1 Timothy
2022: from my notes from my seminary class:
1 Timothy is one of the Pastoral Epistles (along with 2 Timothy and Titus). They are known as such because ancient church fathers called them the rules for pastors.
They give instructions to the leaders of those early churches.
So these were written in the late 1st/ early 2nd century.
It is thought that these letters were collectively read out loud in the early churches.
They are more like instructions than letters, even though they are addressed like letters.
Some scholars say it's possible the letter format was added later to make them look like Paul
These are less disputed. Most scholars are sure these were not written by Paul.
Over generations things change and you have to reinterpret and reimagine and refigure out what it looks like to be a faithful follower of God/Jesus in the new context.
Vocabulary and style, ideas, themes, reinterpretations of things.
There is less of an emphasis on the imminence of Christ's return.
These letters deal with opponents differently than Paul.
Paul argued his case saying this is why they are wrong and I am right. A strong rhetorical argument
The pastorals don't argue, they just order and declare and give instructions.
The pastoral epistles also recognize a developed church with a sense of order that we didn't see in Paul. There's an organizational structure with elders and deacons.
Paul would talk about the body of Christ and spiritual gifts.
The Pastorals talk about the household of God, rely on household codes, borrowing that language.
And they have specific job descriptions for bishops and elders. (1 Tim 3; 1 Tim 1-10)
This is what the early church was struggling with trying to organize themselves, trying to figure things out.
Written to address specific situations in a specific context.
They are also building power structures and figuring out “who are we to other people” and how other people saw them - trying to organize themselves into a structure others would notice.
Mimicking their culture because that's all they know and it would gain respect, like the guilds that meet together and eat together, they shared meals together.