in the Letters to Timothy and Titus
The Law and Paul's Gospel (1:8-11)
Paul's Calling as a Pattern of Conversion (1:12-17)
Excursus: The "Trustworthy Saying" Formula
Charge to Timothy Resumed (1:18-20)
Regarding Appropriate Prayer in the Church (2:1-7)
Excursus: Godliness and Respectability
The Behavior of Men and Women in the Public Worship Assembly (2:8-15)
Excursus: Self-Control
Excursus: Good Deeds
Regarding Qualifications of Overseers and Deacons (3:1-13)
Qualifications of Overseers (3:1-7)
Qualifications of Deacons (3:8-13)
The Church and the Faith (3:14-16)
Ordering and Organizing God's Household:
Part II (4:1–6:21a)
Regarding Heresy, Godliness, and Timothy's Responsibility (4:1-16)
The Emergence of Heresy (4:1-5)
Sound Teaching and Godliness (4:6-10)
Timothy: Paradigm of the Healthy Teacher (4:11-16)
Regarding Other Groups in God's Household (5:1–6:2a)
Proper Treatment of Age Groups (5:1-2)
Proper Treatment of Widows (5:3-16)
Proper Recognition and Discipline of Elders (5:17-25)
Expectations of Slaves (6:1-2a)
Contrasting False and True Teachers:
Godliness, Greed, and the Correct Use of Wealth (6:2b-21a)
Charge to Timothy:
Confront the False Teachers and Their Lust for Wealth (6:2b-10)
Recasting Timothy's Commission:
Genuine Character and Motive for Ministry (6:11-16)
Excursus: The Epiphany Concept
A Corrected Perspective on Wealth (6:17-19)
Repeating the Charge to Engage the Opponents (6:20-21a)
CLOSING BENEDICTION (6:21B)
THE SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY
OPENING GREETING (1:1-2)
The Writer
The Recipient
The Greeting
BODY OF THE LETTER (1:3–4:18)
The Call to Personal Commitment and Spirit-Empowered Ministry (1:3-18)
Thanksgiving for Timothy's Faith (1:3-5)
The Renewed Call to Boldness and Faithfulness in Ministry (1:6-14)
The Call to Action (1:6-8)
The Gospel for Which We Suffer (1:9-10)
The Apostolic Model for Timothy and the Call to Succession (1:11-14)
Models of Shame and Courage (1:15-18)
Called to Dedication and Faithfulness (2:1-13)
Carry Out Your Ministry with Dedication (2:1-7)
Reasons for Enduring Suffering (2:8-13)
Addressing the Challenge of Opposition in the Church (2:14-26)
Prophecy, Commitment, and Call (3:1–4:8)
The Heresy in Ephesus in Prophetic Perspective (3:1-9)
The Way of Following Paul (3:10-17)
The Final Charge to Timothy (4:1-8)
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND PERSONAL INFORMATION (4:9-18)
CLOSING GREETINGS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND BLESSING (4:19-22)
THE LETTER TO TITUS
SOURCES OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON CRETE
OPENING GREETING (1:1-4)
Paul and His Apostolate (1:1-3)
Titus: The Recipient (1:4a)
The Greeting (1:4b)
BODY OF THE LETTER (1:5–3:11)
Instructions to Titus (1:5-16)
The Overarching Instruction to Titus:
Putting in Order and Finishing Up (1:5)
Appointing Church Leaders Able to Instruct the Church and Correct Opponents (1:6-9)
Naming and Engaging the Opponents (1:10-16)
Instructions for the Church (2:1–3:11)
Some Local and Formal Matters of Introduction
Christian Living within the Household (2:1-15)
Living in accordance with Sound Doctrine (2:1-10)
The Basis of This Life (2:11-14)
Summary Command to Titus (2:15)
Living as the Church in the World (3:1-8)
Christian Living within Society (3:1-2)
The Theology That Generates This Life (3:3-7)
The Motive (3:8)
Disciplining the Opponents in the Church (3:9-11)
PERSONAL NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS (3:12-14)
FINAL GREETINGS AND BENEDICTION (3:15)
INDEXES
Subjects
Authors
Scripture References
Early Extrabiblical Literature
Key Greek Words
800 pages; dimensions (in inches): 6.25 x 9.25
ISBN: 9780802825131
Catalogue code: N/A
Publisher: WM B EERDMANS PUB CO - published 15/05/2006
Format: Hardback