FAITHFUL SAYINGS IN THE PASTORAL EPISTLES

One of the most interesting, and longstanding, controversies is the significance of the five denoted “faithful sayings” in the Pastoral Letters since that form of citation is not found in any other Pauline writings. The Greek word translated as “faithful” is pistos, which in the passive can also be rendered as “to be trusted, reliable.” Guthrie points out that “the use of such formal statements is said to be proof of a later development in the Church, relating to a period when Christian doctrine was reduced to formal statements for catechetical purposes. But the problem is really whether the creative Paul would have cited current formulas, since there is no reason to suppose that such formulas were not used at a very early stage, in the history of the Church.”

And in partial support of Pauline authorship of the Pastorals, Ellis notes that with the possible exception of I Timothy 3:1, these phrases are used as citations for themes “whose vocabulary is generally Pauline.” Also, a somewhat similar formula is found in the genuine Pauline letter of I Corinthians (at 10:13).

Gundry says that the phrase “introduces early Christian confessions, slogans, and hymns.” Attempts to encompass all of them around a common theme, such as salvation, have so far failed to be convincing. (Hanson) But Ellis notes that except for I Timothy 3:1, these are “confessional statements of Pauline soteriological [salvation-related] themes.” Quinn points to the similar statements found in the Book of Revelation as close parallels:

    Rev. 1:5 “from Jesus the faithful witness”

    Rev. 3:14 “the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness”

    Rev. 19:11 “He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True”

    Rev. 21:5 “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

    Rev. 22:6 “These words are trustworthy and true.”

Another possible use of the “faithful statements” is as structural marker phrases. That possibility was tested, as explained below.

I Timothy

Within I Timothy, the more complete version of the phrase “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance” in 1:15a almost certainly points forward to the hymnic pronouncement of 1:15b-17 that concludes the center literary unit of the letter. By analogy, it is logical to assume that the next appearance of the phrase, in its more abbreviated form at 3:1a, would point backward in order to provide a second occasion in which the denoted saying falls within the center unit of a major section (Section II in this case – see Fig. 1). This interpretation is in agreement with those scholars who feel that the proper referent for 3:1a lies in ch. 2.

The most difficult “sure saying” to interpret from a structural viewpoint is I Timothy 4:9, a duplicate of the full formulation of 1:15a. The citation appears to point backward to all or part of the previous verse according to most commentators, although some opt for all or part of 4:10 as the saying in question. (Lea and Griffin) In neither case does it appear to highlight the center hymn 3:16b as would be expected from analogy with the two previous “faithful saying” citations, unless one takes the unlikely stance that eight verses separate the saying from its citation. Instead, its structural function is the rather weak one of leading Section III to a conclusion (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: The Structure of I Timothy 3:1-4:8

            A. Last Days (3:1-9)

                    B. Paul and acquaintances (3:10-17)

            A'. Last Days (4:1-8)

II Timothy

The one faithful saying in II Timothy comes at the end of Section IA' (see Figure 2) and is balanced by hymnic elements in IA. It is also well placed to act in parallel with the other specially highlighted poetic passage in the epistle: the doxology of 4:17-18 which constitutes I'A and ends in “Amen.” This doxology may be one of only two in the NT (with Romans 9:5) that is actually addressed to Christ. (Knight)

Figure 2: The Structure of II Timothy

I. Suffering (1:1-2:13)

Introductory Words (1:1-7)

A. Suffering (1:8-14)

B. Paul and acquaintances (1:15-18)

A'. Suffering (2:1-10)

Concluding Hymn (a faithful saying) (2:11-13)

II. Charges to Timothy (2:14-26)

A. Avoid Disputes (2:14-17a)

B. Paul and acquaintances (2:17b-19)

A'. Avoid Disputes (2:20-26)

II'. Charges to Timothy (3:1-4:8)

A. Last Days (3:1-9)

B. Paul and acquaintances (3:10-17)

A'. Last Days (4:1-8)

I'. Suffering (4:9-22)

B. Paul and acquaintances (4:9-16)

A. Suffering (4:17-18) – hymn ending in “Amen”

B'. Paul and acquaintances (4:19-21)

Final Blessing (4:22)

Titus

Figure 3: The Structure of Titus

I. Opening Greeting (1:1-4)

II. Specific Instructions to Titus: Church Leaders and Corrupt Influences (1:5-16)

A. Church Leaders (1:5-9)

B. Warnings (1:10-16)

III. Teach! (2:1-14)

A. Introductory Charge (2:1)

B. Submission (2:2-9a)

C. Turning from the Past and

                                                                                        Becoming Purified (2:9b-14)

III'. Exhort and Reprove! (2:15-3:8a)

A. Introductory Charge (2:15)

B. Submission (3:1-2)

C. Turning from the Past and

                                                                                         Being Regenerated (3:3-8a)

II'. Specific Instructions to Titus: Corrupt Influences and Church Leaders (3:8b-14)

B. Warnings (3:8b-11)

A. Church Leaders (3:12-14)

I'. Closing Greetings (3:15)

As implied in Fig. 3, the phrase “The saying is sure” in Titus 3:8a has been taken by most (but not all) commentators to refer to the previous verses rather than those following (Hanson, Towner) although (a) there is uncertainty as to precisely which of those words (vv. 3-7; 4-7; 5-7 or 5b-7) comprise the saying itself (Ward, Knight) and (b) most commentators, in dividing the letter into individual units, inexplicably tend to group all of v. 8 with the following verses.

Thus, the Pastorals contain five “faithful sayings” which are referenced by the key phrase “the saying is sure,” with only one of these designations in Titus. However, there is a marked similarity in thought between that phrase and the one found in 1:13: “This testimony is true.” This latter reference appears in IIB where it clearly refers to the previous verse, 1:12. If 3:8a refers backwards also, then it belongs in Section III'C and forms no structural parallel with the other faithful saying. However, if it should refer to what follows, then there is a neat mirrored symmetry between sections IIB and II'B:

Quotation (1:12)

Reference to the quotation (1:13)

                                                Reference to the quotation (3:8a)

Quotation (3:8b- ?)

Unfortunately, even in this eventuality it is still impossible to state with assurance which of the following verses comprise the actual quotation. One possibility is the simple phrase “apply themselves to good deeds,” which Quinn actually places in quotation marks in his translation.