pauline chronology 81
well as it does from 1 Corinthians (despite issues regarding the integrity of
2 Corinthians 10–13). according to reicke and robinson, titus is written
after romans and before the prison epistles (see below), with the next
being either Philemon (reicke) or Philippians (robinson).38 Whereas
these last two letters have recognizably much in common (written from
prison, some common personal references, etc.), they appear to have less
in common with titus. reicke and robinson would no doubt attribute
this to the radically different circumstances of their composition, which
transpired after the writing of titus and after Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem.
2 Timothy. as above, there are two views of when 2 timothy was written
within the Pauline chronology. the first view, held by van Bruggen and
Johnson, is that 2 timothy was written during Paul’s two year imprison-
ment in rome as recorded in acts 28:16–31.39 the conditions under which
Paul was held captive in acts seem to be similar for 2 timothy, in which
Paul has visitors, is still active in correspondence, is dealing with his asso-
ciates, and has had a first defense but not yet been released (2 tim 1:16;
4:12, 13, 21). this also means that 2 timothy was written during the same
imprisonment during which Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon were
written (and possibly ephesians). there are indeed similarities among all
these letters. as Johnson points out, 2 timothy and Philippians have a
number of features in common, such as a setting in which Paul is a pris-
oner, the sending of delegates, receiving of visitors, writing of letters and
other involvement.40 however, all three of the prison epistles were writ-
ten by Paul and timothy, but 2 timothy was written to timothy at an
unknown location. there is the further issue that the other prison epistles
seem to have a more optimistic tone than does 2 timothy. Both van Brug-
gen and Johnson contend that it is possible that the other prison epistles
(those other than 2 timothy) were written at an earlier point in Paul’s
captivity, when there appeared to be a more realistic hope of his release
(perhaps based upon the first defense), but that 2 timothy reflects a loss
of hope, heading towards a more imminent end. during the intervening
period, timothy has departed rome, but now at the final hour Paul is call-
ing for his trusted and close associate to return quickly to him and bring
38 see reicke, Re-examining Paul’s Letters, 73–75; robinson, Redating the New Testa-
ment, 79–80, 84.
39 Van Bruggen, Die geschichtliche Einordnung, 41–58; cf. towner, Letters to Timothy and
Titus, 14; Johnson, First and Second Letters, 319–20.
40 Johnson, First and Second Letters, 319–20. Cf. also robinson, Redating the New Testa-
ment, 79–80.