The Letters to Timothy And Titus (New International Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: resurrection heresy, oikonomia theou, rebellious teachers, Christ Jesus, Jesus Christ, New Testament (more...)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 883 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (July 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802825133
• ISBN-13: 978-0802825131
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #74,061 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A grand achievement, October 13, 2006

By	William Muehlenberg (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Major recent commentaries on the Pastoral Epistles that have featured a more-or-less conservative and evangelical stance include the NIGTC volume by Knight (1992), the Word volume by Mounce (2000) and the Anchor Bible/ECC hybrid by Quinn and Wacker (2000).

Towner is an authority in this area, and has already penned the IVPNTC volume on these books (1994). He also assisted Marshall in the ICC volume (2000). Thus his NIC volume is certainly the newest but also arguably among the finest.

For quite some time now, the NIC series has been the backbone of evangelical scholarship. Begun in the 1950s, the New Testament set is now almost complete (we still await Matthew and 2 Peter/Jude). It is probably the most consistent series in terms of conservative, evangelical scholarship. (The Old Testament set has quite a few more volumes still forthcoming.)

Towner's volume is a welcome addition to the NIC series. As to the Pastoral Epistles (a term he finds no longer of much value), Towner argues for Pauline authorship. There may have been others who contributed to their composition and message, but Paul is clearly their primary author.

On the vexatious question of women in leadership and ministry, he takes the egalitarian approach, finding fault with both the hierarchical and the radical feminist approaches. He carefully assesses the many issues involved in the question of female leadership, and argues that overall Pauline considerations (such as Gal. 3:28) must not be overlooked in this complex debate.

On some controversial topics, he takes a somewhat safe approach. For example, on the issue of homosexuality, he wisely makes this assessment: "The exegesis of these passages is not in question, and the fate of the current debate about homosexuality will rest on hermeneutics". He then directly moves on to the next passage!

The commentary itself is laid out in the standard manner of the NIC series. A lengthy introduction (90 pages) to the three letters deals with the usual material: text and translation, hermeneutical options, historical and theological considerations, and related matters.

The bibliography is helpful and extensive, although it does not follow the trend of some to list everything under the sun which even remotely relates to the book in question.

The commentary is fluid and easy to read, with more technical discussion relegated to numerous footnotes. Towner is fair and judicious to differing opinions, and is clearly well-versed in all the relevant literature.

In sum, this volume is a monumental achievement, giving these three short epistles major coverage. It will serve both student and scholar for many years to come. A splendid effort.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Coming To A Knowledge Of The Truth, September 24, 2007

By	Jacques Schoeman (SA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

'In these letters to coworkers, 'truth' stands for God's authoritative revelation (as represented in Paul's gospel).' pg 179

Pg 104, 'Regarding False Teachers And False Doctrine:'

'...the scenario assumed by the language of 1 Tim 1:3 of 'staying' on assignment in Ephesus...and his (Paul's) practice of dispatching delegates to churches are clear from his letters...The verb 'to teach what is false' is rare, occurring in the NT only in this letter (6:3)'

Pg 113, 'This brings us back to the term 'oikenomia theou' in 1:4. ..the duties of stewardship (associated with God's house). The duties include all those to be done by the leaders in the church...is designed to explicate 'God's way of ordering things'. This 'ordering' of church and society...has been misapprehended by the opponents...In any case, the essential starting point of the whole letter under the rubric of the ordering of life by God. Paul's point is then that 'by faith', that is, through acceptance of the correct apostolic preaching and teaching, this divine arrangement can be apprehended and implemented.'

Towner never connects Acts 20 to 1 Timothy 1. 'From your own midst they will arise, teaching false doctrine/speaking perverse things' Acts 20:30. This makes Towner's statements above that the only time the verb for 'to teach what is false' is found, is in 1 Timothy in the NT, highly unlikely. There is a direct link between the first warning given by Paul to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (which certainly was prophetic in nature) and his later letter to Timothy, confirming his fears, and instructing Timothy to confront these false teachers at Ephesus. Towner, however, makes no connection here.

'Paul prophesied the rise of false teachers on more than one occasion and he presumably did this through the Spirit (2 Thess 2:1-12; Acts 20:29).' D Guthrie, New Testament Theology pg 559

Towner also refers to Timothy's 'assignment' pg 107, as to remain in Ephesus. The interpretation he lends to 'oikonomia theo' (verse 4) then becomes a discussion whether to accept 'God's house' or 'God's work' as the correct interpretation. The meaning of 'oikonomia' is steward - not house or work, even though an argument can be made for these contextual applications. As in the case of Acts 20, where Paul was explaining the 'stewardship' consigned to the elders of Ephesus, he here explains to Timothy his stewardship in God's dispensation. Stewarding the household of God then becomes the spiritual responsibility and moral accountability of the appointed 'steward' - and not an 'assignment'. The clear intention is to state the office with its clear-cut responsibility, which then falls into promoting the task/mission of the greater body - the church. Towner prefers a flexible understanding of church government to papal church history, approving of a plurality of elders.

I believe the mention of 'myths and endless genealogies' (verse 4) is opposed to the man of God who is satisfied with the Word of God, which does not promote controversial speculations and endless genealogies, but will promote 'God's work'.

An additional concern is Towner's dependence on form criticism, albeit limited, exemplified most clearly in his preoccupation with the 'household codes' and 'duty codes'. He sees their origin in a tradition of sorts, whether Greek of Hebraic, and not through inspiration, though he never says this explicitly.

Towner's portrayal of 2 Timothy 1:5-8 is very well set out. Towner determines that the 'to flan aflame the gift in you' or to 'kindle the gift' is metaphorical for keeping the gift alive. He depicts the generational gift from Lois and Eunice to Timothy as being that of faith. Towner ably demonstrates that the emphasis for the gift falls on the 'gift in you', which has no clearer allusion than to the indwelling Holy Spirit, and not a charismatic misinterpretation or ordination derived from the mention of the laying on of hands by Paul in 2 Timothy or the laying on of hands by the elders in 1 Timothy. The power the Holy Spirit brings is much needed by a timid and undoubtedly young Timothy to proclaim the gospel and be willing to suffer for such proclamation. 'We do not know when his formal ordination took place, whether at the very beginning of his work, or when he was placed in charge at the church in Ephesus.' Louis Berkhof, New Testament Introduction pg 144

In the locus classicus for sound teaching of the truth, 2 Timothy 2:15, Towner highlights the compound for 'rightly dividing/correctly handle' as 'to cut straight'. F F Bruce, who was in favor of a second imprisonment of the apostle Paul, commented: 'The changed state of affairs in the Pauline churches to which they bear witness will have been in part due to the opportunity which Paul's earlier Roman imprisonment afforded to his opponents in these churches.' The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? pg 8

The wealth of knowledge and learning is its redeeming feature. It makes an easy read for so big a work. This expository commentary is an excellent resource for someone looking to buy their first on this subject.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent expounded exposition on the Pastoral Epistles, January 19, 2007

By	Derrick Logwood "diggyshiggy" (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When first opening this book I was initially overwhelmed by the massive amount of material covered. The reading level is definitely not for beginners, but one will find the material to be well written and well divided. I also found this to be my best source when writing an exegesis paper on 2 Timothy 2:8-13. The massive amount of information assisted me in getting a well rounded view of the passage, in that Towner would take several words or phrases from the text and discuss their meaning or possible meanings historically, contextually, and grammatically.
Great book, definite must buy if you want a good commentary of the Pastoral Epistles on your shelf.