The Theology of the Pastoral Letters

A fresh assessment of the Pastoral Letters which points to those elements of continuing value to today??'s readers.

The Pastoral Letters have often been marginalised in modern New Testament studies. Regarded as not authentically Pauline, not very theological, and mostly evidence of the church settling down in the world, their patriarchal orientation has more recently futher alienated readers. Yet it was these little letters which mediated Paul to the Patristic church, and then provided scriptural material for debate about church order and ministry from the Reformation to the present. This study attempts to re-read the Pastorals in their original setting, revising many of the standard scholarly assessments in the light of recent work (especially developments in sociological study of the New Testament), and exploring the development of a tradition which proves to be theological in its fundamental structure and in its mode of addressing practical and organisational issues. The letters are then related to the very different context of the modern world.

General editor's preface; Abbreviations; 1. Theology and its context; 2. Theology and ethics; 3. God and the divine activity; 4. The importance of sound teaching or What about Doctrinal Orthodoxy?; 5. Duties in the household of faith or What about Church Order?; 6. The contribution of the Pastorals to the reception of Paul as an apostle; 7. The pastorals as scripture.

The Pastoral Letters have long been controversial among scholars. Frances Young explores their special purpose, and traces their advice on how to live as Christians in the setting of the Roman Empire. She then attempts to assess the value of these letters for Christian living in the very different context of the modern world.