Pastoral Epistles - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

PASTORAL EPISTLES, the name given to St Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus. The term seems to have originated with J. A. L. Wegscheider (1771-1849), professor at Halle. The three epistles mentioned are written to men rather than churches, and to men appointed to certain pastoral work. In this respect they differ from the personal and intimate note which Paul wrote to Philemon. They are closely related in origin, style, diction and thought, and occupy so distinct a place in these respects that the Pauline authorship of them has been much questioned. (See First Epistle to Timothy; Second Epistle to Timothy; The Epistle To Titus)