Pauline Theology and Letters: Key Concepts and Contexts

Thessalonica

Major city in Macedonia; important early Christian community (1 Thessalonians)

Corinth

Wealthy, diverse, but morally messy church (Corinthians letters)

Galatia

Region, not just one city; churches struggling with Jewish law vs. faith

Macedonia

Northern Greece region

Achaia

Southern Greece region

Saul

Latin for Paul

Paul

Roman citizen; circumcised on the 8th day (Jew); wrote letters to guide early churches; faced suffering, prison, persecution

Paul's theology

Gospel of Christ is poet and revelation; Jesus died for human sin; God raised Jesus from the dead to power; God's new age has begun

Old Adam

Humanity in sin (from Adam in Genesis)

New Adam

Christ; restores humanity; Jesus 'restarts' humanity → brings life instead of sin

Abraham

Model of faith; made righteous before the Law; used by Paul to argue: Saved by faith, not law

1 Thessalonians

Jesus will return unexpectedly → be ready; themes include familial language, the gospel Paul preached, role of imitation, eschatology, and prayer

Galatians

Pagan Gentiles turning to Judaism; Paul confronts Peter for hypocrisy; themes include Paul's authority, Christ and the law, justification by faith, and God's universal favor

1 Corinthians

Divisions in the church; sexual immorality; spiritual gifts should build unity; themes include unity in Christ, humility, love, and body of Christ

2 Corinthians

Themes include Paul's ministry, fundraising for Jerusalem, apostolic authority, boasting in weakness, reconciliation, and human weakness revealing God's power

Philippians

Rejoice even in suffering; themes include friendship, mutual love, shared ministry, humility

Philemon

Onesimus (a slave) is now a brother in Christ; Paul appeals instead of commanding; forgiveness over punishment; reconciliation is central to Christian life

Adoption

A beautiful image for understanding how non-Jewish people can be included in the family of God

Agora

Greek for a 'marketplace' where Paul would work and minister

Atonement

To make amends for sin; in Pauline theology, the shedding of Christ's blood paid for our offenses

Charis

Greek for 'grace / blessing'; from it we have the word 'charism', meaning a spiritual gift

Eschaton

The end of the world / time; Paul had an imminent eschatology

Gramma

Greek for 'letter' as in the 'letter of the law' as opposed to the 'spirit of the law'

Justification

Being in right relationship with God; sin broke our friendship with God and the death and resurrection of Christ puts us back in good standing with God

Kenosis

Self-emptying, humility; important part of Philippians 2

Latria

Greek for 'praise that is due to God'; we give God praise that we owe him

Nos / Nous

Greek for 'mind / knowledge'; as in 'put on the mind of Christ'

Participation

Paul's theology that if we are baptized and die to ourselves, we will also participate in the glorious resurrection

Parousia

Greek for the glorious return of Christ to judge the living and the dead

Pneuma

Greek for 'spirit / wind'; as in the 'spirit of the law' as opposed to the 'letter of the law'

Theosis

Greek for becoming divine, glorified by God; important part of Philippians 2

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