Aida Spencer: 2 Timothy and Titus, NCCS

Aída Besançon Spencer, 2 Timothy and Titus, New Covenant Commentary Series (Cascade Books, 2014), 184 pages, ISBN 9781625642530.

It is with integrity and in a very comprehensive fashion that Dr. Aida Spencer presents her readers with a worthwhile commentary which combines the Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus and his second to Timothy. Throughout the work, Dr. Spencer demonstrates critical command of these two pastoral texts. It is impressive to observe her respect for the letters as she approaches them with care. As a result, Dr. Spencer has once again delivered a strong contribution to the theologian’s pursuit of honest scriptural interpretation. Her perspective on the intended functional ministry of women within the Church, a position that comes out of this commentary, deserves consideration.

After engaging with the context and the thematic elements of Paul’s letter to Titus, Spencer spends a substantial amount of time examining the term elders. She mentions that, “their function is only suggested in the letter.” As a result, Spencer looks to the culture to explain it further, uncovering that elders “had authority in religious and civic matters…they handled city administration and jurisdiction.” She further contends that they were to be compared to “ambassadors, people who sought reconciliation.” Additional to the symbolic and superficial descriptors for an elder, Spencer correctly categorizes Paul’s requirements for such an office as moral qualities. The question that seemed to be building as she examined the term elders was answered rather matter-a-factly, as she affirmed that the Greek form, which Paul utilized in the presently identified second chapter of his letter—presbytis, is in fact meant to represent female eldership. Spencer, then puts together a list of qualities that are tied to the both presbytes (male elders) and presbytis (female elders). She supports her argument with contextual evidence and with a comparison to Aristotle’s literary works (which Paul would have been aware of and might be contrasting)

Dr. Spencer builds off of the section on elders to explain that Paul was actually teaching that women should pray and lead as men do, imploring Titus to “encourage the female leaders as much as he does the male leaders.” Additionally, she claims that Paul was calling women not to be silent and passive but rather to be active leaders in their households and focused on evangelism. Interestingly, Spencer highlights the image of slavery and how young women are not meant to subject themselves to maltreatment but rather that they should emulate voluntary slavery in a humble way demonstrating leadership. This theme of reversing the perceived nature or effect of certain aspects of life continues as Spencer emphasized the transformation of attitude that is required by Christians, needing them to be meek rather than in charge.

In a similar fashion to how she began her approach to Paul’s letter to Titus, Dr. Spencer introduces the apostle’s second letter to Timothy. After discussing context and a few inaccuracies, she shifts her focus to opening chapter of the letter emphasizing Paul’s appeal to his familial type relationship to Timothy amidst times of persecution. Dr. Spencer makes significant mention of the personality of Timothy, writing about his compassion, joy and faith. Spencer entertains the idea that Timothy may have been an actual soldier, making his timidity not a weakness but rather a realistic awareness of fear and power.

After establishing the relationship and the personalities of the two men, Paul and Timothy, Dr. Spencer moves on to investigate the substance of Paul’s message, which begins with a summary of the Gospel. She very insightfully recognizes the contrasting statements the Paul continues to make in regards to what the world desires and what Timothy ought to keep hold of in his teaching. Spencer explains Paul’s pattern of reasoning as she connects his warning of what could go wrong to his highlighting of what it looks like when it goes right, by way of the example of the believers in Asia and that of those in the household of Onesiphorus.

Spencer continues to challenge the conservative interpretation of Paul’s letters by stating that his reminder to Timothy was “to entrust the gospel educational process to trustworthy humans.” She explains that 2 Timothy should be read in the context of 1 Timothy, which advocated for women to be educated. Spencer makes a strong point that the act of limiting anthropos to mean men only by certain scholars is “because they presuppose that the teaching offices are restricted to men only.” Thus, the bias dictates the result.

In the concluding chapters of 2 Timothy, Spencer again looks at the idea of women prisoners from another angle and lays claim to the figurative language that Paul is using to represent the idea of false teachers corrupting one’s mind. She very convincingly reminds the reader that Timothy was taught from infancy by Lois and Eunice—indicating that these women are affirmed by Paul and that he directed Timothy to “remember them.” Lastly, Spencer makes a brief case for an egalitarian marriage by referencing Prisca an Aquila and their ministry together as a couple.

Dr. Spencer’s commentary is very well written and offers strong arguments. It does a terrific job of examining what the text states and regularly points out the presence of women within the scene of the early church. Her commentary advocates for a different perspective on women’s functional ministry than what has been made popular by other conservative evangelicals. As was stated in the introduction to this review, her words should be heard and her position should be a point of reflection for those who disagree.

Reviewed by John M. Ames

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