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Preaching the Pastoral Epistles (Proclamation Commentary series)
By Robert W. Wall
Review by Revd L J Tiffney, curate in Blackburn Diocese
Preaching the Pastoral Epistles is a compact commentary using a canonical approach, which helps the reader mine the depths of wisdom from Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus. Wall writes specifically for those who are preachers, teachers, and pastors to inspire them in their personal formation, as well as equipping them to communicate the richness of these letters to others. After a brief introduction, the author provides his own translation of each letter followed by exegetical notes on each chapter of the pastoral epistles, and he concludes with a sermon idea.
The introduction covers questions concerning the authorship of the pastoral epistles, the reason they were written, and how these personal letters addressed to individuals can be used to build up whole congregations in their theology and formation. Wall acknowledges that the answers he gives are his answers and not necessarily agreed amongst scholars, but it does help orient the direction of travel that he takes with his commentary, and it is clear that his answers are well thought through and notably nuanced. However, in places, he does direct the reader towards his previous works, or other commentaries where he recognises that some people might prefer a fuller discussion.
The most impressive thing about this commentary is the author’s ability to be concise and cogent, considering he covers three books of the Bible in only 141 pages. His avoids oversimplification and gives more space to discuss some of the trickier texts, namely the section in 1 Timothy 2 on the behaviour of women during worship, and in 1 Timothy 6 concerning the relationship between slaves and their masters.
It seems to me that Wall is trying to lighten what can at times feel like a heavy task for preachers, understanding the context and of a passage and its modern applications. He provides a depth of insight into the pastoral epistles and outlines how he would preach on each section, giving a helpful window into his process. It would not necessarily be advisable, or practicable, to directly lift these outlines into our own contexts, because they only suit a certain setting and style of preaching. However, they do serve as a helpful springboard for communicating how the pastoral epistles speak into the modern day.
One of the questions this book has made me ponder is whether we will always need new commentaries to be published due to the advances in scholarly understandings and conclusions, and the ever-changing situations into which a text is interpreted. Regardless of the answer to that question, Wall’s commentary is commendable for its contribution to the field. He writes with teachers and preachers in mind and inspires a fresh appreciation for the richness of the pastoral epistles.
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