Amanuensis
literary assistant that copies manuscripts
The arrangement of Paul’s letters in the New Testament
9 letters to communities, 4 letters to individuals, hebrews ordered in length Romans 1 corinthians 2 corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 thessalonians 2 thessalonians 1 timothy 2 timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews
papyrus
most common writing material of ancient world and what was used for biblical manuscripts
christian greeting of “grace and peace”
christian writers used this as greeting
mix of jewish greeting and transformed roman greeting
all of paul’s letters open with some form of this
possibly way of showing what was written after was written by christian
number of paul’s undisputed letters
7 letters romans 1 corinthians 2 corinthians galatians philippians 1 thessalonians philemon
paul basic pattern of evangelism
oral proclamation of gospel
movement from city to city
talked to anyone willing to listen
did not condemn or correct unless absolutely necessary
what do we learn about paul from book of acts
provides narrative description of pivotal moments in his life
paul very against christianity in his early life–took people to prison, stoned them, had them tortured and put to death
wanted to expand persecution
on his way to damascus when conversion occurred
conversion recounted 3 times very detailed
romans 1: 16: paul’s description of the gospel message
idea that divine blessings once available to only Israel are now offered through Christ to all people
god saves all who believe
justification by faith
justified=to be right with god
because people are justified through faith rather than obedience to the covenant law of Israel, salvation now equally available
don’t have to do works to be saved just have to believe
righteousness of god
speaks to God’s transforming righteousness
natural expression of his holiness
atonement
reparation for wrong or sin
reconciliation of god and humankind through jesus christ
reason/s for paul writing to church in rome
wants to be assisted by them as he goes to spain
wants to make sure things are going well at church in rome
how does paul understand israel’s “rejection of Christ” in Romans
an example of god’s mysterious purpose
israel’s rejection allows god to show his great mercy and allows even more people to come to know him
baptism
believers die with christ and are raised to life through baptism
people united with christ, participating in his death
realization or manifestation of his presence
what problems did paul face in writing 1 corinthians
damaged relationships within church sexual misconduct (man living with step mother) abuses in worship (mistreatment of poor during lord's supper, meat sacrificed to idols, etc)
who visited paul from corinth to report on life of the church
chloe’s people
stephanas, fortunatus, achaicus
what issue did paul address in 1 corinthians 11 in relation to the lord’s supper
drunken and disorderly conduct
some corinthians refused to wait to eat lord’s supper until after all the corinthians had time to arrive (early=wealthy and became drunk, late=slaves and deprived)
paul told them to eat before bc lord’s supper was not supposed to be a meal but instead a reminder
church as body of christ
jesus demonstrated love of god during his life and now that is the role of the church
members joined to christ in his salvation and are physical representation of Him in the world
all have different role, but all important–> church unity
lydia and philippi
paul’s first european convert
paul and his friends stayed with her in philippi and she was considered very hospitable
dealer of purple goods
importance of city of philippi in roman empire
located on major roman road and became strategic location for trade
roman city with privileges of roman citizenship
what does pual mean by “humility” in his letter to the philippians
putting other people’s interests first
having low self-esteem
acting out of love, not selfish ambition
euodia and syntche
worked with paul to spread gospel in phillipi
2 women who had falling out–paul urges them to reconcile and have same mind as christ
christ hymn in philippians 2: 6-11 and its importance to how we understand who jesus is
one of earliest literary references to jesus’ preexistence
profoundly expresses the willing sacrifice and surrender of Jesus Christ, who despite his glorious pre-existence, came to earth in human form (his incarnation) in order to carry out his mission of redemption
timothy
met paul during pual’s 2nd missionary journey and became paul’s companion
traveled with paul who was his mentor
paul entrusted him with important assignments
epaphroditus
got sick after leaving philippi
one of paul’s early epistles
the one who delivered original manuscript of philippians to recipients (church of philippi)
how does paul view his imprisonment in philippians 1
that is has advanced the gospel
now actively sharing in christ’s suffering
modern location of colossae
turkey
1 thessalonians and its dating
50-51 AD
experience and lifestyle of thessalonian christians
worried about end time and fact that people had already died before jesus came back
letter written to people who had only been believers for a short time
experienced much opposition from jews and gentiles so told to stand strong in faith
coming lawless one in 2 thessalonians
antichrist that will come at the beginning of the day of the lord
he will oppose biblical god and his law in every way
he will offer false peace
satan works through antichrist bc he is not able to become incarnate
how does paul know philemon
paul met one of philemon’s slaves in prison who became believer through paul
paul writes asking philemon to take onesimus (his slave) back
says if philemon doesn’t want his slave he would keep him bc he would be of great use to paul
1 peter as circular letter
not meant for 1 city
meant to go around to others
exiles of the dispersion in 1 peter
told to not worry bc we are all living in a foreign world that is not our home bc heaven is our home
christians in general
2 peter as psuedopigraphical
style in writing between 1 and 2 peter very different
writes to readers as if paul is well known but paul’s writings not distributed until way after 2 peter was written
possible that people who wrote it knew peter’s writing and preaching well and knew what he would say in present situation
where do we find statement that “god is love” in NT
1 John 4:8
apocalypse meaning
complete and final destruction of the world as described in revelation
circumstances of john’s first vision in revelation
john exiled to island for preaching gospel
john hears loud voice behind him that tells him to write down everything he sees and hears
vision of glorified and risen christ who now lives in heaven
7 lamp stands which represented 7 churches he was told to send his writing to
domitian and dating of revelation
dominant theory: during roman emperor domitian (81-96 AD)
now thought to be around 56-70 AD prior to fall of jerusalem
location of 7 churches in revelation
Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea
2 pauline letters with christological hymns
contains summary of life and redemptive work of jesus during his time on earth
philippians and colossians
articulate vision of universal reconciliation
paul’s plans after reaching rome
preached gospel to caesar and his household (authority in rome)
wants church in rome to support him in his westward missionary journey all the way to spain
number of letters that paul wrote to the church in corinth
4 letters
koinonia
christian fellowship or communion with god or other christians
location of philippi in modern world
greece
1 peter and our relation to earthly authorities
told to submit to earthly authority even the unjust
live as servants to god
2 peter response and the problem of a delayed parousia
people worried that jesus had not come back yet and that it would never happen (brought up if ethical behavior was necessary since jesus hadn’t returned yet)
said what was important was not the timing but god’s faithfulness (told to be patient and have hope)
3 similarities between johannine letters and gospel of john
unity of father and son
light and darkness
loving one another
let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace
1 peter
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans
1 corinthians
Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain
philippians
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible.
colossians
You turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming
1 thessalonians
Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction
2 thessalonians
I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul
1 peter
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin
1 john
Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth
revelation
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
romans
problem of suffering in the bible
1 peter: suffering as a christian
Job: story of job and suffering from bet between god and satan
crying out while in the wilderness
deuteronomistic: obey=blessed, disobey=punished
synoptic problem
matthew, mark, and luke similar but different in style and what is included
minority view: matthew, luke, then mark (but mark shortest so doesn’t make sense)
pseudopigraphia
book contributed to false author
2 peter and 2 thessalonians
not something that was bad during time of writing
place of psalter in worship in israel
different psalms for different festivals different types of psalms: thanksgiving lament kingship confession hymns wisdom