The so-called "pastoral epistles" have experienced a varied life in biblical scholarship. They have been present in the acknowledged canonical books ever since it was first established (c. A.D. 170) - with the notable exception of Marcion's quixotic selections. They "fell from grace" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when critical textual analysis began to develop. Despite the long canonical tenure of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, the authenticity of their Pauline authorship came under close scrutiny and was eventually denied by some of the most respected biblical scholars. This questionable heritage caused some scholars to begin to dismiss their content as well - supposing the letters to Timothy and Titus to be paler, washed-out versions of Pauline theology, lacking that apostle's fi…