PART 3 - THE PASTORAL EPISTLES: COMMUNITY-PROTECTING-INSTITUTIONALIZATION

Summary

1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus reflect the continuation of the Pauline movement into the second century. However, in these writings one discovers a very different style of religiosity from the type found in the authentic epistles or in Colossians and Ephesians. The Pauline symbolic universe has been transformed in relation to the changed social situation. The following study considers the historical circumstances that acted as catalysts to change.

Despite the great differences among the writings of the Pauline corpus, it is evident that some continuity exists. For example, the authority of the Apostle to the Gentiles is reinforced in the Pastoral Epistles and in the other letters. The ethos of love-patriarchalism continues to play a prominent role in the community life. Therefore, it is useful to consider the relationships between the Pastoral Epistles and the early Pauline writings in terms of the ongoing process of institutionalization.

Like the communities of Colossians and Ephesians, the community of the Pastorals is characterized by the changed situation that resulted from the death of the Apostle. However, the need to stabilize community life has reached crisis proportions in the community of the Pastorals, which is experiencing a severe conflict surrounding the problem of false teaching. Social mechanisms are brought into play in order to safeguard the church from destructive forces. The authority of official leaders as the protectors of sound teaching is emphasized.