212-11- The
Pastoral Epistles
Called Pastoral Epistles because Timothy and Titus were
priesthood leaders in Ephesus & Crete & these letters were sent to help
they regulate the Church. (Pastor comes from the latin word for Shepherd.) They
pick up where Acts 28 leaves off between 63-66 AD.
First Timothy
- Between 63-66 AD
Acts 16:1-3;
At the time this epistle was written, Timothy was serving as a Church
leader in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3).
Paul hinted that some members doubted Timothy’s leadership abilities because he
was young (1 Tim. 4:12).
Paul intended to visit Timothy in person, but he was unsure whether he would be
able to do so (1 Tim. 3:14; 4:13).
Therefore, Paul chose to write to Timothy to help the young Church leader
better understand his duties.
Chapter
1
Vs. 3
- Teach sound doctrine (1:3-11; Titus 2:1: 1:16; 1 Tim. 6:20- "The
Gnostics (knowledge) generally claimed secret doctrines to add to the Church's public message"
(Richard Anderson, p. 315) An important role
of any priesthood leader is to ensure that correct doctrines are taught. “I have spoken before about the importance of keeping the
doctrine of the Church pure, and seeing that it is taught in all of our
meetings. … Small aberrations in doctrinal teaching can lead to large and evil
falsehoods” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 620).
Vs. 4 -Whether we are talking about Jewish genealogical
tables or imaginary lineages, the point remains the same -- some topics are not
worth the breath to discuss. I Timothy 1:6;
4:7;6:3-5; 6:20-21;II Timothy
2:14-18; 2:23; Titus 1:14). "The purpose for seeking the names of our
kindred and running the chain back as far as we can find it is to give
something to our progenitors, not to get something from them." (Packer, Holy Temple, p, 235)
Chapter 2 - Vs.4-5 - Note the JST of vs. 4 One
Mediator. D&C 45:3-5. Vs. 9-10-Paul encouraged women to “adorn
themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” meaning with
humility and reverence; he also taught that women should avoid costly clothing
and jewelry and ornate grooming. Similar teachings are found in 1 Nephi 13:7–8;
4 Nephi 1:24; Mormon 8:36–39;
& D&C. Paul indicated that women should dress as those “professing
godliness.
Vs. 11-12 - The Gk word translated here as
"silence" means quietness, tranquility. The intent is that women
should support and not try to dominate or usurp authority over their priesthood
leaders.
Vs. 14 - The Gk suggests that Eve's transgression
consisted in her making a decision that affected both herself and Adam without
consulting Adam. The Gk. parabasis
meant literally to overstep. “It was Eve who first transgressed the limits of
Eden in order to initiate the conditions of mortality. Her act, whatever its
nature, was formally a transgression but eternally a glorious necessity to open
the doorway toward eternal life. Adam showed his wisdom by doing the same. And
thus Eve and ‘Adam fell that men might be’ [2 Nephi 2:25].
“Some Christians condemn Eve for her act, concluding that she and her daughters
are somehow flawed by it. Not the Latter-day Saints! Informed by revelation, we
celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode
called the Fall. … Joseph Smith taught that it was not a ‘sin,’ because God had
decreed it. “Modern revelation shows that our first parents understood the
necessity of the Fall. Adam declared, ‘Blessed be the name of God, for because
of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and
again in the flesh I shall see God’ (Moses 5:10). “Note
the different perspective and the special wisdom of Eve, who focused on the
purpose and effect of the great plan of happiness: ‘Were it not for our
transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good
and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth
unto all the obedient’ (v. 11).
In his vision of the redemption of the dead, President Joseph F. Smith saw
‘the great and mighty ones’ assembled to meet the Son of God, and among them
was ‘our glorious Mother Eve’ (D&C 138:38–39)”
(DHOaks, Ensign, Nov. 1993, 73).
Chapter 3 - What it took to be a bishop (1-7)or a
deacon(8-13) - Nearly identical to what he wrote in Titus 5;. Bishops should be
blameless,, vigilant, not self-willed, sober, temperate, patient, given to
hospitality & not greedy of filthy lucre, have control over his own house,
not a novice, the husband of 1 wife. (better translated - faithful to his one
wife. Married deacons? (3:11-12) In Paul's day a man would be 30 before
considered qualified to take part in the ministry. Our church started with
older deacons & lowered the age many years later only when there were
numerous priesthood holders and when boys could receive regular supervision
from experienced priesthood leaders. (D&C 107:52-Noah was 10)
Chapter 4- 1-3 - Latter-day apostasy - Personal apostasy after the church has been
restored. "Since eternal life may only be achieved through celestial
marriage, Satan does all within his power to forbid men and women to marry.
Celibacy, living together out of wedlock, homosexuality, adultery, abortion,
and birth control are but a few of the many methods employed to pervert men's
minds and prevent the creation and continuance of this holy union. In the words
of President Harold B. Lee, Satan's greatest threat today is to destroy the
family, and to make mockery of the law of chastity and the sanctity of the
marriage covenant." (Church News Aug. 19, 1972) ; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2
Timothy 4:3-4
Vs. 8 - Note the footnote. Some things mater a lot, but
not for a long time
Vs. 12-13 - Favorites of President Hinckley
Chapter 5 - Welfare matters
Vs. 8 -Provide - "No true Latter-day Saint, while
physically or emotionally able will voluntarily shift the burden of his own or
his family's well-being to someone else. So long as he can, under the
inspiration of the Lord and with his own labors, he will supply himself and his
family with the spiritual and temporal necessities of life" (SWKimball,
CR. Oct. 1877 p. 124)
Vs. 14 - I have told many groups of young people that
they should not postpone their marriage until they have acquired all of their
education ambitions. I have told tens of thousands of young folks that when
they marry they should not wait for children until they have finished their
schooling and financial desires. Marriage is basically for the family, and when
people have found their proper companions there should be no long delay. They
should live together normally and let the children come.
There seems to be a growing feeling that marriage is for
legal sex, for sex's sake. Marriage is basically for the family; that is why we
marry--not for the satisfaction of the sex, as the world around us would have
us believe. When people have found their companions, there should be no long
delay. Young wives should be occupied in bearing and rearing their children. I
know of no scriptures where an authorization is given to young wives to withhold
their families and to go to work to put their husbands through school. There
are thousands of husbands who have worked their own way through school and have
reared families at the same time. Though it is more difficult, young people can
make their way through their educational programs. On most campuses there are
married student buildings for their living. It's a good experience to learn to
save and to scratch and to economize." (SWK - "Marriage is
Honorable" BYU Speeches 1973)
Chapter 6- Vs. 5-10- Money & materialism talk-
“Whenever we want to experience or possess something that will impact us and
our resources, we may want to ask ourselves, ‘Is the benefit temporary, or will
it have eternal value and significance?’ Truthfully answering these questions
may help us avoid excessive debt and other addictive behavior” (“RDHales, Ensign May 2009, 8–10).
2 Timothy
- During Paul's 2nd Roman imprisonment, shortly before his death about 67 AD.
Chapter 1- Vs. 7-8 "I wish every member of
this church would put those words where he might see them every morning as he
begins his day. They would give us courage to speak up, they would give us the
faith to try, they would strengthen our conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ. I
believe that more miracles would happen." (GBHinckley Ensign, Feb. 1996 p.
5)
Chapter 2- Vs. 15 - An admonition to study the
scriptures. Not footnote b
Chapter 3- Vs. 7 “A number of years ago there was a
student at Columbia University who was known as the ‘perennial student.’ He had
been left an inheritance which stipulated that it should continue as long as he
was engaged in collegiate study. Thereafter, the income was to go to a charity.
“This man remained a student until he died. It was said that he had been
granted every degree offered by Columbia University and had taken practically
every course. No field of knowledge was foreign to him. He was probably more
widely read than the best of his professors. He was described as the ‘epitome
of erudition,’ But he could not possibly be described as educated. He fit the
description of those spoken of in the scripture who are ‘ever learning, and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth’ (2 Timothy 3:7). He was
inherently selfish. What a pity! What a waste!” (Packer, Let Not Your Heart
Be Troubled p. 26.)
“While studying one day, I read to that point (2 Tim.
3:1-7)and sat pondering about all the evidence that now confirms every element
in that prophecy. There was a mood of very deep gloom and foreboding, a very
ominous feeling of frustration, almost futility. I glanced down the page, and
one word stood out, not accidently I think. I read it eagerly and then
discovered that the apostle who had prophesied all of that trouble had included
in the same discourse the immunization against all of it [see 2 Timothy
3:13–17]. …“… The word that stood out on the page—scriptures” (BKP, Ensign, May, 1986)
Chapter
4- Vs.
7-8 - Paul's words of triumph in the face of death, for him and us. “Enduring
to the end means that we have planted our lives firmly on gospel soil, staying
in the mainstream of the Church, humbly serving our fellow men, living
Christlike lives, and keeping our covenants. Those who endure are balanced,
consistent, humble, constantly improving, and without guile. Their testimony is
not based on worldly reasons—it is based on truth, knowledge, experience, and
the Spirit” (JBWithrlin Ensign
Nov. 2004).
Titus -
Between 63-66 AD- We don't know where Paul was when he wrote this letter. A
Greek convert. He is not mentioned in the Book of Acts. Paul took him to the
Jerusalem Conference as an object lesson as to why gentile converts should not
have to be circumcised. (Galatians 2) He was sent by Paul to Corinth 3 times
when Paul was in Ephesus on his 3rd mission. He presided over the Churches in
Crete. He visited Paul in Rome during Paul's 2nd imprisonment and then went on
a mission to Dalmatia. (Today's Yugoslavia)
Chapter 1- Vs. 2 - We were promised Eternal life
in the Pre-mortal world.
Vs. 14-16 People in the branches knew what to say, but
are not keeping the commandments.
Chapter 2- Vs. 3-4- Old women examples to the
young women. Vs. 4-5 - The Young Women values as taught by Paul.
Chapter 3- Vs. 1&2
Vs. 5 - Washing of regeneration=baptism.
Philemon -
A wonderful story of Paul asking that a runaway slave who had converted to the
gospel be accepted by his master who was also a church member.
212-12- Hebrews
1. For 15 years Paul had been very successful in
converting Jews and Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire to the gospel of Jesus
Christ, and showing them that the law of Moses was not essential. but at Jerusalem
the Church members were still clinging to the law. Soon after this last visit
of Paul to Jerusalem, he was arrested and sent to Rome for imprisonment. While
in Rome, Paul wrote the epistle to the Hebrews, apparently to show them by
their own scripture and by logic why they should no longer practice the law of
Moses. The approach and the development of the arguments in the epistle is
interesting and informative.
2. Hebrews was not written to Gentiles, but to Jews. It
was written to those schooled in the law of Moses. Yet it took Paul, a living
prophet, to unfold its symbolism and explain the meaning of Mosaic rituals to
the Jewish saints of his day. Through his eyes they came to see that all things
associated with the Mosaic law centered in and testified of Christ. Salvation
consists of our becoming one with Christ. (JFM Studies in Scripture Vol 6. p. 205)
3. Paul is at his theological best in Hebrews. There are
other epistles, notable Romans, in which he expounds more excellently the
doctrine of the atoning sacrifice and the salvation which comes by God's grace.
There are other places as in 1st Corinthians, where the gifts of the Spirit and
the wonders of the resurrection are more extensively taught, and there are
other writings as Ephesians, where church organization and the world wide
nature of the message of salvation are more explicitly delineated. But in
Hebrews, as an inspired theologian, Paul takes the revelations of the past, the
dead letter of the ancient law, and ties it into the living Christianity of the
present. He shows how the gospel grew out of the preparatory law which
prevailed in Israel and which in fact had as its purpose the preparing of the
way before the coming of that Prophet who let Israel of old and was the Author
of both covenants. Above all, this Epistle is a witness of the divine Sonship
of Him of whom the Jews had said: "Is this not the carpenter's son?"
(Matt. 13:55). Think of the gospel knowledge that would not be available in the
Christian world , if we did not have the Epistle of Paul the apostle to his
Hebrew brethren! (BRM, DNTC vol. 3 p. 133)
4. If they weren't going to live the law of Moses-Did
they still need to consider the Old Testament (the only scripture they had) as
scripture. The New Testament was still in the process of preparation and 300
plus years passed away before it was accepted as a standard or rule of faith.
Chapter 1
Vs. 1-4 - What do we learn about Jesus? A. Before
prophets, lately Jesus B. Creator of worlds C. Looks like his Father. D. Came to
accomplish the Atonement (and did) E. Now on the Right-hand of his Father. F.
Superior to Angels. (1:5 through 2:9)
Vs. 14 - "Hebrews 1:14 refers both to resurrected angels
and to disembodied spirits. The Prophet Joseph Smith clarified that an angel is
a resurrected being (such as Moroni) or a translated beings (such as Moses or
Elijah), who ministers to embodied spirits (that is to us); a ministering
spirit is a disembodied spirit, who ministers to disembodied spirits (as Jesus
did between death and resurrection)-that is spirit to spirit ( TPJS p. 191)
Angels are under the direction of Michael (TPJS p. 168). See also
"Angels" by Oscar W. McConkie.
Chapter 2
Vs. 10-18 - Christ became mortal to save man. 2:20,
17-18; 4:15; 5:8-9; Alma 7:12
Vs. 17-18 - Reconciliation=Kapparah as in Yom Kippur, the
Day of Atonement I know how I feel that
you feel about what you are going through. Christ knows how you feel and how to
succor you.
Chapter 3
Vs. 4-5 - Moses was a faithful servant - Jesus was a faithful son
Vs. 11 - Entering into his rest - "The ancient prophets
speak of ‘entering into God’s rest’; what does it mean? To my mind, it means
entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in
his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not
hunting for something else, we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or
by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive. . . . The man
who has reached that degree of faith in God that all doubt and fear have been
cast from him, he has entered into ‘God’s rest,’ . . rest from doubt, from fear, from apprehension
of danger, rest from the religious turmoil of the world” ( Gospel Doctrine, 58; see
also Matthew 11:28–30 ).
See D&C 84:24 and Moroni 7:3.
Vs. 17-19
- Israel could not enter the promised land because they did not obey nor
believe.
Chapter
4
Vs. 1-2
& 5-JST - A warning not to repeat the
tragedy of ancient Israel.
Vs. 3 JST -For we who have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, If they harden their hearts they shall not
enter into my rest; also, I have sworn, If they will not harden
their hearts, they shall enter into my rest; although the works of God
were prepared, (or finished,) from the foundation of the
world.
Vs. 14-16
- See also D&C 121:45
Chapter
5
Vs. 1-4 -
The High Priest in ancient Israel was selected from the descendents of Aaron to
represent the people before God. Joseph Smith taught that Aaron received his
call by revelation (TPJS p. 272). In the days of Jesus and Paul, the priesthood
had become corrupted and the office of high priest had been bought by a wealthy
and influential family. These were times of great corruption in Judaism. Jesus
as a high priest of Melchizedek, is superior to the high priests of the law of
Moses.
Chapter
6
Vs. 1-2 -
The JST change is very significant. Also note in vs. 2 that baptism word again.
Vs. 3-10
JST
Vs. 4-6 -
Sons of perdition (TPJS p. 358) See also D&C 76:35; 132:27
Vs. 10-14
- No good deed goes unrewarded- God has so promised with an oath. Oaths were
part of Israel's religious life. (Numbers 30; 1 Nephi 4:32-33; Genesis 24)
Vs. 19-20
- The high priest under the law, went through the veil into the Holy of Holies
on Yom Kippur to symbolically cleanse Israel; but Jesus, the great high priest,
has gone into heaven itself to prepare a way for us.
Chapters
7-10 are written for
Jews who did not believe that Christ's coming outdated temple sacrifice.
Chapter
7
Vs. 1-2- Melchizedek
was “a great Old Testament high priest, prophet, and leader who lived after the
flood and during the time of Abraham. He was called the king of Salem
(Jerusalem), king of peace, king of righteousness (Hebrew meaning of
Melchizedek), and priest of the most high God” Other scriptures relate that
Melchizedek conferred the priesthood upon Abraham, received tithes from
Abraham, and was unsurpassed in his greatness (D&C 84:14; Hebrews 7:4; JST
Genesis 14:18–20; Alma 13:19).
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, Melchizedek stands as a prototype of the Son of
God (Hebrews 7:15–16).
Chapter 8 - Paul summarized the ideas of the
previous chapter & explained that because Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice
was superior in every way to the temple offerings made by Levitical priests, He
became “the mediator of a better covenant” (vs.6). The Greek term
translated as “mediator” refers
to a 3rd party who stands between 2 others to resolve their differences &
to bring them together. Jesus Christ is the Mediator through whom the gospel
covenant is established between Heavenly Father & us.
Chapter 9 - Once a year on the Jewish holy day
called the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest was permitted to
enter into the Holy of Holies in the temple. (The Holy of Holies is referred to
as the second tabernacle in Hebrews
9:3–5, 7.) On that day, “the high priest, clothed in white linen,
took a bullock as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering for himself and
his house; and two he-goats as a sin offering. … He then cast lots upon the two
goats. One was to be for the Lord for a sin offering. The other was … to be
sent away alive into the wilderness [a scapegoat]. … He then killed the
bullock, his own sin offering, and, taking a censer full of live coals from off
the brazen altar with two handfuls of incense into the Holy of Holies, cast the
incense on the coals there so that the cloud of smoke might cover the mercy
seat and, as it were, hide him from God. He then took of the blood of the
bullock and sprinkled it once on the east part of the mercy seat (as an
atonement for the priesthood) and seven times before the mercy seat (as an
atonement for the Holy of Holies itself). Then he killed the goat, the
congregation’s sin offering, and sprinkled its blood in the same manner, with
corresponding objects. … Over [the scapegoat] the high priest confessed all the
sins of the people of Israel, after which it was sent by the hand of a man into
the wilderness to bear away their iniquities into a solitary land. This
ceremony signified the sending away of the sins of the people."
The Atonement of Jesus Christ, the “great high priest” (vs.14),
is superior to all the offerings and sacrifices made by priests in the Old
Testament.
Chapter 10- Vs. 1- JST- The limitations of the law of
sacrifice vs. the superiority of the sacrifice of Christ.
Chapter 11- Vs.
1-“The Apostle Paul
defined faith as ‘the substance of things hoped for, [and] the evidence of
things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1).
Alma declared that faith is not a perfect knowledge; rather, if we have faith,
we ‘hope for things which are not seen, [but] are true’ (Alma 32:21).
Additionally, we learn in the Lectures on Faith that faith is
‘the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all
righteousness’ and that it is also ‘the principle of action in all intelligent
beings." “These teachings of Paul and of Alma and from the Lectures on
Faith highlight three basic elements of faith: (1) faith as the assurance of
things hoped for which are true, (2) faith as the evidence of
things not seen, and (3) faith as the principle of action in
all intelligent beings. I describe these three components of faith in the
Savior as simultaneously facing the future, looking to the past, and initiating
action in the present.
“Faith as the assurance of
things hoped for looks to the future. …“Faith in Christ is inextricably
tied to and results in hope in Christ for our redemption and exaltation. And
assurance and hope make it possible for us to walk to the edge of the light and
take a few steps into the darkness—expecting and trusting the light to move and
illuminate the way The combination of assurance and hope initiates action in
the present. “Faith as the evidence of things not seen looks to the past and
confirms our trust in God and our confidence in the truthfulness of things not
seen. We stepped into the darkness with assurance and hope, and we received
evidence and confirmation as the light in fact moved and provided the
illumination we needed. The witness we obtained after the trial of our faith
(see Ether 12:6)
is evidence that enlarges and strengthens our assurance.
“Assurance, action, and evidence influence each other in
an ongoing process” (DABednar, SM p. 485)
Chapter 12- Vs. 6-11- Scripture attests to
numerous purposes for the Lord’s chastening. In vs. 10 Paul taught that
the Lord corrects us “for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”
His correction “yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which
are exercised thereby” (vs.11).
The Lord’s correction can take many forms, and it always helps to teach
individuals as well as provide necessary correction. Chastening helps people
remember the Lord, repent, receive
forgiveness and
deliverance, learn obedience, and become refined as gold (Helaman 12:3; D&C 1:27; 95:1; 105:6; Job 23:10).
Orson F.
Whitney (1855–1931)
taught: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It
ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience,
faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure,
especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our
hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable” (SWKimball, Faith Precedes the
Miracle [1972],
98).
Vs. 9 “Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song
‘I Am a Child of God.’ Here is the answer to one of life’s great questions,
‘Who am I?’ I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That
parentage defines our eternal potential. That powerful idea is a potent
antidepressant. It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to
seek the best that is within us. Establish in the mind of a young person the
powerful idea that he or she is a child of God and you have given self-respect
and motivation to move against the problems of life” (DHOaks, Ensign, Nov. 1995, 25).
Chapter 13- Vs. 7, 17-18- A few ideas for sustaining
our leaders.
