Paul's Letters

Flashcards for reviewing Paul's Letters

Paul of Tarsus

Most prominent leader in the early church along with Peter.

Tarsus

City in Cilicia where Paul was born, a free city and capital of Cilicia.

Saul

Jewish name of Paul.

Paul

Roman/Greek name of Paul.

Apostle

A messenger sent on a mission with the authority of the sender.

Christian

Term not picked by Jesus followers for themselves.

Kyrios

Slave master, divinity, ruler

Authorship and Corpus of Pauline Letters

Evangelical scholars widely accept that there are 13 undisputed letters of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. Some advocate for a 14th: Hebrews.

Methodological Approach to Studying Paul’s Letters

Structured approach to analyzing each letter focusing on time frame, geographic location, structure, challenges faced and central thesis.

Central Concern in Paul’s Letters

Ensuring the purity and accuracy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nature and Progression of Salvation According to Paul

Ongoing, progressive process of being saved (sanctification) through the Gospel.

The Gospel Outline by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15

Jesus is the Christ, Jesus died, Jesus died for our sins, his death was in accordance with scriptures, Jesus was burried, He was raised on the third day, He appeared alive to many witnesses.

Threat of Gospel Distortion

Altering the gospel by adding or subtracting from its pure message.

Judaizers

Legalism insisting that Gentile Christians observe the Mosaic law

Paul's Thesis in Galatians

Believers are justified by grace through faith, not by works of the law

Church of Thessalonians

Paul planted the Thessalonian church during his second missionary journey

Significant Issue in Thessalonians

Confusion about the second coming of Christ, especially concerning believers who had died before the return.

Key Teaching in Paul's Second Letter to Thessalonians

The day of the Lord will not come until specific events—like a rebellion and the revealing of the “man of lawlessness”—occur

Diokos

Dry channel for taking goods between Saronic Gulf and Gulf of Corinth

Amanuensis

Secretary who took down information

The Gospel as the Central Theme of Paul’s Letters

Addresses various problems within early churches by either affirming the gospel or correcting distortions.

Corruption and Compromise of the Gospel in Corinth

Exemplified significant dysfunction due to misapplication and misunderstanding of the gospel.

Paul’s Definition of a True Christian and the Church

Committed relationship with Jesus as Lord, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Challenges Faced by the Corinthian Church

Sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, confusion about marriage, lack of mutual care, and idol worship

Antinomianism and Early Gnostic Influence

Philosophy that separated body and soul and promoted either excessive asceticism or indulgence

Paul’s Sixfold Strategy in First Corinthians to Address Church Problems

Clarifying the gospel’s truth and power teaching that only believers can grasp God's truth, affirming diverse roles, calling leaders to faithfulness, exhorting the church to practice discipline, urging all actions to glorify God.

Second Corinthians

Letter focuses on comfort amid suffering and conflict.

Paul’s Defense of His Apostolic Authority

Paul spends substantial portion defending his legitimacy and the authenticity of his ministry.

Warnings Against Unequal Yoking

Formed partnerships with unbelievers that hinder spiritual growth.

Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”

Persistent hardship that reminds him of human weakness.

The Gospel must remain Central and Uncompromised

Reminder for the church to focus on the true gospel and to live lives that reflect gospel transformation.

Historical and Cultural Context of Corinth

Urban and mercantile center with diverse ethnicities and religious practices.

Paul’s Encounter with Aquila and Priscilla

Illustrates relational and vocational networks that facilitated early church planting.

Paul’s Six Aspects of Apostolic Commendation

Ministry attitude, growing in faith, ministry by mercy, eternal perspective, and a compelling gospel message.

Theological Emphasis on Sanctification and Christian Identity

Calls believers “saints” and stresses sanctification as a lifelong process rooted in union with Christ

Chapter 18 Romans

Paul in Corinth and thought about future ministry and wanted to go West to Rome.

Gladiators

Fighters who dueled to death for the public in Rome

Diatribe

Series of questions to which the answer is definitely no.

Hilasterion

Propitiation, appeased God’ s anger and wiped away our sins

Antinomianism

Sinning so that God’ s grace may forgive that much more

Romans is central to Paul’s gospel ministry

The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, Jew first, then Gentile.

Paul defines sin

Humanity’s rebellion and explains God’s wrath as a present reality in fallen cultures

Justification

By faith alone, a gift of God’s grace, manifest in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Romans 8

Life in the Spirit brings victory over sin and assurance of God’s unshakable love.

Practical instructions

Letter transitioned into these for living as a gospel community upon receiving salvation

“the gospel of God”

Multifaceted, denoting both the gospel’s divine origin and content and the gospel’s transformative effect in believers’ lives (subjective)

The Reality of God’s Wrath and Human Sin

Paul’s stark diagnosis of universal rebellion against God.

The Active and Passive Obedience of Christ

The nuanced theological understanding that Jesus’ life of perfect obedience and His sacrificial death together secure salvation reinforces the comprehensiveness of Christ’s atoning work

Romans 9-11

Letter that artfully balances the tension between God choosing whom to save and human beings being responsible to respond to the gospel

Romans as the Central Letter of Paul’s Gospel Message

Paul’s most clearest and comprehensive presentation of the gospel.

Big Picture Structure of Romans

Letter divided into key thematic segments: an overview, thesis statement, explanation of need for gospel, how gospel saves sinners, God’s saving sovereignty, and practical instructions.

Faith: Transformative and Dynamic

Is a gift from God that revives, transforms, and sustains believers.

Christ’s Sacrificial Atonement

The Old Testament sacrificial system as a propitiation.

Dual Obedience of Christ

The concepts are essential: death refers to what was done to Him on the cross while life pertains to His lifelong faithful adherence

Baptism as Symbol of Transformation and Public Profession

Is highlighted as a crucial public expression of identification with Christ death and resurrection

Baptism as a Public and Vital Expression

Not optional of symbolic only but is an essential and public declaration of dying to sin

Mutual Accountability in the Church

These are the emphasis- relationships - using spiritual gifts, serving one another, honoring government

Chapter 19 Col. and Eph

Col, Eph, Phil., Philemon = prison epistles. Wrote while in prison in Rome.

Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon Summary

Letters address various challenges faced by early Christian churches.

Philippi

Church most dear to Paul, planted through God’s providence and marked by diverse social backgrounds.

Teachers Promoting Prosperity

Early “prosperity gospel” preachers faced by Paul.

Addresses Leadership Roles in the Church

That distinguishes elders (spiritual oversight) and deacons (practical service), and prays fervently for the congregation’s well-being.

Stresses Preeminence of Christ

The “all in all” and the necessity of walking in Christ

Shortest of these letters, Philemon

Dealing with a personal and sensitive issue: Paul appeals on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave who became a Christian

The Integration of Justification and Sanctification

Colossians highlights that Christian life is a continuous process of grace operated transformation.

Context and Purpose of Pauline Letters

Were inspired by the Holy Spirit and written to address real challenges faced by early Christian communities.

Integration of Justification and Sanctification

Paul stresses: Christian life is a continuous process of grace, operated transformation.

Letters Enduring Canonical Value

Shows that early church correspondence was interconnected and mutually edifying.

The Church in Philippi

Church that Was a Roman colony with a diverse founding congregation.

Spiritual Leadership According to the New Testament

Provides spiritual oversight and feeding of the flock and deacons are servants who attend to practical, organizational needs.

Paul's Prayer

Characterized by joy amid suffering, gratitude, assurance, clarity, conviction and commitment

Philippi

States that this city was a Roman colony and known as one of the great seaports of antiquity.

The Letter to Philemon

Brief letter concerning Onesimus, a slave who became a Christian

Paul's Appeal

Addresses pastoral authority exercised with love emphasizing reconciliation and Christian brotherhood.