When evaluating the priorities that a Christian Ministry should exemplify, the writings of Paul, as demonstrated in Timothy and Titus, provide valuable insight. The purpose of these letters was to leave behind guidance for future generations of Christians, and they were addressed to individuals, rather than churches, which differentiated them from other letters in the Pauline corpus (Towner, 2006). Specifically, these letters were “three separate letters written by Paul to his coworkers, Timothy and Titus” (Towner, 2006). Throughout these letters, Paul outlines the various priorities that a Christian Ministry should focus on, including the avoidance of false teachings, the emphasis of appropriate roles for men and women, and the characteristics that a pastor should have.
In the opening of I Timothy, Paul begins by stating the purpose of his letter, which explains the lack of thanksgiving. Specifically, “the church has been greatly endangered by some elders (probably), who think of themselves as teachers of the law (v. 7), but who in fact teach false doctrines (v. 3)” (Fee, 1998). False doctrines are extremely dangerous to the Christian Ministry, as “false teaching leads to immoral and socially disruptive behavior” (Collins, 2002). Therefore, a major priority of Christian Ministry should be the complete avoidance of any false teachings; leaders should ensure that their messages are biblically centered and devoid of secular influences. Paul emphasizes this importance in 2 Timothy 2:4: “No one serving as a good soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.”
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"Timothy and Titus: Outlining the Priorities of Christian Ministry".
Another issue that Paul raises regarding the priorities of Christian Ministry involves the separate roles for men and women in a church; in I Timothy, Paul “addressed the question of the respective roles of men and women in public worship (2:8-15)” (Stott, 1998). Specifically, women should submit to their husbands and care for them, as well as “adorn themselves with modesty, decency and good works” (Stott, 1998) and men should always respect and love their wives. Men should assume positions of leadership, and women should not attempt to reverse gendered roles. Men should also assume all of the responsibilities entailed by leadership, as I Timothy 3:12 states, “A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.” Titus 1:6 echoes similar sentiments: “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.” Many times, these verses have been disputed, especially in modern times, but the message remains clear: men should serve as leaders while women should serve as nurturers.
One of the most important issues examined by Paul regarding the priorities of Christian Ministry is the proper structure of a church, specifically the qualities that a pastor should possess before being entrusted with the leadership of a given congregation. The character of a pastor is especially important because “in many ways a church’s health and reputation largely depend on the quality, faithfulness and teaching of its ministers,” and Paul thoroughly addresses these traits in I Timothy 3 (Stott, 1998). The church must recognize itself as God’s place, and its leaders should act accordingly. In I Timothy 3:15, Paul asserts, “If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth,” which means that the church’s leaders and members must constantly demonstrate truthfulness and integrity. Paul describes the characteristics that a church’s leader should have, as evidence in Titus 1:7: “Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.” I Timothy 3:2 also states, “a bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach.” In other words, a leader should practice what he preaches; any discrepancy between his words and his actions will not only reflect poorly upon himself, but also upon the church.
When evaluating the three letters, I Timothy, II Timothy, and Titus, Paul’s priorities become clear: avoid false teachings, maintain gender roles, and ensure accountable leadership. Paul recognized certain problems in the church, and he wanted to keep the problems from spreading, particularly in light of the fact that he would soon leave the world. Paul was concerned with the future of the church, which is why he addressed these letters to individuals rather than to churches. If the church functions biblically, then the message of Jesus Christ can be spread successfully. Paul urges the recipients of his letters to spread the mission of Jesus Christ globally. In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul issues a gentle reminder: “For this reason I Remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” However, the recipients will be unable to achieve this action until the church itself functions as God intended, which is why Paul put substantive thought in his discussion regarding false teachings, men and women, and the characteristics that a leader should display.
- Collins, R. F. (2002). I & II Timothy and Titus: A Commentary. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press.
- Fee, G. D. (1998). 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books.
- Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
- Stott, J. (1998). 1 Timothy & Titus: Fighting the Good Fight. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.
- Towner, P. H. (2006). The Letters to Timothy and Titus. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. G. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
