Encountering the New Testament Unit 3 Study Questions

Pastoral Epistles

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, named for their pastoral concerns and addressed specifically to pastors, providing guidance and advice in the church.

Pros of Pauline authorship

Strong theological and historical connections to Paul along with pastoral concerns that align with his other writings.

Cons of Pauline authorship

Vocabulary inconsistencies, stylistic differences from Paul's other letters, and the letters' fit in the Acts timeline raise authenticity questions.

Future of Paul's life after Acts

Some believe Paul was released and undertook a fourth missionary journey, likely writing the Pastoral letters before his second imprisonment and execution.

Major themes of the Pastorals

Encouragement, church leadership instruction, issues facing communities, Christ's centrality, grace, transformative power of the Gospel, and unity among believers.

Instructions for church life in the Pastorals

Guidelines on church organization, qualifications for leaders, integrity in sound teaching, engaging in good works, confronting false teachings, and fostering community.

Qualifications for church leaders according to the Pastorals

Requirements include integrity, sound teaching, and effective shepherding of the congregation.

Importance of sound doctrine according to the Pastorals

Encourages faithfulness to sound doctrine, engagement in good works, and confronting false teachings in the church.