The Pastoral epistles is a collective title that was given to them since the eighteenth century. It is a fitting title since they deal with ecclesiastical problems having intended to help pastors in their work.[1]
Pastoral epistles
| Name
|
Greek
|
Latin
|
Abbreviations
|
Remarks
|
| 1 Timothy
|
Προς Τιμόθεον Α
|
Epistula I ad Timotheum
|
1 Tim, 1T
|
|
| 2 Timothy
|
Προς Τιμόθεον Β
|
Epistula II ad Timotheum
|
2 Tim, 2T
|
|
| Titus
|
Προς Τίτον
|
Epistula ad Titum
|
Tt, T
|
Authorship
The Pastoral Epistles were possibly written during the end of life of the apostle Paul. Some controversy exists regarding the authorship of the pastoral epistles. Some scholars think that the heresies attacked in books reflect a period subsequent to the apostolic age. But some of them admit the authorship of Paul in such passages as 2Timothy 1:15-18 and 2Timothy 4:9-22 . However, the same style characteristics of these passages appear in the rest. Evidence of the Church Fathers in favor of Pauline authorship is very strong and conclusive: Clement,[2] Polycarp,[3] Irenaeus, Tertullian, Theophilus and the Muratorian canon.[1] Despite all the attacks, there remains a complete absence of any positive external evidence against Pauline authorship, while the number of personal references in the pastoral letters sound in a different genuine way.[4]
References
