See Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 41112, for a brief review and this particular application to Pauls letters, as well as the more detailed discussion of Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 6595. While ancient Greek letters consistently included the salutation chairebe well or rejoicein the opening formula, here Paul seems to have changed the conventional greeting by substituting charis, or grace, a typically Pauline usage that immediately called to mind the saving work of Jesus Christ. Web200) codex quire containing the Pauline Letters in the following order: Romans, Hebrews, I and II Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and I Thessalonians. The Warning Against Legalistic Judaizers (3:1-4a), V. The Peace of the Christian Life: Knowing the Presence of Christ (4:1-23). Raised in a Jewish home, he was taught the Old Testament Scriptures and brought up in strict accordance with the beliefs and practices of the Pharisee sect. Then he went back to his home territory and for a period of eight to ten years little is known of his activities.37, Before the overview of each of Pauls epistles, it would be well to note in a nutshell the distinctive emphasis and contributions of each of Pauls epistles.38. Paul wanted to inform them of his plans and to have them anticipate and pray for their fulfillment (15:30-32). [17] First proposed by Adolph Deissmann, Bible Studies (Edinburgh: Clark, 1901), 359, the strict distinction between an actual letter and a literary epistle has largely been abandoned by New Testament scholarship. The letter is written to Philemon, the owner of Onesimus, one of the millions of slaves in the Roman Empire, who had stolen from his master and run away. He offers His righteousness as a gracious gift to sinful men, having borne Gods condemnation and wrath for their sinfulness. The Example of Abraham: He was Justified by Faith, Not by Works (3:6-9), C. Justification Is by Faith, Not by the Law (3:104:11), D. The Galatians Received Their Blessings by Faith, Not by Law (4:12-20), E. Law and Grace Are Mutually Exclusive (4:21-31), III. [4] Often covering a variety of subjects and addressing each with complex argumentation, his letters can be difficult to follow, especially in translation. Naturally, many questions would arise as to the meaning and application of the gospel for Christians. Chapters 89 are really one unit and comprise the most complete revelation of Gods plan for giving found anywhere in the Scriptures. The second letter was dispatched just a few weeks (or at the most a few months) later. This provides us with the spiritual and moral foundation on which we base our methods, strategy, and administration. A few examples must suffice: the doctrine of justification by faith (Rom 3:20-22; Gal 2:16); the church as the body of Christ appointed to represent and serve him through a variety of spiritual gifts (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12); the collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-28; 2 Cor 8-9). Definition. The last major group of Pauls epistles have generally been called the Pastoral Epistles, a term used to designate the three letters addressed to Timothy and Titus (1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus). Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the browser console for more information). Negative: Emancipation from Legalistic and Gnostic Practices (2:16-19), 2. Instead, Paul enumerates character qualities demonstrating that true leadership emanates from our walk with God rather than from achievements or vocational success.67. Rather, three clear purposes unfold for the writing of Romans. Further, he did not believe that He had risen from the dead as Stephen had proclaimed when he cried, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7:56). [32] The letter was then dispatched, sometimes being carried by a friend or associate traveling to the recipients destination but sometimes just sent with some traveler who was found going to the intended destination. 4:9, 21 with 4:6-8), and (2) to admonish Timothy to keep holding on to sound doctrine, to defend it against all error, to endure hardship as a good soldier, and to realize we are living in days of growing apostasy. 3:14-15; 4:6-15 with 2 Tim. [7] Lacking Pauls later focus on righteousness by faith rather than by the works of the law, much of these letters consist of ethical exhortations as Paul endeavors to teach these new Christians how to live as Saints (see 1 Thessalonians 4:112; 5:1222; 2 Thessalonians 3:615). WebThe reports are exclusively narrative until July 1867 when a printed form first came into use. For two years, 61-62, Paul was held under house arrest in Rome, at the end of which time, it can be surmised, he was released. In place of a simple expression of affection and the occasional wish for strength and health for the recipient, the letters of Paul, for instance, frequently include a final blessing, greetings to various individuals in the community receiving the letter, sometimes the instructions to greet with a holy kiss, and a final peace wish. Onesimus was condemned by law but saved by grace.72, I. A mixed congregation of converted Jews and Gentiles in the cosmopolitan Roman capital of the province of Achaia (Greece), this branch had been established during Pauls second missionary journey, AD 5052, when he had stayed there for eighteen months (see Acts 18:711). Brigham Young University 1:5f.). 15:19). This suggests Philippians was written after Ephesians later in A.D. 60 or 61. Click the card to flip . Chapter 2 is certainly a key chapter in the way it sets forth Christ as our example in putting others before ourselves by having the mind of Christ. 69 From the footnote in the NET Bible, BSF web site CD, electronic media. Acts 19:21). 10-13). Paul was also a Greek by culture having evidently received a Greek education (cf. Consequently, alternative suggestions include a postulated Ephesian imprisonment, c. AD 5455, or Pauls detention in Caesarea, c. AD 5860, both of which would allow for an earlier letter to the Philippians, proposals that are attractive because of Philippians similarity in style, content, and situation to Galatians and 1 Corinthians (see Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 49396, and Peter T. OBrien, The Epistle to the Philippians, NIGTC [Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1991], 1926). 559a) titled a burlesque play Ho Korinthiastes, which basically means The Lecher. Aristophanes coined the verb korinthiazomai, to act as a Corinthian, which came to mean, to practice fornication. According to Strabo much of the wealth and vice in Corinth centered around the temple of Aphrodite and its thousand temple prostitutes. 3:4-5), and had evidently been taught the trade of tent-making as a youth (Acts 18:3). 2:3). 4:13) where he was then arrested, taken to Rome, imprisoned, and finally beheaded. Here, He is described as the One who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (1:10), as the One who rose from the dead (2:8), as the One who gives salvation and eternal glory (2:10), as the One with whom all believers have died, with whom they will live, and from whom they will be rewarded for faithful service (as in the crown of righteousness) and in the privilege of reigning with Him (2:11-13; 4:8). WebWhen interpreting the Pauline letters, we must grasp both the contingency and the coherence of the Pauline gospel. One must try to understand the circumstances in which these individuals and groups found themselves in order to understand what and how Paul was trying to teach them. But out of the 13 letters of Paul, skeptical critics like Bart Ehrman say that only 7 of them were truly written by the apostle. The theme of 1 Timothy, as with Titus and 2 Timothy, is twofold, one involving the individual and the other the church. (See Colossians 4:16. Since Paul had worked at Ephesus for about three years and since he normally mentioned many friends in the churches to whom he wrote, the absence of personal names in this letter strongly supports the idea of its encyclical character. Romans, which has been called his greatest work or his magnum opus, gets its title from the fact it was written to the church in Rome (1:7, 15). Within a few months the form reports superseded the narrative reports, although the informational content remained similar. Nevertheless, Pauls final doxology, or expression of praise, at the end of his letter to the Romans reminds us that his fervent testimony is as vital and true today as it was then: Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. In fact, in this epistle, 18 out of 47 verses (38 percent) deal with this subject. that included southern districts and those cities just mentioned. Rather, as official delegates of Paul, they were sent to assist churches in establishing their ministries pastorally speaking (cf. Instructions Concerning Marriage (7:1-40), C. Marriage and Christian Service (7:25-38), V. Instructions Concerning Food Offered to Idols (8:111:1), A. A.D. 49, making it the earliest of Pauls epistles), and the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) convened shortly afterward. The content of the reports was specified in a circular letter issued by the Assistant Commissioner on December 31, 1866. The Problem of Litigation in Heathen Courts (6:1-8), C. The Warning Against Moral Laxity (6:9-20), IV. The simple concluding formula of a Greek or Roman letter is considerably developed in New Testament letters. WebLook for connection between doctrine and ethics in the body of the letter. WebThese things are visible in the epistles not by sharp distinction, but by the gradual shift of emphasis. Nevertheless, these are still considered real letters because they were written to specific individuals or communities and addressed practical and theological issues relevant to their recipients. The Propagation of His Work (1:24-2:3), II. He was a descendant of the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin and originally was named Saul, after Israel's first king. The Present Walk of the New Life (4:20-32), 4. In addition, these Judaizers not only proclaimed a false gospel, but sought to discredit Pauls apostleship. In this little epistle, we see Pauls full-length portrait of Christ.59 Colossians demonstrates that because of all that Jesus Christ is in His person and has accomplished in His work, He, as the object of the believers faith, is all we need for in Him we are complete (2:10). While not written to be remedial or to correct any specific errors, Paul designed this epistle as a prevention against those problems that so often occur because of a lack of maturity or a failure in grasping and applying what believers have in Christ. In favor of this is the fact that Luke seems to use Galatia only to describe North Galatia (Acts 16:6; 18:23). The phrases justification by faith and freedom from the Law form the key words of the epistle. [28] Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 11013; Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 419; Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 17175. Understandably, Paul makes fewer references to himself and to his readers in Romans than in 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians, since he had not founded the Roman church and guided its struggles to maturity as he had the others.39. The remainder of Pauls letters either fall into different generic categories or combine different types of writing. Nevertheless, considerable portions of both letters to the Thessalonians are devoted to treating the specific topic of the Parousia, or glorious return of Jesus Christ (see 1 Thessalonians 4:135:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:112), which included the promise that those who were Jesus at His coming would live with Him forever. 48 This outline was taken from The Expositor's Bible Commentary, New Testament, Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1976-1992, electronic media. In the process of Pauls defense, three key purposes emerge: (1) Paul expressed his joy at the favorable response of the church to Pauls ministry (chaps. In the process of this, Paul then launches into a grand revelation regarding the humility and exaltation of Christ in 2:5-11. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. First Timothy and Titus, commonly called pastoral epistles, are in effect priesthood handbooks or collections of instructions for the practical organization and regulation of branches of the Church. The doubts came from rationalistic critics who likewise refused to accept the Bibles claim to divine inspiration. As a young Pharisee, he was present when Stephen was stoned and murdered (Acts 7:58-83). The imperial post carried only official government correspondence, so it was not available to Paul and other New Testament letter writers. [3] Morna D. Hooker, A Preface to Paul (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), 89, 1618. A key word in concept is correction as Paul sought to correct the problems in Corinth, but wisdom, contrasting Gods wisdom with mans, is also a key word of the book. and 2 Cor.). Ryrie has an excellent summary of the theme and contents: More formal than Pauls other letters, Romans sets forth the doctrine of justification by faith (and its ramifications) in a systematic way. The Doctrinal Portion of the Epistle, the Wealth and Calling of the Church (1:3-3:21), B. Hebrews, which has been closely associated with Paul in both ancient tradition and Restoration teaching despite being significantly different in style and theme from the secure Pauline letters, has been identified as a work that begins like a treatise, proceeds like a sermon, and closes like an epistle.[19] Nevertheless, it is not simply a theological treatise but rather has an apologetic purpose, defending the superiority of Christ and preventing the readers from lapsing back to the Mosaic system. [15] Although Philippians, as one of the imprisonment epistles, has been traditionally associated with Pauls (first) Roman imprisonment, c. AD 6163, this is based largely upon the texts later subscription (see below) as well as to references to the palace (Greek praitorion, Philippians 1:13) and Saints of Caesars household (Greek hoi ek te-s kaisaros oikias, 4:22), both of which terms were not, in fact, limited to Rome itself. The heart of much Catholic and especially Reformation theology, the Pauline epistles frequently prove to be unfamiliar and difficult territory for many Latter-day Saints. Had He forgotten His promises to the Jews? For instance, the indicative section of Galatians (1:65:1) takes the form of a courtroom speech in which the introduction of Pauls argument that there is no other gospel (see 1:610) is followed by a formal apologia or defense (see 1:1121) and a series of six proofs demonstrating that one is indeed saved by the faith of Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law (see 3:15:1).[41]. Having finished the survey of the historical books (the Gospels and Acts), we now come to the twenty-one epistles of the New Testament, twenty-two if one includes Revelation as an epistle (which in reality it is [see Rev. There are two main views, The North Galatian View and The South Galatian View. Liar! they cried and stoned him. . Two New Testament scribes are identified by name: Tertius in Romans 16:22 and Silvanus in 1 Peter 5:12. 64 For a detailed discussion of the issues of authorship see Donald. Nevertheless, real letters and apparent letters continue as basic categories, especially if the latter are considered to include circular letters, treatises, homilies, and other kinds of writing that only contain superficial epistolary features (see Jerome Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer: His World, His Options, His Skills [Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995], 4245). The Beauty of Unity. Apr 25, 2023, 2:52 AM PDT. Pauls Gratitude for the Colossians Faith (1:3-8), 3. First John does not read like a letter at all but is probably best seen as a theological treatise or a doctrinal homily rather than a letter, although it was sent to a general audience and is usually termed an epistle. The background of the Roman church itself influenced both how Paul approached the issue of justification and why he also introduced another topic, Gods promises to Israel. In the process of this, Paul asks Philemon to charge this to his own account. [32] Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 169. 16 as part of an epistle sent to Ephesus. The Pauline Letters. ( A.D. 64, 65) . Any date assigned will have to be approximate, though probably A.D. 51-52. I. Again as indicated in the opening salutation, Paul is the author of this letter. [14] Early in the postapostolic period and in the centuries since, many Christians have seen the necessity of accepting Jesus Christ and the failure of Israel to do so as a sign that the Christian Church, as New Israel, had superseded, or taken the place, of ethnic Israel. As with the other prison epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians), Philemon was written by Paul during his first confinement in Rome. Notes. Final Instructions to Timothy (6:11-21), C. Exhortations to Remain Faithful (6:20-21). A TikToker who makes Afterwards, he visited Troas (2 Tim. Exhortation Regarding the Philosophy of the False Teachers (2:8), B. Second Thessalonians was evidently prompted by three main developments that Paul heard about: (1) there was the news of increasing persecution which they were facing (1:4-5), (2) to deal with the reports of a pseudo-Pauline letter and other misrepresentations of his teaching regarding the day of the Lord and the rapture of the church (2:1f. The theology of Ephesians in some ways reflects later development, but this must be attributed to Pauls own growth and meditation on the church as the body of Christ. In a later epistle, Paul will stress how we are complete in Christ (Col. 2:10). [10] Sperry, Pauls Life and Letters, 11837; Anderson, Understanding Paul, 95129; David R. Seely, Is Christ Divided? Unity of the Saints through Charity (1, 2 Corinthians), in Millet, Studies in Scripture, Vol. In this letter Paul had two major purposes in mind. Paul was a prolific and lengthy writer. Their Love for God Expressed in Sanctified Living (4:1-8), B. This is, of course, fitting, for sound doctrine should lead to godly conduct. In the earliest Greek literature it was linked with wealth (Homer Iliad 2. The writer calls himself Paul in several places (cf. WebAFT acted quickly by pursuing four main goals: first, safeguard the health and lives of students, families and frontline workers in education, healthcare and public service. [28] Such postscripts that are actual parts of the preserved text differ from the postbiblical subscriptions that copyists began to add in the fourth century to note assumed facts about a letter but which are often wrong. Term. It was written from Corinth, while completing the collection for the poor in Palestine. Thus, the apostle writes to refute their false gospel of works and demonstrates the superiority of justification by faith and sanctification by the Holy Spirit versus by the works of the Law. Everton lost 4-1 to Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Thursday and are second bottom in the Premier League ahead of Mondays visit to fellow strugglers Leicester City.. Instructions Concerning Worship (2:1-2:15), A. While 1 Timothy is in many ways a manual on leadership and the conduct of the church, a key term is sound doctrine which is emphasized in a number of places (see 1:10; 4:6; 6:1-3). WebTHE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS. Moreover, the books declare Paul as the author (1 Tim. However, he simply moved next door to the house of Titius Justus where he continued his ministry (Acts 18:7). The content of the reports was specified in a circular letter issued by the Assistant Commissioner on December 31, 1866. YouTube Live; Niconico Live; Twitch Thus the approximate dates for 1 Timothy and Titus are perhaps 63-66. WebThe Format of the Pauline Letters. Hence the body of a letter is often divided then into distinct parts, sometimes referred to as Pauline Indicative for the section of instructions and Pauline Imperative for the section containing admonitions,[38] as can be seen in the body of 1 Thessalonians, in which Paul begins with an indicative section reviewing his relationship to the Thessalonians (2:13:13) and follows with an imperative section of exhortations and instructions (4:15:22), which includes not only a subdivision of ethical admonitions (4:112) but also a further subsection that gives the Saints directions on how they should live given their expectation of the Parousia (4:135:11). The coming of the Lord should not only comfort our hearts, but stir us to godly living. After serving this church for a brief period, Paul began a series of missionary journeys to spread the news of salvation offered through Jesus' physical death. As we face the various dilemmas of life, we must all learn to find our comfort in God who is the God of all comfort. The Prospect of Death and What It Means for the Christian (4:16b5:10), J. [35], The introductory formula of an ancient letter was routinely followed by either a prayer for health or a thanksgiving to the gods. They promoted their own ideas and at the same time sought to discredit both the person and message of the apostle. with the leaders there, he took Titus (a Gentile) with him (Gal. But the authorship of this epistle has been doubted by some on the grounds of the vocabulary and the nature of the heresy refuted in this epistle. The key words or concepts are judgment, retribution, and destruction all revolving around the return of the Lord in the day of the Lord. He hunted down the members of this group, had them committed to prison, and threatened them with death. The Structure and Format of Pauls Letters. As the letter states, Paul is the author (see 1:1). Pauls important letter to the Romans is significant both because Paul wrote it to a congregation with which he was not yet familiar and also because of the particular history of the congregation there. WebThe occasional nature of the Pauline letters b. Paul's dominance in the canon c. The Pauline traditions in Acts d. The Pauline pseudepigrapha. Because of the greetings in 1:2, Colossians became known as Pros Kolossaeis, To the Colossians. As with the other epistles of Paul surveyed thus far, both the external and internal evidence strongly support Pauls authorship. Related Topics: Introductions, Arguments, Outlines, Canon, J. Hampton Keathley III, Th.M. Where to Watch. 1:1). Because believers are complete in Christ (2:10) and are thereby risen with Him, they now have all they need for Christ-like transformation in all the relationships of life (3:1f.). Because of this, 1 Timothy must be dated after his first release, around the spring of A.D. 63, but before the outbreak of the Neronian persecutions in A.D. 64. The Collection for Jerusalem (16:1-4). Unfortunately, Apple's iOS doesn't support home screen shortcuts in the Chrome browser. Shaped in letter format in its opening and focusing on practical religion, it is somewhat in the tradition of Old Testament wisdom literature. There is an absence of controversy in this epistle, and it does not deal with problems of particular churches. Paul presents Jesus Christ as the Second Adam whose righteousness and substitutionary death have provided justification for all who place their faith in Him. Eventually, he was invited by Barnabas to come to the church at Antioch and assist in the work being done there. 57 The outline used here closely follows that of Ryrie with slight variations, pp. I. was a 1966 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and a former pastor of 28 years. 9:22). [16] Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 6001, 62627, 63133. During this time, Paul had ample opportunity to rethink his religious conceptions, systematize his understanding of the meaning of Jesus' career on earth, and formulate plans for spreading Christianity throughout the world. 6, 8388; Sanders, Paul,4464; Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 46877. gives the impression that some person might have forged a letter purporting to come from Paul, which gave faulty information to the Thessalonians and caused them to be shaken in mind and considerably troubled. Promise of Paul to Philemon (vv. 569-70) and immorality. It is not surprising, therefore, that even in a book stressing endurance in ministry, the doctrine of Christ is prominent. One can certainly see, then, how the immoral and religious conditions of Corinth had negatively impacted the life of the church spiritually and morally. Onesimus had made his way to Rome, where, in the providence of God, he came in contact with the apostle Paul, who led him to trust in Christ (v. 10). Paul could easily say, I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some (1 Cor. The centrality of Christ as the essence, source, and means of the Christian life is stated in 1:30, of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom of God: both righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (my translation). Instead, the composition process was a more lengthy procedure that involved others at every step. These thanksgivings were so standard in Pauline letters that their absence is obvious, as in the letter to the Galatians, where Pauls anger is apparent.[37]. If you or I were doing this (especially today) we would probably first try to get the administrative organization in order, the structure, and then worry about the doctrine. In Galatians, Paul addressed a congregation that he had founded but which had subsequently been infiltrated by Judaizers bringing with them old practices of the Mosaic law. In scope, Colossians presents the all supremacy, all sufficiency, uniqueness, and the fullness of the person and work of Jesus Christ as the God-man Savior, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and the total solution for mans needs both for time and eternity. Robert L. Millet (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987), 14650; Charles A. Wanamaker, The Epistles to the Thessalonians, New International Greek Testament Commentary (hereafter NIGTC) (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990), 5363, 16490; E. P. Sanders, Paul (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991), 2633; Raymond E. Brown, Introduction to the New Testament (New York: Doubleday, 1997), 45962. After the death of Claudius in AD 54, Jews and Jewish Christians were allowed to return to Rome, but in the meantime the Church had continued to grow among Gentiles, perhaps resulting in some tension between them and the returning Jewish Christians.