The Apostle Paul's two letters to Timothy and one to Titus are commonly referred to as the "Pastoral Epistles," because they pay much attention to the duties of Christian pastors or ministers. Many scholars contend that at the close of Paul's two years of semi captivity at Rome (Acts 28:30), he was brought to trial and acquitted, and was thus free to continue his active ministry. Moreover, an ancient tradition has it that it was during the course of a visit to Laodicea at this period that Paul composed his first letter to Timothy, who had been left by the apostle in charge of the church at Ephesus (I Tim. 1:3), an important and responsible position for so young a man (cf. 4:12). The intent of the epistle is clearly to provide Timothy with practical rules for the conduct of his administration. He is called to prove himself worthy of his early training, and to realize the importance of prayer, while he receives definite advice with regard to the requisite character as well as the appointment and remuneration of church officials (3:1-13; 5:17-22). The apostle, however, realizes that Timothy can most effectually promote the advancement of the Ephesian church by setting a good example on his own account. He must himself "fight the good fight of faith," Paul insists (6:12), and the apostle says literally (4:7, 15), "Train yourself for godliness... practice these things, remain in them, that your progress may be evident to all."
It seems to have been not long after the dispatch of this letter to Timothy that Paul paid a brief visit to the island of Crete, where he left Titus in charge of the organization of the local churches; and shortly thereafter we find the apostle writing to Titus in a vein similar to that which he used in addressing Timothy. Thus the opening chapter reiterates his teaching concerning the qualifications of church officials, while he issues an especial warning against a militant and dogmatic type of Judaism which was delaying the advance of the Christian churches in Crete. In chapter two, Titus receives practical advice as to methods of dealing with different members of the community, but he, like Timothy, is shown the supreme value of a good personal example. As he brings this brief letter to a close, Paul reminds his correspondent of the glorious fact that in the last analysis the source of the salvation of mankind lies in the love of God.
It is felt by many authorities that one of the conditions of Paul's acquittal had been that he should never return to Italy, and that when he did so, arrest and stringent confinement, followed all too swiftly by his martyrdom, awaited him there. It is probable that during this second Roman captivity Paul wrote the second letter addressed to his dear friend Timothy. Again and again, though his own execution seemed imminent, he bravely affirms the certainty and eternality of life (1:1; 1: 10-12, etc.). Almost all his friends forsook him, he records, but he was not forsaken by God (4:16, 17). "Take your share of trials," he writes literally to Timothy, "like a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2: 3). Paul was surely one who well knew whereof he spoke, for he could truly make the noble claim (4:7), "I have fought a good fight... I have kept the faith."
