The three pastoral letters or epistles are books of the canonical New Testament: the First Epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy) the Second Epistle to Timothy (2 Timothy) and the Epistle to Titus. They are letters from Paul the Apostle to Timothy and to Titus. They are generally discussed as a group (sometimes with the addition of the Epistle to Philemon) and are given the title pastoral because they are addressed to individuals with pastoral oversight of churches and discuss issues of Christian living, doctrine and leadership. While the title is not technically quite correct in that the Epistles do not deal with pastoral duties in the sense of the cure of souls, yet it is popularly appropriate as denoting the essentially practical nature of the subject matter as distinguished from the other Epistles attributed to Paul. The term "pastorals" was popularised in 1703 by D. N. Berdot and in 1726 by Paul Anton.

2 Timothy 2:20, 21 Noble Purposes

2 Timothy 2:20, 21 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work
These verses are a little difficult but if we think of the church of God as being like a large house with a solid foundation (as stated in the previous verse) then those within it can be thought of as articles for various purposes in that house. Just as in a house articles are made of different materials (gold, silver, wood, clay) all depending on what exactly they are used for so in God's church different ones have different qualities and different purposes under God. Some are for noble use, some, sadly, for ignoble. Here Timothy is exhorted to avoid those who are clearly made for ignoble purposes - people who go in for godless chatter or who have begun to wander away from the truth. Timothy is to cleanse himself from such in order that he may be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. What is striking here is that Paul is saying that distinctions need to be made even within the church membership, otherwise if ignoble people get in they can soon pull down the whole edifice unless great care is taken. Wise pastors will learn to disentangle themselves and their churches from vessels of ignoble purpose.

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