Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and Christ Jesus our hope;
    First and Second Timothy and Titus are often referred to by denominational scholars as the Pastoral Epistles due to a common misconception of what a Pastor is. The denominational concept is that a Pastor is the preacher "in charge of the affairs of the local church." The New Testament does not teach this. In Acts 20:17-28 we learn that bishops, elders, and pastors are three different terms referring to the same group of men in the local church doing the same work. The preacher is not the pastor or shepherd of the flock, but the bishops (or elders) are. In New Testament days that was no distinction between bishops, elders and pastors.