Shepherding the Flock: The Pastoral Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy and to Titus

by Lawrence R Farley

Overview

St. Paul's epistles to Timothy and Titus contain the apostle's instructions to the pastors under his care about how they, in turn, should care for their flocks in wisdom and love. As the last epistles St. Paul wrote in anticipation of his martyrdom, they remain as a testimony to his pastoral love and as an inspiration for those in the Church, both the shepherds and the flock, to walk in holiness and love themselves.

About the Orthodox Bible Study Companion Series

This commentary series was written for the average layperson. Working from a literal translation of the original Greek, the commentary examines the text section by section, explaining its meaning in everyday language. Written from an Orthodox and patristic perspective, it maintains a balance between the devotional and the exegetical, feeding both the heart and the mind.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781888212563
Publisher:	Ancient Faith Publishing
Publication date:	03/31/2020
Series:	Orthodox Bible Study Companion
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	5.54(w) x 8.51(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

Archpriest Lawrence Farley currently pastors St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (OCA) in Langley, B.C., Canada. He received his B.A. from Trinity College, Toronto, and his M.Div. from Wycliffe College, Toronto. A former Anglican priest, he converted to Orthodoxy in 1985 and studied for two years at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Word about Scholarship and Translation

The Pastoral Epistles

Key to the Format of This Work

St. Paul’s First Epistle to Timothy

Introduction

I. Opening Greetings (1:1, 2)

II. The Need at Ephesus: Timothy to Resist Strange Teachings (1:3–11)

III. Opening Thanksgiving (1:12–17)

IV. Timothy to Receive Paul’s Order (1:18–20)

V. Prayer and Order in the Church (2:1–15)

VI. Bishops’ and Deacons’ Qualifications (3:1–13)

VII. Timothy and Conduct in the Church (3:14–16)

VIII. Teachings of Demons (4:1–5)

IX. Timothy to Persevere as an Example (4:6–16)

X. Various Age Groups (5:1–2)

XI. Widows (5:3–16)

XII. Elders (5:17–25)

XIII. Slaves (6:1–2a)

XIV. Opposition (6:2b–10)

XV. Timothy to Flee Evil and Pursue Virtue (6:11–16)

XVI. The Rich (6:17–19)

XVII. Timothy to Keep Safe the Deposit (6:20–21a)

XVIII. Concluding Blessing (6:21b)

St. Paul’s Epistle to Titus

Introduction

I. Opening Greetings (1:1–4 )

II. The Need at Crete: Titus to Order the Church (1:5–16)

III. Admonitions for Various Groups (2:1–15)

IV. General Admonitions (3:1–7)

V. Titus to Act with Confident Authority (3:8–11)

VI. Final Admonitions (3:12–15a)

VII. Concluding Blessing (3:15b)

St. Paul’s Second Epistle to Timothy

Introduction 1

I. Opening Greetings (1:1–2)

II. Opening Thanksgiving (1:3–5)

III. Timothy to Preserve the Faith by God’s Power (1:6–14)

IV. Paul’s Situation (1:15–18)

V. Timothy to Persevere in His Work (2:1–26)

VI. The Challenge of Evil Men (3:1–17)

VII. Timothy to Preach Urgently (4:1–8)

VIII. Final Personal Admonitions (4:9–21)

IX. Concluding Blessing (4:22)

Excurses:

On Paul’s Ban on Women Clergy in Church History

On the Church’s Theological Conservatism

On the Terms “God Our Savior” and “Appearance”