Deck 16: In the Wake of the Apostles: The Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral Epistles

Question 1

The Pastoral epistles claim Paul as the authority for their views. Discuss the relationships between these texts and how you understand their relationship to Paul's undisputed letters.

Answer 1

The Pastoral Epistles represent themselves as authored by Paul in order to use his authority to support their own views. They typically represent themselves, therefore, as consistent with the content of Paul's authentic letters. It is, however, a silence, ambiguity, or perceived interpretive problem in Paul's authentic letters that motivates the composition of a new letter. Moreover, the author of the Pastorals does not always understand words or concepts the same way Paul did.

Question 2

Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians. Pick a side and argue it, using as many specific examples from the text as possible. Keep in mind that the most persuasive arguments anticipate (and answer) counterarguments.

Answer 2

On the affirmative side, students might argue that 2 Thessalonians begins the same way as 1 Thessalonians, an undisputed Pauline letter. 2 Thessalonians, moreover, contains an apocalyptic message that stresses the immediate return of Jesus, the punishment of those who oppose Christians, and the reward of the faithful. The author seems to know of pseudepigraphic works circulating under Paul's name and warns the community about them, assuring them that this letter is genuine. This author reminds the community that he worked when he was among them and, likewise, they must keep their jobs, not being dependent on others. Students can also point out that 1 Thessalonians only expects unbelievers to experience the parousia "like a thief." On the negative side, students might argue that a person writing in Paul's name would naturally try to sound like Paul. If the author of 2 Thessalonians knew 1 Thessalonians, it could account for the similarities between the letters. Perhaps the most problematic issue in 2 Thessalonians, however, is the teaching about what will take place before the end comes. Although it will come soon, there will be warnings (it will not come like a thief in the night as in 1 Thessalonians): A man of lawlessness will appear and declare himself to be God. This teaching does not occur in any of Paul's undisputed letters and may be convincing evidence that Paul did not write this letter.

Question 3

What is the ostensible occasion for each of the Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral epistles (i.e., what situation do they appear to presuppose)?

Answer 3

1 Timothy presupposes that Paul and Timothy visited Ephesus on the way to Macedonia and that Paul left Timothy behind to bring false teachers under control, to bring order to the church, and to appoint moral and upright leaders to keep things running smoothly. The letter is ostensibly written to Timothy giving instructions about Christian living and leadership. In 2 Timothy, Paul ostensibly writes to Timothy from Rome to encourage him in his ministry, instruct him how to deal with false teachers in the church, and to ask Timothy to come join him as soon as possible, bringing some of his personal belongings. Titus is much like 1 Timothy, presuming that Paul has left Titus behind on the island of Crete to guide the churches there, establishing reliable leaders and correcting false teaching. Again, much of the letter includes ethical advice to various social groups in the church. The letter concludes with a plea to Titus to join Paul in Nicopolis (several cities in Asia Minor had this name) before the winter.

Question 4

Discuss the two opposing positions on women that emerge among early Christians in the wake of Paul. How do both sides rely on Paul? Which traditions are associated with each position? Which side ultimately reflects the predominant, authoritative view?

Question 5

Which of the following books is definitely not pseudonymous?

A) 2 Thessalonians
B) 1 Corinthians
C) Titus
D) 1 Timothy

Question 6

Which of the following is not one of the Deutero-Pauline epistles?

A) Colossians
B) Titus
C) Ephesians
D) 2 Thessalonians

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the Pastoral epistles?

A) 2 Thessalonians
B) 1 Timothy
C) Titus
D) 2 Timothy

Question 8

Which of the following characters appears in 2 Thessalonians?

A) Thecla
B) Theudas
C) the man of lawlessness
D) the Son of Man

Question 9

One reason some scholars doubt the authenticity of the authorship claim of 2 Thessalonians is _____.

A) it claims to have been written by Paul
B) it talks about church leadership structures unknown in Paul's day
C) it teaches the end will not come immediately
D) the author claims to have worked in Thessalonica

Question 10

Colossians appears to oppose _____.

A) Paul
B) Jewish mysticism
C) gentiles
D) marriage

Question 11

Scholars question the authorship of Colossians because _____.

A) the writing style is poor
B) the author thinks that Christians already participate in Christ's resurrection
C) the letter claims to have been co-written by Timothy
D) early Christians did not think Colossians was Pauline

Question 12

All of the following are true about the Pastoral epistles except _____.

A) they claim to have been written by Paul
B) they are written to individuals
C) they address false teachings
D) they are addressed to church communities

Question 13

One of the central concerns in the Pastoral epistles is _____.

A) administration of the church
B) explaining the delay of the parousia
C) establishing Paul's authority
D) establishing Timothy's authority

Question 14

Most scholars believe Paul did not write the Pastoral epistles for all of the following reasons except _____.

A) the Pastoral epistles were written by the same person
B) the Pastoral epistles use non-Pauline vocabulary
C) Paul and the Pastorals assign different meanings to certain words
D) the Pastoral epistles address Gnosticism

Question 15

The word "bishop" means _____.

A) man
B) overseer
C) elder
D) minister

Question 16

The word "presbyter" means _____.

A) man
B) overseer
C) elder
D) minister

Question 17

The author of the Pastorals writes against all of the following except _____.

A) celibacy
B) marriage
C) women's leadership
D) myths and genealogies

Question 18

The Greek word for knowledge is _____.

A) gnosis
B) presbyter
C) paidagogos
D) haruspex

Question 19

Which of the following is not a difference between Ephesians and the undisputed letters?

A) The undisputed letters say Paul was blameless before following Christ while Ephesians says he followed the desires of the flesh
B) Ephesians says Christians have been raised with Christ while the undisputed letters look forward to being raised with Christ
C) Ephesians speaks of "works of the law" while the undisputed letters talk about "works" more generally
D) Ephesians has much longer sentences than the undisputed letters

Question 20

The word "deacon" means _____.

A) man
B) overseer
C) elder
D) minister .

Question 21

Which of the following was not a typical indication of forgery in antiquity?

A) variations in writing style between the original author and the forgery
B) blatant anachronisms in the forgery
C) variations in vocabulary between the original author and the forgery
D) too many books ascribed to one author

Question 22

The Pastoral epistles were most likely written _____.

A) during Paul's lifetime
B) around the time of the Gospel of Mark
C) around the beginning of the second century
D) in the late third century

Question 23

Which of the Deutero-Pauline epistles is best described as a "circular letter"?

A) 2 Thessalonians
B) Ephesians
C) Colossians
D) Titus

Question 24

Ephesians and Colossians use which term in a different manner from its usual meaning in Paul's undisputed letters?

A) resurrection
B) works
C) cross
D) forgery

Question 25

According to the textbook, the Deutero-Pauline epistles were most likely written _____.

A) during Paul's lifetime
B) in the middle of the first century
C) near the end of the first century
D) near the middle of the second century

Question 26

In Romans, Paul refers to Junia as _____.

A) foremost among the apostles
B) a deacon
C) a bishop
D) an elder

Question 27

All of the following texts seem to have allowed women to hold significant positions except _____.

A) 1 Timothy
B) Romans
C) Acts
D) Philippians

Question 28

The author of 1 Timothy requires that all male leaders (bishops, deacons, and elders) be _____.

A) celibate
B) married
C) submissive to their wives in the household
D) model their personal lives after Paul's

Question 29

1 Timothy recommends all of the following for women except _____.

A) they should procreate with their husbands
B) they should avoid teaching in their congregations
C) they should avoid marriage
D) they should avoid telling old wives' tales

Question 30

The term "widows" in 1 Timothy seems to refer to _____.

A) early Christian women whose husbands had died
B) early Christian women who had no husband, regardless of prior marital status
C) elderly Christian women
D) clever women in the Christian community

Question 31

The Acts of Thecla serves as stark contrast to which of the following?

A) the Pastoral epistles
B) Paul's letter to the Romans
C) Jesus' associations with women
D) Stoic philosophy

Question 32

Who claimed, "There is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus"?

A) Jesus
B) Paul
C) 1 Timothy
D) Thecla

Question 33

In the early church, women occupied all of the following roles except _____.

A) financial supporters
B) evangelist
C) vestal virgin
D) prophet

Question 34

The New Testament canon portrays _____.

A) a singular view of women that is typical of the ancient world
B) multiple views of women
C) the same view of women that is expressed in the Jewish Scriptures
D) only Paul's view of women