The Apostolic Church: Saint Paul, the Epistles, and New Testament Composition

Origins and Composition of the New Testament

• The word Bible originates from the Greek term biblia, which translates to "books." It is not a single volume but a compilation of many different books and long letters.

• None of the books within the Bible initially possessed titles. Titles were assigned much later by the early church, various church communities, and established ecumenical councils.

• The names associated with the gospels, such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, do not indicate that these specific individuals were the sole authors. Instead, these texts were likely composed by groups of people or followers of these disciples who recorded the disciples' shared experiences and stories of Jesus.

• The documents known as "epistles" derive their name from the Greek word epistole, which literally means "letter."

The Synoptic Gospels and Chronological Dating

• The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are categorized as the synoptic gospels because they focus heavily on the specific physical events and life of Jesus. While some consider John a synoptic gospel, it is typically excluded by scholars due to its esoteric, abstract, and philosophical nature.

• The dating of these texts is based on scholarly estimates, as precise dates of composition are unavailable:

  • The Gospel of Mark is the oldest, written between $65$ and $75$ CE (Christian Era/AD).

  • The Gospels of Matthew and Luke were written approximately at the same time, between $80$ and $90$ CE.

  • The Gospel of John was likely written between $90$ and $110$ CE, with some estimates suggesting it could be as late as $125$ CE.

• Documentation of Jesus' life occurred decades after his death, which is estimated to have taken place in approximately $33$ CE at the age of $33$. During the intervening years, the stories and teachings of Jesus were maintained through oral tradition.

Resurrection, Pentecost, and the Great Commission

• The empty tomb controversy refers to the moment Jesus' body was removed or disappeared from the tomb. Because no witnesses were present for the actual act, belief in the resurrection is considered an article of faith rather than a provable physical fact.

• Following his death, the resurrected Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and his disciples. On Pentecost Sunday, Jesus famously appeared to the disciples by passing through a closed, locked door in physical form, allowing them to see the nail marks in his hands and the wound in his side from the spear.

• The Great Commission is the final order given by Jesus to his eleven disciples in Galilee (Matthew $28:16-20$). Jesus stated that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him and commanded them to:

  • Go and make disciples of all nations.

  • Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

  • Teach them to observe all commands he had given.

• Jesus concludes the commission with the promise: "know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time."

Distinction Between Ascension and Assumption

• A critical theological distinction exists between the final departure of Jesus and Mary:

  • Ascension: This term is reserved specifically for Jesus. As the second person of the Trinity (both $100\%$ God and $100\%$ man), he returned to the Father by his own power. This occurs at the end of his earthly life.

  • Assumption: This term is reserved for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Theologically, she was born without original sin and never committed sin. Because death is seen as a consequence of original sin, she did not experience the corruption of death; instead, her body was assumed (taken up) into heaven by the action of God the Father.

The Acts of the Apostles and Early Church Structure

• The Book of Acts was likely written by the same authors as the Gospel of Luke between the years $80$ and $90$ CE. It serves as a sequel, detailing the history of the church after Jesus' departure.

• The church was founded upon the apostle Peter, whom Jesus called Kephas (the Rock). In Roman Catholic tradition, this is the institution of the Papacy, making Saint Peter the first Pope. Peter was then tasked with naming the other apostles as the first bishops.

• The hierarchy consists of the Pope and the bishops, who hold the fullness of the priesthood. The rank of Cardinal was a later invention within the church hierarchy to manage jurisdiction.

• Following the betrayal of Judas, the remaining apostles elected Matthias to restore the number of apostles to twelve.

• Pentecost, occurring forty days after Easter, represents the "confirmation" of the church. The Holy Spirit descended as a powerful wind and tongues of fire upon the heads of the disciples, granting them the gift of speech in foreign languages. This enabled them to preach to visitors in Jerusalem from various regions, including Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Rome, Phrygia, Asia, and more. Some skeptics mocked them, claiming they were merely drunk on "new wine."

The Conversion of Saint Paul (Saul)

• Originally named Saul, he was a devout Jew and potentially a rabbi who actively persecuted the early Christians (then called followers of The Way).

• His conversion occurred on the road to Damascus (Acts $9:1-19$). A light from heaven blinded him, and he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" The voice identified itself as Jesus, implying that to persecute the church is to persecute Jesus himself.

• Saul remained blind and without food or drink for three days in Damascus. After his conversion, he adopted the name Paul, reflecting his new identity as a missionary to the world.

• There are three separate, conflicting accounts of Paul's conversion in the Book of Acts (differences in whether his companions heard the voice or saw the light). This serves as evidence that the Bible was composed by human hands at different times and not dictated word-for-word by God.

• Paul was a Roman citizen by birth and was fluent in Greek and Hebrew, with probable knowledge of Latin, making him uniquely qualified to turn Christianity into a universal world religion.

The Pauline Epistles: Chronology and Context

• While the gospels appear first in the New Testament sequence, the letters of Saint Paul are actually the oldest written documents in the New Testament. Most were dictated to scribes rather than written personally by Paul.

• Chronological Sequence of Pauline Writing:

  • $1^{st}$ Thessalonians: Written c. $50$ CE (The oldest part of the New Testament).

  • Galatians: Written c. $53$ CE.

  • $1^{st}$ Corinthians: Written c. $53-54$ CE.

  • Philippians and Philemon: Written c. $55$ CE.

  • $2^{nd}$ Corinthians: Written c. $55-56$ CE.

  • Romans: Written c. $57$ CE. This is considered the most important letter as it summarizes his theological thought.

  • Colossians: Written c. $62$ CE.

  • $2^{nd}$ Thessalonians: Potentially written between $49$ and $51$ CE.

  • Ephesians: Written c. $62$ CE.

  • $1^{st}$ & $2^{nd}$ Timothy: Written c. $62-64$ CE.

  • Titus: Written c. $62-64$ CE.

• The Letter to the Hebrews was traditionally attributed to Paul, but it is now believed to have been written by one of his disciples around $63-64$ CE. It is often referred to as the "Gallery of Faith."

Theology of Salvation and Anonymous Christians

• A major point of divergence between Catholic and Protestant theology stems from Romans $5:1-12$:

  • Sola Fide (Faith Alone): The Protestant view, championed by Martin Luther, suggests that humans are justified and saved by faith alone through the grace of Jesus, as human merit is insufficient against sin.

  • Faith and Works: The Catholic view, supported by the "Catholic Epistles," argues that both faith and good deeds are necessary for salvation.

• Karl Rahner and Anonymous Christians: A Jesuit theologian, Karl Rahner, proposed that God inspires all goodness. Since Jesus is the portal or door through which all of God's grace enters the world, any person—regardless of their explicit religion (Hindu, Buddhist, or even atheist)—who acts with goodwill and does good is an "anonymous Christian." They are acting through the grace of Jesus even without knowing him.

• Reconciliation and Justification: Through the death of Jesus, humanity was reconciled to God. Previously, original sin had made humans "enemies" of God. Jesus' death makes salvation possible, though not a guaranteed contract; it provides the "shot" at being forgiven.

The Body of Christ and Spiritual Gifts

• In $1^{st}$ Corinthians $12:4-30$, Paul describes the church as a single body with many parts. Just as a physical body needs eyes, ears, and hands to function, the church requires a variety of gifts among its members.

• These gifts provided by the Holy Spirit include:

  • Preaching with wisdom or instruction.

  • Healing power.

  • Miracles and prophecy.

  • Recognition of spirits.

  • Speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

• This metaphor emphasizes that every individual is unique and has a specific talent to contribute to the mission. Christianity is not merely about following rules to avoid hell; it is about utilizing one's life to its fullest potential and helping others.

The Catholic Epistles and the Book of Revelation

• The Catholic Epistles following Paul's letters include James, $1^{st}$ & $2^{nd}$ Peter, $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, & $3^{rd}$ John, and Jude. They are called "Catholic" because they outline the structure and universal operation of the early church. During the Reformation, many Protestants rejected these letters to distance themselves from the Roman Catholic hierarchy (Sola Scriptura).

• The Book of Revelation: This is the final book of the New Testament, categorized as "millennial literature" (referring to a thousand-year period). It was likely written by members of the same community that produced John's gospel. It is highly metaphorical and symbolic, dealing with the "final things."

• Caution is advised against "proof texting"—taking verses out of context to prove a point. The Book of Revelation is often misinterpreted as a literal prediction of the world's end, a common trend in millennial literature found throughout history in the years $999$ and $1999$.