New Testament Romans-Philemon

The Gospels

History

Letters (Letters by Paul and general letters)

Prophecy

What are the four major types (genres) of literature in the New Testament?

Letters

What is the most abundant type of letter in the New Testament?

Paul (13 books)

Who wrote most of the letters in the New Testament?

Letters written to churches (9)

Letters written to individuals (4)

What two groups can Paul's letters be broken into?

General letters or Catholic letters (Catholic epistles)

What do people call the letters in the New Testament that are NOT written by Paul?

Written by getting someone to write it down for you as you tell him what to put in the letter then sent by friends or others going in that direction taking the letter with them.

How were letters written and sent in New Testament times?

Author to recipients

Formulaic greeting-grace and peace

Thanksgiving/blessing

Body

Closing

How were ancient letters structured in new Testament times?

Paul is a pastor trying to address situations he knows are happening in churches

Occasional doctrine

Read in context: historical and literary

What principles should we use to interpret New Testament letters?

Formally a Jewish rabbi

Highly educated; studied under Gamaleo

Born in Tarsus, raised in Jerusalem

A Roman citizen

Was a tent maker

Wealthy

What are some things that we know about Paul?

The jews being used to not associating with Gentiles

Jews coming back with their opinions and the Gentiles with theirs clasing

How might the expulsion of the Jews from Rome have lead to divisions in the church of Rome?

Yes, no one is innocent in the sight of God

The earth emanates God

God can be found in everything

According to Paul, would the innocent pagan who never heard of Jesus really go to hell?

Nature, creation

What is general revelation?

They are sinners

What predicament does everyone find themselves in before God?

Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he paid for our sins on the cross

What is the solution to the predicament that we are all sinners?

To declare someone innocent/righteous

What does Paul mean by the word "justify"?

Abraham believed God and God counted it as righteousness before he was circumcised

How does Abraham illustrate justification by faith?

One man

Both have the choice to obey or disobey

Choices impact many people

Serves as a representative for many people

What comparisons does Paul make between Adam and Christ in Romans 5?

Adam's decision leads to death and condemnation

Jesus' decision leads to life

What contrasts does Paul make between Adam and Christ in Romans 5?

Law is good

Law provokes people to sin

Sinful humanity encounters the law

How does Paul describe the law?

No, the Old Testament law is not biding to Christians

Is the Old Testament law still binding on Christians?

We long four our bodies to be released from sin and suffering

For our bodies to be whole

Creation is groaning to be renewed

What are both creation and believers groaning for?

Jewish and Gentile Christians, as well as unbelieving Jews must believe in Christ to be apart of God's Kingdom.

Roots - believing ethnic Jews

Branches pruned away -Jews who don't believe in Jesus as Messiah

Branches grafted into the tree - Gentiles

How does Paul use the image of a tree to explain the relationship of jewish and Gentile Christians as well as unbelieving Jews?

Ones who have a strong conscience; knowing what Jesus did for them, but don't despise the weaker ones.

Weak Christians don't shame the stronger for not following all the Jewish law.

Why does Paul regard some Christians as "weak" and other Christians as "strong" in Romans 14-15?

Big port city

big roman influence

Reputation of sexual immorality

What are some things we know about the ancient city of Corinth?

Divisions in the church/leaders are servants, but all under God

Sexual immorality/church discipline; bringing sinners aware of this sin

Prostitution/their bodies are temples of God

Sex within marriage (denying sex)/do not do that

Lawsuits/do not bring it to the courts because the Roman courts are not fair; figure it out on your own

Food that has been sacrificed to idols/use discretion; if it might cause someone to fall, do not do it

The Lord's Supper not being celebrated appropriately/celebration of Christian unity

The resurrection is denied (souls living on, but not bodies)/Paul gives the example of Jesus and His body being resurrected.

What problems did the church at Corinth have and what solutions did Paul offer?

Angry

What is Paul's emotional state when he is writing to the Galations?

There are people undermining Paul's authority, saying Gentiles need to follow the Jewish law

Why is Paul angry in Galations?

He went back to back to what he knew and started to not eat with the Gentiles

How did Peter's behavior undermine the gospel?

God made the covenant with no one else, just Himself

God makes promises, Israel make promises.

How did the covenant with Abraham differer from the covenant with Israel under Moses?

flesh

merely human without God's help

Spirit

with God's help

The true family of Abraham

What does Paul mean by "the Israel of God

Abraham- unilateral; no mediator; promise; results in blessing/life; based on faith

Israel- bilateral; mediator (Moses); law (treaty/agreement); results in cure/death; based on works

Differences between Abraham and Israel's covenants with God

All of these blessings come from our union with Christ

What does the "in Christ" language in the blessing section of Ephesians (1:3-14) teach us about the importance of being united with Christ.

God giving the promised land to the Jewsih people and inheriting the whole earth

What does "inheritance" usually refer to in the Old Testament and how does Dr. Dubis relate tis to a Christian's future hope?

The uniting of Jews and Gentiles

What is the "mystery" that Paul talks about?

It gives a picture that one cannot do anything, so then salvation is given to us, and we are no longer dead

How does being "dead" in sin highligh that salvation is a gift?

The signs in the Jewish temple to tell Gentiles to "keep out"

What does "the dividing wall of hostility" in Ephesians 2:14 likely refer to?

Shows that our bodies are now temples and there is no separation from Jew and Greek

How does the removing of the signs in the Jewish temple reshape the "new temple"?

Therefore

What one word relates the two major sections of Ephesians?

How we live our lives as Christians is therefore, rooted in what Christ did for us.

What does the word "therefore" tell us about how Paul relates doctrine to behavior?

Roman colony, spoke Latin, had Roman laws, the emperor was semi-divine, there were temples to the emperor/statues and Romans had to say "caesar is Lord" which Christians refused to say

What do we know about the city of Philippi and how has that shaped Paul's letter to the Philippians?

"emptied" himself talks about the transition from when he was in the form of God and then became human

It is at the center because it talks about Jesus' humility, that he was a servant and then was exalted

How should we understand Paul's affirmation that Jesus did not grasp after being "equal with God" but instead "emptied" himself?

It is at the center because it talks about Jesus’ humility, that he was a servant and then was exalted, and Paul shows Epaphoridtus and Timothy as models of Jesus that point towards this text. The theme of the kenosis hymn echoes through the book

How does the so-called "kenosis poem/hymn" in Philippians 2:5-11 serve as the center of gravity for Philippians?

He is not talking about individual salvation, he is talking about their destiny of salvation as a church in eternity

He also emphasizes the fact that God enables us through grace.

How does the phrase "work out your own salvation" in Philippians 2:12-13 relate to the Paul's affirmation that salvation is by grace and not works?

His opponents are Judaizers, and Deuteronomy says that God will circumcise the hearts

Paul responds to his opponents in Philippians 3:3, "For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised." Who are his opponents and what is the Old Testament background of this spiritual circumcision?

Jesus will come again to set up His kingdom on earth.

What hopes does Paul have for the future in Philippians 3:20-21?

FAITH-beginning of Christian life

LOVE-key virtue of Christian faith

HOPE-setting our hope in what is to come

What triad of virtues shapes Paul's thinking. What is the logical order of these?

They talk about creation (1st part) and new creation (2nd part)

How do the two stanzas of the poem in Colossians 1:15-20 relate to one another?

No, "firstborn" in the Bible refers to Jesus being the most important

Does the "firstborn of all creation" mean that Jesus was created?

Angelic or demonic beings

What does Paul mean by "thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities"

Peace will come to the world

How does this poem offer hope for the renewal of the cosmos?

Jewish mysticism (firsthand encounters with God)

Is there a single false teaching that would explain all of the false teachings in Colossae?

Devalues Jesus Christ

Related to Jewish regulations

Involves "worship of Angels"/heavenly visions

Involves harsh treatment of the body

Pursuing wisdom

What are the false teachings in Colossians

Idols to wait for Jesus

Paul describes the Thessalonians as those who turned from ...

They became imitators of Christ

They suffered in the same way because their own people persecuted them the same way as the Jews persecuted Jews

How were the Thessalonians like the believing Jews in Israel?

When Jesus comes in his second coming, He will bring those souls who have fallen asleep by coming down on the clouds with the voice of the Archangel and the trumpet call of God. The dead will rise first and their bodies will be raised from the dead and will reunite with their souls. Those who are still alive will be given their resurrection bodies and meet the Lord in the air.

What alternative explanation exists for understanding 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18?

No, Jesus does not come down and take His believers with Him, we go up to meet Him and come back to a new earth to live with Him for eternity

Does Matthew 24:40-41 support a secret "rapture"?

Doctrine of "last" things

What is eschatology?

1 and 2 Thessalonians

Which two letters are best known for their teachings about eschatology?

They believed that the Day of the Lord had already happened

What do the Thessalonians falsely believe about the Day of the Lord?

The rebellion comes first, then the man of lawlessness has to be revealed

How does Paul argue that the Day of the Lord has not yet come and what two things must happen before the Day of the Lord?

Antichrist

What is the more popular name for Paul's "man of lawlessness"?

Characterized by "lawlessness"

Proceeds the Day of the Lord

Associated with "The Rebellion/Apostacy"

Wants to be worshiped as God

Son of destruction/damnation

Someone/something restraining the "man of lawlessness from coming

What characterizes the man of lawlessness?

Those who do not work shall not eat

What "tough love" remedy does Paul recommend to correct Christians who are not working?

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus

Which NT letters are called the "Pastoral Epistles"?

Because Paul writes to his coworkers who are helping shape certain regions and churches

Why are 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus called the "Pastoral Epistles"?

Deal with false teaching

Administer church discipline when needed

Prioritize prayer

Women are not to publicly teach or exercise authority over men in the church

Appoint qualified overseers/elders/pastors and deacons

What key instructions does Paul give to Timothy regarding church life?

Women can serve in the church, just not in a pastoral role

How does the baptist Faith and Message interpret 1 Timothy 2:11-15's instructions regarding a woman's role in the church?

Elders/overseers/pastors are able to teach while deacons do not need to be able to teach

What key difference in qualifications exists between "elders/overseers/pastors" and "deacons"?

A woman, typically older, who had no one else to support them

How does Paul define a "true widow"?

He is in prison and doesn't think he will be released

Thinks his life is about to end

In his second Roman imprisonment

What is Paul's situation when he writes 2 Timothy?

To carry on with Paul's work and to not be ashamed of the gospel

What does Paul want Timothy to do?

Shame culture

What was the Greco-Roman culture?

Paul wants Timothy to not be ashamed of the Lord or of Paul and be willing to suffer for the Gospel

How does the shame culture in Greco-Roman culture shape the outlook of 2 Timothy and the NT?

Very hard times and opposing the truth

What will characterize the "last days" according to Paul

Yes

Does Paul believe that he is already in the "last days"?

God spoke the Scripture and humans wrote it down

It is fully human and fully divine

Inerrant

What are the implications of Paul's claim in 2 Timothy 3:16 that Scripture is "breathed out by God"?

Above reproach

Husband of one wife

His children are believers

Not open to debauchery or insubordination

Not arrogant or quick tempered

Not greedy for gain

Hospitable

Lover of good

Self-controlled

Upright

Holy

Disciplined

Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught

Be able to give instruction in sound doctrine

Rebuke those who contradict them

What are key qualifications for a pastor/elder/overseer?

A cosmic renewal that God is doing to all creation

What does Titus 3:5 mean by "the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit"?

A renewal of the whole creation

How does Matthew 19:28 help interpret "the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit"?

In private homes

Where did most early churches meet?

When Constantine became a Christian in the 300s

Under which Roman ruler did churches start meeting in official buildings?

War prisoners

What was the source of most slaves in the ancient Greco-Roman world?

International slave trade

Abandoned children (often females)

Piracy

Sometimes criminals were forced into slavery

What were other sources of slavery in the ancient Greco-Roman world?

Slavery was not race biased

It was possible to be freed

Slaves were more valuable if they were educated. Some were highly educated and could be tutors, doctors, and work for the government. They could have delegated roles of great responsibility

How did slavery in the Roman world differ from slavery in America before the Civil War?

To release Onesimus voluntarily

To release Onesimus so that he can stay with Paul in Rome to help him

Philemon to charge anything that Onesimus owes to Paul himself, but also wants to Philemon to remember that he owes him his "own self"

What did Paul want Philemon to do with his slave Onesimus?

Useful

What does Onesimus mean?

Probably responded positively since we still have the letter 50 years later

How did Philemon respond to Paul's letter?

Paul is opposed to slavery but is working within the system so that, eventually, Christianityty will lead to the abolition of slavery

How does Paul's teaching work to undermine slavery?