The Bible is simply a love letter compiled into sixty-six books and written over a period ofsixteen hundred years by more than forty authors living on three continents. Although theauthors came from different backgrounds, there is one message, one theme, one thread that runs throughout the entire Bible from the first book, Genesis, to the last book, Revelation. That message is God's redeeming love for mankind--a message that is as relevant for us today as it was two thousand years ago.Paul's Letters to Pastors (First Timothy, Second Timothy, Titus, and Philemon) were written to individual men responsible for leadership in three different churches: Timothy in Ephesus, Titus on the island of Crete, and Philemon in Colossae. These letters were written over a period of six years, from AD 61 to 67. Second Timothy is Paul's last epistle penned from prison, most likely just months before his martyrdom.From the very beginning of the church, leadership was necessary, and appropriate leadersand their leadership roles had to be established. Thus, as you study these books, you will become acquainted with the character traits of a leader, the various forms of leadership, the descriptions of ministry for various groups of people within the church, and the warnings against false teachers and practices.All of this was new ground in the first century AD, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it was ground broken well and permanently. Two millennia later, biblical churches still look to these books for direction in church leadership.