Overview   This page includes a survey of the Gospel in the letters included in the New Testament that have been categorized as "Pastoral Epistles," which were written by the apostle Paul for the purpose of instructing Christian leaders in ministry. Titus, Philemon, and First and Second Timothy are in this category.

The Gospel & Philemon   The Apostle Paul wrote this letter with the primary purpose of interceding on behalf of a runaway slave from Colosee named Onesimus who, after fleeing, made contact with Paul in Rome and became a Christian there (Philemon 1:10). It is evident that Philemon was a Christian believer, and slave owner from Colosee for a couple of reasons. First, in this letter Philemon is identified as "a dear friend and fellow-worker" in the immediate context of "to the church that meets in your home" (Philemon 1:1-2). Second, the names mentioned in the letter to the Colossians are identical with the names mentioned in this letter (Philemon 1:2, 1:10, 1:23-24). For example, in the letter to the Colossians Paul says, "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me . . . I am sending him to you . . . He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful, and dear brother, who is one of you. . . My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings. . . " (Colossians 4:9-17). Moreover, the letter to Philemon itself indicates that Onesimus accompanied this letter (Philemon 1:12). In other words, this letter was written at the same time Paul states he was in chains, it was carried to Colosee by the same person, and both letters, Philemon and Colossians, state that Onesimus accompanied Tychicus in their delivery. As a side, the Ephesians letter was also carried with them back to the region at this time (Ephesian 6:21). Therefore, Paul wrote this letter from Rome during his first imprisonment in AD 62 (Acts 28:16-31). While this letter has been categorized as a pastoral epistle, Paul not only addresses Philemon but "the church that meets in your home." Therefore, it is possible that Paul's redemptive appeal in this letter was not only intended for Philemon, but contains instructional value intended for the church.

Little is explicity stated about the gospel in this letter, and if this was the only letter Paul ever penned it would be a real stretch to appeal to it for any explicit references to the gospel therein. However, there is one indierect reference, which is found in Philemon 1:4-7 where Paul says, "I pray that you be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." In this particular reference "sharing your faith" is linked with "in Christ." And even though it can be argued this letter was sent with the letter of Ephesians where the Mystery of his will, the mystery of Christ, and the mystery of the gospel in union with Christ is articulated, it is an inference of the gospel in the case of the letter to Philemon as one must consider what Paul writes elsewhere regarding "in Christ." Even so, there is a redemptive gospel-like quality in this letter in spite of the lack of explicit references to the gospel. For example, Onesimus should have been executed under Roman law as a runaway slave. Aware of the law as a Jew with duel Roman citizenship in a Roman prison himself, Paul intercedes for Onesimus by tactfully arguing that he is "no longer a slave" (1:16), but a "dear brother" that should be accepted in the same way as Paul himself (1:17), and that any outstanding debt incurred by Onesimus would be paid in full by the Apostle Paul (1:19). Another consideration is that forced slave trade was contrary to sound doctrine according to Paul (1 Tim 1: 10). Whether incidental and/or coicidental, Paul's redemptive appeal on behalf of Onesimus is typical in essence of the gospel. Apart from Christ we are "slaves to the law" and all have fallen short. This is bad news since the wages for sin is everlasting destruction. But, God in Christ paid the sin debt in full through death on the cross in order to redeem those with no rights, offer a new life and provide a new identity in union with Christ with the full rights of sons/daughers to whomever would receive it by grace through faith (Gal 4:4-7; Also Compare Gal 3:26-29 with Eph 3:6-7).

The Gospel & Titus   Paul left his close associate Titus in Crete to continue the ministry they began together in order to travel on to Macedonia (1 Tim 1:3), which was sometime after the apostle's release from his first imprisonment and before his second Roman imprisonment-AD 65-66. See First Timothy below. Subsequently, Paul wrote Titus instructing him to help the community of Cretian believers grow in faith and Godly living (Titus 1:1), appoint elders in the Cretian Christian community (Titus 1:5), silence false teachers there by teaching sound doctrine (Titus 1:11), and having fulfilled this mission rejoin Paul when Artemas or Tychicus would relieve Titus (Titus 3:12). Specifically, Paul lists the charachter and spritual qualifications for overseers (Titus 1:5-9), and explains what he means by sound doctrine. According to Paul the gospel is the basis and means for sound doctirne stating, "For the grace of God that brings slavation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungdliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These are the things you should teach" (Titus 2:11-15; Acts 20:28). The gospel from God's vantage point was not only to save us from wickedness and its end, but to save us to be a purified "people that are his very own."-that the nature and scope of the gospel is wholistic. Moreover, sound doctrine entails teaching that justification by grace through faith is onging in the lives of those who embrace the gospel-that the gospel of redemption is ongoing. This is evident in Titus 3:4-7-"when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Note that Paul says, "so that, having been justified by grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7) Thus, this gospel includes God in Christ's redeeming death, justification by grace through faith, the rebirth that results from being in union with Christ, and the the power/ability to live and do God's will-all by grace, God's initiative, through faith, or man's responce. And, this is the basis and means of sound doctrine. After Paul makes the connection between the nature and scope of the gospel with sound doctrine he states, "I want you to stress these things"(Titus 3:4-7). Is your doctrine sound, and do you stress "these things?" See Romans: Embracing the Gospel"  for an in-context Biblical analysis of grace and faith as it relates to the gospel.

The Gospel & Timothy   Acts 28:30 and 2 Timothy 4:16-17 indicates Paul was released after two years of house arrest in Rome. Timothy had been with Paul during this first imprisonment (Philipians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Phelemon 1:1), but was dispatched to Ephesis with Paul's release AD 62. (Titus was sent to Crete). According to the Mauratorian Fragment (180 AD), and Clement of Rome, Paul subsequently travelled to Spain as planned (Romans 15:28), returned to Macedonia, and finally Rome where he was again imprisioned under the emporer Nero AD 67. Sometime between Paul's release and second imprissonment under Nero, the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to "Stay in Ephesis" while he was in Macedonia (1 Tim 1:1-3). The first letter to Timothy is a follow-up reaffirming Timothy's commission and was written from Macedonia 65 AD. Paul also spells out the personal, charachter, and spiritual qualifications for church leadership, provides rules for relating to others in the community of believers, and directs Timothy to guard/defend the gospel he received/passed on to Timothy. The word gospel is used once, and it is linked with "sound doctrine" (1 Tim 1:11). Since the letter revolves around making sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel the basis for all ministry roles, relationships, and responsibilies the substance of the gospel is found in many other passages in this letter. For example, Paul states God "wants all ment to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle" (1 Tim 2:4-7, cf 2 Tim 1:8-12). Paul also stresses the importance of perserving in sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel (1 Tim 1:11). "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Perservere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim 4:15). This is noteworthy as Timothy was already saved in the past and present sense implying the need to perservere in sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel. Click Here for specifics regarding leadership qualifications for Christian ministry disclosed in this letter.

The second letter to Timothy was written by Paul from Rome during his second and final imprissionment that, according to the first century historian Eusbesus, led to his martyrdom under the emperor Nero AD 67. In the letter itself Paul states he was in chains (2 Tim 1:16; 2:8), and abandoned by all associates except Luke (2 Tim 4:11)-the writer of Luke-Acts. Anticipating execution (2 Tim 4:6, 8, 18), he writes Timothy asking him to visit. Paul also urges Timothy to guard/defend the gospel, perservere in the gospel, and follow his example. Three times out of the four times the word gospel is used in this letter, Paul refers to the mysteries he explained in the prior letter to the Ephesians ( ). For example He writes, "But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am" (2 Tim 1:8-12). The fourth and final time he uses the word gospel in this letter he writes, "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering . . ."(2 Tim 2:8-9). Then, he goes on to say "If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." (2 Tim 2:11-13) Paul makes clear those making a gospel confession can later be disowned if disowning Christ, and "must turn away from wickedness" (2 Tim 2:19). Thus, Paul's last words to Timothy indicates a wholistic explanation of the nature and scope of the gospel that entails perserverance in sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel by grace through faith. Click Here for specifics about the gospel and this letter.

The links below will direct you to these sites, and images of this manuscript. I have also included the English Greek intilenear for Ephesians, and concordance. These resources will show that modern English translations of this letter are subtantially the same, and has remained in tact. Combined with preserved writings of early church leaders citing passages that concurr with the same passages found in modern translations of the Holy Bible, we can have confidence in its itegrity. We should also seriously heed the message of this letter where the Apostle Paul emphasizes the need to perservere in the gospel by grace through faith stating , ". . . if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel" (Ephesians ). Click here for more.