Titus
This letter to Titus was written by Paul about AD 63 and Titus was known to be a co-worker of Paul’s.
There is no written record of Paul ever traveling to Crete, so it can only be explained that Paul charged Titus with the responsibility to reach the churches that had been established there and give them focus.
Paul outlines the following –
- Leadership in Crete
- Relationships in the Church
- Relationship with Society
The situation in Crete was far different than in Ephesus. Crete was a new church, with new converts, and therefore Paul’s letter fed them slowly so they could understand.
He identified what leadership was needed, what the relationships in the church should be and what the relationship was with society as it related to the church.
Paul chose to walk slowly and nurture the new church and gave Titus the responsibility of doing so.
Paul still emphasized the saving grace of God which had been shown to the world in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Paul tries to show the importance of remembering how God has dealt with us, has given us salvation, and has provided for our godliness. The new converts in Crete had difficulty in understanding what this meant
The fact that Paul’s letter to Titus was short demonstrates a virtue by Paul to Titus that did not require many words, but only an explanation of a short remembrance.
2 Timothy
This book was probably written during the time Paul was imprisoned in Rome in AD 64-65 just prior to his death.
Paul’s letter was the final letter he wrote as he anticipated his imminent death, and he was summoning Timothy to Rome to receive his mantle of leadership.
Paul was still proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. His imprisonment is not clearly explained as to why, but it is possible that the heretical false teachers had something to do with it as Paul has disciplined some of them earlier.
The Good News gives rise to a way of life that takes up the cross and follows Jesus in the life-giving power of his resurrection. Paul had modeled his life after Christ’s and now his own death was at hand.
Paul was certain that God’s work would be completed right up to the day of Christ’s return, yet he also knew that the continuing responsibility of God’s servants is great.
Paul passed the torch to Timothy and challenged him to carry Paul’s work forward.
In this letter, all who take up the cross and follow Jesus are charged to complete the ministry that God has given them, through the life giving power of Christ’s resurrection.
1 Peter
The Apostle Peter is the author and the recipients are Christians living in Asia Minor, where Paul had established churches many years earlier.
Peter probably writes this letter while in Rome in AD 60-62.
There is no record that Peter ever traveled to or visited any of the Christians in Asia Minor, now called Turkey.
Peter’s travels remain a mystery to this day except for his initial ministry in Jerusalem and Judea.
He was also in Antioch at one time.
Peter discussed the following in his letter –
- Salvation and the Call to Holiness
- Living under Authority
- Doing Good in the Face of Suffering
- Concluding Exhortations
Peter challenges his readers to regard their present temporary suffering as strengthening their faith and preparing them to receive salvation.
The gift of salvation should result in a life of holiness that recognizes the cost at which God purchased our salvation.
Finally, we are to love and have patience toward fellow Christians.
Peter calls on Christians to live within recognized authority structures as a witness to a hostile world.
Christians are to accept the authority of government, Christian slaves are to accept the authority of their Masters and Christian wives are to accept the authority of their husbands.
Husbands are to respond by honoring their wives. Behave in a way that God rewards.
Peter issues a challenge to respond to social pressures with honorable and respectful behavior, even when it results in abuse.
Our hope of redemption is secure because of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
Finally, Peter call for standing firm in the midst of suffering. He charges Elders, younger men and the Church at large with specific responsibilities.
Mark
Mark is the author of this Gospel book and it was written in approximately AD 65-70.
Mark could have been a scribe for Peter and merely written the stories of Peter, but more than likely, the writing is of Mark himself due to the fact that the author appears to be bilingual in that he knew intimate details of the Aramaic phrases in the Greek text.
He was also Jewish, in that he was able to explain various Jewish customs to his Gentile readers.
Being a Gospel, this book centered on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This Gospel was written for the Christians who were familiar with gospel traditions.
The author does not explain such things as who John the Baptist was, who Isaiah the prophet was, where Capernaum was located, various OT references of who King Herod was, or who the Pharisees and teachers of religious law were.
It is also apparent the readers were Roman because of the “Latinisms” in the book. Examples are his using the Latin word meaning “soldier”, he uses a Roman coin (the quadran) to explain the meaning of “two lepta” (Greek coins), and he uses the Latin word “centurion” rather than the Greek word with the same meaning that other Gospel writers used (Matthew and Luke).
Mark wanted his readers to know that Jesus of Nazareth is “the Messiah, the Son of God”.
Mark uses the title “Son of God” to describe Jesus frequently throughout the book.
Mark’s major theological emphasis is the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. He is above all “the Messiah”, “the Son of Man”, “the Son of God”.
Mark’s book is a passion about Jesus because of Jesus’ passion – his suffering, death, and resurrection. The emphasis was that Jesus’ death was God’s plan for his life with His life being a divine necessity for God had willed it.
Mark also stressed the importance of denying one’s self and taking up one’s cross.
Christians are promised that endurance in faith means salvation and eternal life.
Throughout Mark’s Gospel, Jesus tells others to keep quiet about his true identity, but Mark says that is not possible given the magnitude of Jesus and the wonders he creates and the amazement he shows by His works.
Mark reiterates that the Kingdom of God has come and people need to repent and believe the gospel because it has arrived.
OT promises are fulfilled.
Life in the Kingdom is different from what it was during the time awaiting the Kingdom.
Matthew
The authorship of the book of Matthew is speculation according to some scholars.
Many think it is a book written by a multilingual man, probably an Israelite, with a rather sophisticated command of Israelite traditions and scribal argumentation in the late first century, possibly between AD 65-80.
Other scholars believe that Matthew is in fact the author and used the Gospel of Mark as a source document for his writings, justifying the fact that it would not be a conflict for one apostle (Matthew) to use the account of another apostle (Peter) as a convenient source from which to shape his own report.
Matthew’s Gospel is distinctive in its presentation of Jesus as Messiah and Teacher; its emphasis on the Kingdom of Heaven; its strong call to discipleship; its constant pattern of OT fulfillment; its incisive criticism of the Jewish religious leaders; and its universal outlook that includes Gentiles in the Kingdom.
Matthew focuses on Jesus as Messiah. Jesus fulfills the OT prophesy.
Matthew uses “Kingdom of Heaven” over 30 times; it is a roundabout way for Jews to say “Kingdom of God.”
Matthew does this for the following reasons –
- The invisible but present rule of God on earth through the saving work of Jesus the Messiah
- The fulfillment of OT promises
- The saving activity of God, often through quiet and humble means
- The power and strength of God’s activity
- The coming of the Kingdom within a “generation”
- The final, climactic judgment of God
- The final, perfect fellowship of all God’s holy people with the Father
Matthew Gospel stresses Jesus’ call for all men and women to be baptized, to follow him as disciples, to obey his teachings and to enjoy fellowship with him.
Jesus summarizes the requirements for discipleship in His Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew focuses on the interrelationship of the OT impact on the NT through the expectations and promises and their fulfillment in Jesus.
Matthew baffles logic by including Gentiles in the book so strongly in spite of the emphasis on Jewish orientation in the writing.
This Gospel emphasizes the Good News is for all people, including Gentiles.
