Page 3 - Pastoral Epistles student textbook

Pastoral Epistles

Stephen Anderson, D. Min.

Study Section 1: Pastoral Epistles – An Introduction

1.1 Connect

In ancient Roman and Greek times, people were entertained by going to a play. Actors
would play parts that were more or less fake. They would pretend to be something they
were not. They were referred to as hypocrites or play actors. They were disliked and
often hated by the populace because they were not true to their word. As time went on,
anyone who was a fake and their life did not match their words, they were called a
hypocrite in a derogatory manner. It was a slam on their character.

Many “Christian” today are actors. They go to church and claim to know Christ, but you see little of
God’s Word lived out in their lives. They are PRETEND Christians. In fact, the Bible says that if a
person is truly a believer, that his life will change, and he will be a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
Philippians 2:12 tells us to “work out” or “check out” your own salvation to see if you are truly born
again. The way to you this is to see if what you do matches what you say you believe. If there is a gap,
then you should be extremely concerned that you are not truly a believer in Christ. As we begin our
course in the pastoral epistles, we will see that taught over and over again. So, let’s get started…

1.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to identify which books in the New Testament are considered
“Pastoral Epistles.”

2. The student should be able to describe the author of both books and a background history
about their writing.

3. The student should be able to identify the location of where Titus ministered after Paul left to
return to his missionary journeys.

1.3 Introduction

Don't fall into the trap of studying the Bible without doing
what it says. Francis Chan

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me. Jesus. Matthew 16:24

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good
minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching
that you have followed. Apostle Paul. 1 Timothy 4:6

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