Key Themes and Messages in Paul's Epistles

The main message of Acts

Spread of the gospel despite persecution by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Difference between prescription and description

Describing what happened vs. prescribing how we are to act today.

Argument for seeing Pentecost as descriptive

Luke's purpose in writing, Paul in 1 Corinthians (not everyone speaks in tongues), unique in redemptive history.

The theological purpose of Pentecost

The floodgate of the Holy Spirit.

Purpose of the mini Pentecosts

Continuity of message (Jews + Gentiles) and continuity of authority (the apostles).

Acts and the church

Claims about the universal church: God is forming a people to himself (Jew or Gentile) and local: 2 tier structure of the church, elders deacons.

The righteousness of God in Romans 1:17

Declared, alien, forensic received by faith.

Why does Paul mention the Jews and Gentiles in Romans 1?

Trying to cultivate a mutual respect between the two.

Why Paul brings up a doer of the law

Addressing presumption (of the Jews).

The gentile in Romans 2

A believer, a true Jew.

The nature of inerrancy

Compel you to understand the texts, not throw out seeming contradictions.

The identity of the 'I' in Romans 7

A non-Christian.

Can Christians obey the law?

Yes, not perfectly.

The purpose of the law in the Christian life

Expose sin.

The dilemma Paul is trying to solve in Romans 9

God's love, promises are unbreakable, but look at Israel.

The nature of his answer to the dilemma in Romans 9

Who Israel actually is, not all Israel are Israel, God's choice.

The key theme of 1 Corinthians

Unity.

The key principles of unity

Prioritize the Gospel, don't worship the leaders, prioritize purity and repentance, prioritize love.

The purpose of 1 Corinthians 13

Prioritize love over gifting.

Main message of 2 Corinthians

Suffering magnifies the Gospel.

The textual unity of 2 Corinthians

Sharp break in tone in between 9 and 10.

Paul's thorn in his flesh

Intentionally vague.

Main message of Galatians

Salvation by faith alone not by works.

The role of Paul's story in defense of the gospel

He got the Gospel directly from God.

The two questions of Galatians

How are we made right with God? Who are the people of God?

The logic of the Spirit in Galatians

The gentile Christians are receiving the Spirit by faith alone, not works.

Paul's argument in Galatians 4

Answering the Who? Abraham had two sons, both circumcised; Isaac child of promise, chosen by God.

Paul's argument from the story of Abraham

The reason we know circumcision doesn't make you a son of God, as seen with Ishmael.

Authorship of Ephesians

Paul; too unlike Colossians to be written by Paul, but looks enough like him that it was probably written by his disciples.

Main message of Ephesians

God has saved you, so live like it.

The purpose of predestination in Ephesians 1

For His glory, and because He loved you.

The possible rhetorical point of Ephesians 5

Curve the Greco-Roman views about women; not erasing the distinction between men and women.

The Christology of Philippians 2

Christ is divine and human.

The purpose of Philippians 2 in the flow of Philippians

An example of humility.

The three pieces of a word

Sign, referent, sense.

The meaning of 'firstborn' in Colossians 1

Preeminent.

The purpose of mentioning the second coming of Jesus

Encouraging them that they didn't miss out; faithfulness; hope.

The pieces of conversion

Repentance and faith that persevere.

What it means to be a one-woman man

It takes wisdom to apply.

How Paul argues for complementarianism in 1 Timothy 2

He appeals to the created order.