christology, greco-roman religious piety 225
interpreters who consider the stated intent of these letters give much
closer consideration to matters of Christology as a response to false teach-
ing. gordon fee and William Barclay are noteworthy in this respect.20 some
take false teaching as primary but view the issue as a heretical disregard
for social institutions (such as the family, the household, leadership) and
not theology or Christology per sé.21 frances young’s 1994 Theology of the
Pastorals is a case in point, focusing on the practical and organizational
issues with which church communities of the early second century strug-
gled. although the issue of false teaching is raised, it is construed as eccle-
sial in nature so that the “Christ” of the Pastorals becomes an exemplar for
εὐσέβεια and sacrificial living over against aggrandizing con artists.22 the
recent work of James aageson (Paul, the Pastoral Epistles, and the Early
Church) goes even further in situating each of the Pastorals in what he
calls the “Pauline legacy” based on the literary and theological patterns
he finds in each letter. their theological patterns place them closer to the
apostle Paul. But their perceived concern for the good order and leader-
ship of the household of god ultimately places them closer to the ecclesial
situation of the apostolic fathers.23 While false teaching may have been
motivated by ἀσέβεια living (e.g., greed), the Pastorals’ focus on “Christ
Jesus” as “our savior” and “our lord” suggests that the primary issue is
orthodoxy (Christological error) rather than orthopraxy (Christ as a model
of piety). the soteriological emphasis of the Christological creedal state-
ments in 1 tim 1:15, 2:5–6, and 3:16 also indicates an orthodoxy issue.
Christological Titles and Religious Language
Peter trummer is indeed correct in stating that the Christology of the
Pastorals is expressed primarily by means of the titles κύριος (22 times)24
and σωτήρ (10 times; 4/10 of Christ).25 however, it is important to notice
that in each instance these titles are descriptive of the more fundamental
20 gordon fee, 1, 2 Timothy and Titus (new international Biblical Commentary; Pea-
body, ma: hendrickson, 1984); William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon
(rev. ed.; louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1975).
21 see for instance towner, 1–2 Timothy and Titus; cf. “Pauline theology,” 306, 313–14.
22 frances young, The Theology of the Pastoral Letters (Cambridge: Cambridge univer-
sity Press, 1994), 1–23.
23 aageson, Paul, the Pastoral Epistles.
24 1 tim 1:2, 12, 14; 6:3, 14, 15; 2 tim 1:2, 8, 16, 18 (twice); 2:7, 19 (twice), 22, 24; 3:11; 4:8,
14, 17, 18, 22.
25 1 tim 1:2, 12; 6:3, 14; 2 tim 1:2, 8, 24.