Paul's Letters BITH 213

Corinth was a Roman

colony

Where did Corinthians meet

Atrium: holds 30-40 people

1 Corinthians is the ____ letter Paul wrote to them

2 Corinthians is the ____ letter Paul wrote to them

2nd, 4th

First problem addressed in Corinthians

unity in Christ versus division over apostles

Marriage in 1 Corinthians

viewed positively in Jewish culture, argued for celibacy even in marriage, question of divorce and unbelieving spouse

singleness is a gift and almost portrayed as better than marriage

Idol Meat

new believers unsure of what to do with meat sacrificed to idols that is served

don't cause others to stumble --> just because you can doesn't mean you should, idols are demonic

Lord's Supper

some overindulging, some not getting enough and are hungry - distinction based on classes

communal emphasis, reverence for meal as not just another mealtime but a holy meal, care for each other

Tongues/Prophecy

Spirit gives many different gifts, do it for the edification of the Church, don't despise tongues

Resurrection

Belief in no resurrection of the dead

our hope is in the resurrection of the dead, w/o it there is no gospel

Giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9

poor believers in Jerusalem who needed financial suport

not giving out of compulsion but in readiness and thanksgiving to God

1 Corinthians Outline

1-4: oral report from Chloe's people about divisions

5-6: oral report about sexuality and lawsuits

7: questions on male/gemale relationships

8-10: food sacrificed to idols

11: men and women and the Lord's supper

12-14: spiritual gifts

15: resurrection

16: collection

Super Apostles

proclaiming another Jesus, receiving a different spirit, admitting a different gospel

Acts

Luke to Theophilus

post or pre 70 AD

History of a people

Purpose: what Jesus continues to do and teach

Acts Outline

1-8:3: Jerusalem, Peter

8:4-12: Judea and Samaria, Peter

13-28: ends of the earth, Paul

Features of Acts

For everyone (Gentiles, women, poor, oppressed)

Prayer

Holy Spirit

Unity of the Church

Jerusalem Council

Gentiles accepted by God, have received Spirit, do not need to be circumcised

Cannot have food sacrificed to idols, no blood, and no fornication

The church uses ____ and _____ validated by ______ to discern when God is doing something new

experience; evidence; Scripture

Thessalonians

Athens, 51-52 AD

Paul visited on 2nd missionary journey, persecuted by Jews after believers are persuaded by Paul and Silaas

Thessalonians gods: Serapis

Greco-Egyptian god with idea of death and resurrection, must repent of former way of life before worshipping this god

Thessalonians gods: Roma

Goddess of Roman state

Thessalonians gods: Dionysus

God of wine, partying, promoted immoral sexuality

Thessalonians gods: Cabirus

young man unjustly killed by brothers, said to come back and aid the poor

symbols of hammer and fertility

Thessalonians and Work

working with your hands is good, Paul works hard to refuse payment from believers and not burden them with this cost

Thessalonians and End Times

those dead in Christ will rise first

day of the Lord is like a thief in the night for unbelievers but not for believers who are children of the day - we must stay alert because we know what is coming

Thessalonians Summary

work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope

Pauls time in Ephesus (3rd journey)

3 months in synagogue, 2 years with school of Tyranus

Colossae Church

established by Epaphrus, convert while Paul was in Ephesus and imprisoned with Paul

Similarities: Ephesians and Colossians

spiritual warfare, Christ as head of the body, unity of the church, prison epistles, separating from culture and Gentiles grafted in, marriage/family/household rules

Christology of Colossians

Image of the invisible God

Firstborn of all creation and from the dead

Head of the Churhc

Fullness of God dwells in Him

He is before all, holds together all, and all was created through Him

Household Codes

marriage, children obey in the Lord, slavery - obeying masters

addressing less valued member of society in their pair

Predestination

election --> a choice/to choose

to see or determine ahead of time

Mystery in Ephesians

all things summed up in Christ

Christ as head of the Church

Gentiles are included as Gentiles

Romans Outline (9-15)

9: God is God - shows mercy on some

10: God is faithful to promise via gospel of Christ

11: God keeps His promise to Israel to bless them and everyone else

12: Honor all members of the body

13: Honor the government

14: Don't judge and don't cause stumbling

15: Serve all as Christ does

Phoebe

diakonos and patron, letter carrier and Paul's spokesperson (Romans)

Junia

female esteemed among or as one of the apostles (Romans)

Romans Salvation of God

God elected Israel and Israel's Messiah

God hardens some for His glory for a time

God shows mercy to all

People acquiesce to God's mercy or resist it

How Israel will be Saved (Romans)

Believers are Israel

Israel saved apart from Christ

Israel saved through faith in Christ

Distinct Features of Pastoral Epistles

No discussion of cross or covenant

Jesus as Savior

structured church leadership

doctrine rather than gospel

epiphany rather than panusia

Authorship of Pastoral Epistles

Paul

Amaneunsis (secretary)

Ghostwriter (given outline)

Pseudepigraphy

Artemis

Key goddess of Ephesus

Crete

Zeus' birthplace

reputation of being liars

served as mercenaries

Deacon

an ordained minister of an order ranking below that of priest

Levels of Slavery in Ancient World

publicly owned

privately owned

household

agricultural

mine

Acquiring Slaves

war, debts, helots, by birth

Ancient vs. Modern Slavery

owned as property

hard labor

born into it

control over life

ethnic component

Ancient Slavery

all levels of society - could work alongside free person

could earn money, by manumitted, earn citizenship

not solely based on ethnicity

Philippian Church Conflicts

Internal Strife

External pressures - persecution, disturbers, enemies of the cross

"equality with God"

He did not consider it to be something he possessed and should retain and selfishly exploit

What did Jesus give up

put Himself under the will of the Father

authority over His powers

Name given to Jesus by God the father

Jesus Christ

Jesus post-resurrection

has a resurrection body

Paul equating Jesus with God

Scripture passages (Is. 45:23)

His Name

Worship

Paul's First Missionary Journey

Lystra

Paul healed man who had been crippled since birth and could not walk - people assumed that he was one of the gods who came down to them and started sacrificing things to him - Jews came and turned crowds against him and stoned him

Paul's Second Missionary Journey

Athens

Paul is sharing the gospel because he saw Athens was full of idols, speaks to masses and shares that he sees they are religious (idol to unknown god), some came to fait

Paul's Third Missionary Journey

Macedonia

Speaking to a group after a meal, a boy falls asleep as Paul talks and falls three stories down but Paul said there was life still in him.

Romans Outline (2-8)

2: Guilt of the Jews

3: All are sinful

4: Abraham is faithful

5: Adam and Christ

6: Baptism

7: I referring to unregenerate Paul, regenerate Paul, or just a Jew trying to keep the law?

8: no condemnation, work of the Spirit, all will be redeemed

Faith of Jesus Christ

objective: Faith in Jesus - directed to Him

subjective: faith of Jesus - what He displays