Apr 25, 2023, 2:52 AM PDT. I. 1:13) along with the possibility of death (vv. Paul was a prolific and lengthy writer. The Beauty of Unity. See Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 5079, for similar arguments that have been made about the dating of Philemon. Instructions Concerning Public Worship (11:214:40), C. The Use of Spiritual Gifts (12:114:40), 2. The Structure and Format of Pauls Letters. 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.. Of course, organization and order is important. 15:26, it appears Paul had already received contributions from the churches of Macedonia and Achaia (where Corinth was located). ( A.D. 64, 65) . Chapter 2 is key in that it corrects a serious error that had crept into the Thessalonian church which taught that the day of the Lord had already come. Since leadership is so determinative of a churchs spiritual growth and effectiveness, chapter 3, which sets forth the qualifications for leadership is clearly a key chapter. This suggests Philippians was written after Ephesians later in A.D. 60 or 61. In 1 Cor 15:9 (a letter written c. 54 CE), Paul states, I am the least of the apostles. Then, in Eph 3:8 (written c. 59-61 CE) the author says that he is less than the least of the saints. This makes an advance over the apostles similar statement in [7] In this note and subsequent notes, I have given a representative chronological sampling of scholarship from both LDS and non-LDS commentators who consider the occasion of each of the letters briefly discussed here. As such a student, he was familiar with many of the sayings of classical and contemporary writers. Some early manuscripts of Ephesians 1:1 lack at Ephesus, opening the possibility that the letter was meant for more than just the branch at Ephesus. At the heart of all ministry and our ability to endure in ministry is the doctrine of the person and work of Christ. The rest are forgeries. Whether he was imprisoned once or twice in Rome is debated, though two imprisonments seem to fit the facts better. Closely related to this is another concept. 3:4-5), and had evidently been taught the trade of tent-making as a youth (Acts 18:3). Because of the riot caused by silversmiths (Acts 19:23-41) Paul departed from Ephesus for Macedonia (Acts 20:1) in the spring of A.D. 56. [35] Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 4553; Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 12829. YouTube Live; Niconico Live; Twitch The Instruction of the True Teaching (2:9-15), 1. If the letter was written to Christians in South Galatia, the churches were founded on the first missionary journey, the letter was written after the end of the journey (probably from Antioch, ca. [26] While scribes are not named in any Pauline epistle other than Romans, they can be presumed in the other letters, where their involvement in the actual composition of the letter and the degree to which they were involved in wording of the final draft could vary greatly. Prayer for Wisdom a Revelation (1:15-23), 1. These events took place from about A.D. 62-67. [35], The introductory formula of an ancient letter was routinely followed by either a prayer for health or a thanksgiving to the gods. Traditionally, Pauls relationship to Judaism has been regarded as oppositional. Their Love for God Expressed in Sanctified Living (4:1-8), B. In fact, in this epistle, 18 out of 47 verses (38 percent) deal with this subject. Romans was written in about A.D. 57-58 most likely near the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 18:23-21:14; see also Rom. 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. Miller understands the value of an education and the importance for students to graduate. To meet the needs that occasioned this epistle, Paul wrote this epistle to comfort and correct. Are they themselves properly to be described as Jewish? These, then, are the first Roman imprisonment letters, whereas 2 Timothy is the second Roman imprisonment letter.52. The remainder of Pauls letters either fall into different generic categories or combine different types of writing. It shows how we may be chained and hindered, but that the Word of God is not imprisoned (see also 2 Tim. Where to Watch. Philemon was not the only slave holder in the Colossian church (see Col. 4:1), so this letter gave guidelines for other Christian masters in their relationships to their slave-brothers. His hypothesis is that: The Pauline epistles began, most of them, as fragments by Simon (part of Romans), Marcion (the third through sixth chapter of Galatians and the basic draft of Ephesians), and Valentinian Gnostics (Colossians, parts of 1 Corinthians, at least). While the general focus of this epistle is Pauls defense of his ministry and authority, a key word that surfaces is comfort (occurring 11 times in 9 verses). He Commends and Comforts Regarding Persecution (1:4-12), III. The key word, occurring in one form or the other some 16 times, is joy or rejoice. Unity or oneness is another key idea of the book. 1:5f.). But the point is simply this: regardless of the type of church government, within certain limits, of course, if Gods Word is being consistently and accurately proclaimed with prayerful dependence on the Lord, and if the people take it to heart, a church will be alive, in vital touch with Christ, and effective for the Lord. In the earliest Greek literature it was linked with wealth (Homer Iliad 2. What concerned Paul preeminently was the presence of false teachers, claiming to be apostles, who had entered the church. 1:1-8; 4:9-22; Titus 1:5; 3:12-13).64 Those who question Pauls authorship usually do so on the following grounds: that (1) Pauls travels described in the pastorals do not fit anywhere into the historical account of the book of Acts, (2) the church organization described in them is that of the second century, and (3) the vocabulary and style are significantly different from that of the other Pauline letters. Instructions Concerning Leaders (3:1-16), A. This singularly christological book is centered on the cosmic Christthe head of all principality and power (2:10), the Lord of creation (1:16-17), the Author of reconciliation (1:20-22; 2:13-15). No passage is clearer and more declarative regarding the nature, fact, and purpose of the incarnation of Christ as is found in this book, the great kenosis passage (2:5f.). The Warning Against Legalistic Judaizers (3:1-4a), V. The Peace of the Christian Life: Knowing the Presence of Christ (4:1-23). [17] While being familiar with the circumstances that faced Christianity in the first century is still important for understanding the general epistles, as a whole these letters tend to address more than one congregation or were even directed to the entire Church, much like a First Presidency message or letter is today. 1112), Paul identifies himself as the author of this epistle with the words, Paul an apostle. Apart from a few 19th-century scholars, no one has seriously questioned his authorship. From Macedonia Paul wrote a fourth letter, 2 Corinthians. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). Further, his authorship is virtually unchallenged. Good deeds are not to be the product of human ingenuity or dead religion, but the work of Gods grace through faith in the power of God as manifested in Christ, the Savior. In favor of this is the fact that Luke seems to use Galatia only to describe North Galatia (Acts 16:6; 18:23). Ancient letters began with an opening formula, identifying the sender (which we saw above could include coauthors) and the recipient (which could be a local congregation, specific members of a branch, or an individual). Is this because organization is unimportant? (4) This was then followed by a second visit to Corinth (the painful visit, 2 Cor. There is some debate as to the title and destination of this epistle. For more detailed discussion, see note 2 on this at this verse in the NET Bible. A crucial turning point in Paul's career came after he returned to Jerusalem and began studies in preparation for becoming a rabbi. However, Pauls authorship of this epistle has been questioned more often than that of 1 Thessalonians, even though it has more support from early church writers. [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. WebThe Pauline Letters; Galatians; 1 and 2 Thessalonians; 1 and 2 Corinthians; Romans; Letters Written in Captivity; The Synoptic Gospels and Acts; The Gospel of Mark; The During the interim from the time of the apostles to the more complete transition to elders and deacons, these men were sent by Paul as his apostolic representatives to repel and deal with certain conditions and people who were threatening to hurt the work and ministries of these churches. [21] Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 3644. 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.). The seven authentic or undisputed letters of Paul, in roughly chronological order, are as follows: 1 Thessalonians Galatians 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Philemon Philippians Romans See the book | Listen to the AuthorTalk interview The regulations for the use of gifts (14:26-40), VII. Though Titus is never mentioned in Acts, the many references to him in Pauls epistles (13 times), make it clear he was one of Pauls closest and most trusted fellow-workers in the gospel. Paul had several obvious purposes in writing this letter to the Philippians: (1) He sought to express his love and gratitude for the gift they had sent him (1:5; 4:10-19); (2) to give a report about his own circumstances (1:12-26; 4:10-19); (3) to encourage the Philippians to stand firm in the face of persecution and rejoice regardless of circumstances (1:27-30; 4:4); (4) to exhort them to live in humility and unity (2:1-11; 4:2-5); (5) to commend Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippian church (2:19-30); and (6) to warn the Philippians against the legalistic Judaizers and the libertarian antinomians who had slipped in among them (ch. The key words or concepts are judgment, retribution, and destruction all revolving around the return of the Lord in the day of the Lord. As to Ones Self and the Church (5:19-21), D. The Believers Walk in Warfare (6:10-20), 2. That Paul is the author of this epistle is supported by both external and internal evidence. It has therefore been dubbed as the charter of Christian Liberty. Luther considered it in a peculiar sense his Epistle.51 Galatians stands as a powerful polemic against the Judaizers and their teachings of legalism. The Experience of the Galatians: The Spirit is Given by Faith, Not by Works (3:1-5), B. [21] But more significantly, his letters frequently included in their opening formula references to coauthors, who are different from others, such as scribes, who, if mentioned by name, are usually noted in the conclusion. 17), B. Thanksgiving for Divine Comfort in Affliction (1:3-11), C. The Integrity of Pauls Motives and Conduct (1:122:4), D. Forgiving the Offender at Corinth (2:5-11), E. Gods Direction in the Ministry (2:12-17), F. The Corinthian Believersa Letter From Christ (3:1-11), G. Seeing the Glory of God With Unveiled Faces (3:124:6), I. The playwright Philetaerus (Athenaeus 13. There are two main views, The North Galatian View and The South Galatian View. WebTHE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS. 49 Merrill F. Unger, The New Ungers Talking Bible Dictionary, Original work copyright 1957 The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, electronic media. . Greeting, Prayer, Body, Closing Describe the general greeting in each of Paul's letters. [13] Consequently, in Romans, Paul addresses many of the same issues as he did in Galatians, but here the situation is reversed. 10-17). Friday, May 12, 2023 at 4:00 a.m. (PDT) * Starting time is subject to change. 1:14). Those who hold to the Pauline authorship reply: (1) there is no compelling reason to believe that Acts contains the complete history of the life of Paul. Since the epistle clearly names the author in the opening verse, it is not necessary to theorize that Ephesians was written by one of Pauls pupils or admirers, such as Timothy, Luke, Tychicus, or Onesimus.54. At the time of writing, Paul had not visited there, the letter says (Col 1:4; 2:1).The community had apparently been established by Epaphras of Colossae (Col 1:7; 4:12; Phlm 23).Problems, however, had WebFour of Pauls undisputed letters, 1 Thess, 1 and 2 Cor, and Phlp, may contain an insert or compilation added by an editor before being released for publication by the recipient According to some calculations, Romans (979 manuscript lines) would have cost $2,275 in 2004 U.S. dollars, and even short Philemon (44 lines) would have cost $101! Evidently at a young age, he went to Jerusalem, and according to his testimony, studied under the well know Gamaliel I, a noted teacher in the School of Hillel (Acts 22:3). 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. Web4 Major Parts of Pauline Letter. In the Home and Household Life (3:18-4:1), IV. 6:21-22; Col. 4:7-8) and is probably the same letter that is called my letter from Laodicea in Col. 4:16.55. Pauls Gratitude for the Colossians Faith (1:3-8), 3. And further, he must be the Son of God. The Prayer That He Might Return to the Thessalonians (3:11), 2. Paul's decision to cast his lot with the members of the Christian community did not make him a missionary all at once, for about fourteen years passed before his work as a leader in the movement received any general recognition. 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. From the first century onward (A.D. 96), there is continuous and abundant evidence that Paul is the author. [8] While this part of Pauls teaching is best preserved in 1 Thessalonians 4:1318, this same passage also makes clear that it caused some confusion among the Thessalonians that Pauls letter sought to resolve: because the Thessalonians, and possibly Paul himself, expected the Lord to return soon, they were concerned when the Parousia did not happen immediately and, furthermore, when members of the congregation began to die before Jesus return. Important issues discussed in the letter include qualifications for elders (1:5-9), instructions to various age groups (2:1-8), relationship to government (3:1-2), the relation of regeneration to human works and to the Spirit (3:5), and the role of grace in promoting good works among Gods people (2:11-3:8). 10-13). These three have traditionally been attributed to John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee and one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. No specific purpose is stated and no particular problem or heresy is addressed. Not until some time passed after Paul's death were these letters circulated among the churches and read along with the Old Testament Scriptures as a part of regular worship services. [13] See Suetonius, Claudius, 25.3, which attributes the expulsion order to riots over one Chrestus, the Latin form of a common Greek slave name meaning useful or serviceable (Chrestos), which apparently he had confused with the name Christos. By this, we see much of what believers have through their position in the Savior. 801-422-6975. 16:5-9; Acts 20:31). To give instruction on how to meet this opposition and special instructions concerning faith and conduct, and to warn about false teachers (1:5, 10-11; 2:1-8, 15; 3:1-11). Closely associated with this is a short section on the believers warfare with the onslaughts of Satan (6:10-18). 2:1). Through His death by which believers have died to the Law and through the Christ exchanged life (2:20), believers have been freed from bondage (5:1f.) 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. The content of the reports was specified in a circular letter issued by the Assistant Commissioner on December 31, 1866. Paul himself had relatives who later returned to the city (Andronicus and Junia; see Romans 16:7). The Minister, Appointed to Proclamation (3:7-13), III. In these verses, the great themes of the epistle are gathered togetherthe gospel, the power of God, salvation, everyone, who believes, righteousness from God, Jew and Gentile. The Call to Remember Timothys Responsibilities (1:8-18), IV. This was then followed by (3) the second letter to Corinth (1 Cor.). . Giving, for instance, is a corporate and individual responsibility, but our giving and the collection of money must be so done that it does not violate certain biblical principles such as giving voluntarily rather than by methods that employ coercion or manipulation. 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. Eventually, he was invited by Barnabas to come to the church at Antioch and assist in the work being done there. The Character of a Faithful Servant (2:1-26), C. He Is Single-Minded Like a Soldier (2:3-4), D. He Is Strict Like an Athlete and Enduring Like a Farmer (2:5-13), V. The Caution for a Faithful Servant (3:1-17), B. Some good Greek mss. They promoted their own ideas and at the same time sought to discredit both the person and message of the apostle. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. Pauls epistles fall into two categories: nine epistles written to churches (Romans to 2 Thessalonians) and four pastoral and personal epistles (1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon). The theme of the epistle is the righteousness of God (1:16-17). Again as indicated in the opening salutation, Paul is the author of this letter. The New Position in the Heavenlies (2:1-10), 2. But as he did so, he could not help but be impressed by the way in which the Christians met the persecutions inflicted upon them. Suggestion 3. This handout is part of the Living in Christ Series. Several passages stand out in pointing us to the person and ministry of the Savior. Follow the tabs above to get Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXVII Date & Time. and brought into a position of liberty. The traditional title is Pros Ephesious, To the Ephesians. Many ancient manuscripts, however omit en Epheso and for this and other reasons, many scholars believe this was an encyclical letter (intended for circulation among several churches). After being recaptured and once again imprisoned, Paul wrote Timothy a second letter, 2 Timothy. There is an absence of controversy in this epistle, and it does not deal with problems of particular churches. Rather, three clear purposes unfold for the writing of Romans. Chapters 89 are really one unit and comprise the most complete revelation of Gods plan for giving found anywhere in the Scriptures. So Paul explains Gods program of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. 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). Paul wanted to inform them of his plans and to have them anticipate and pray for their fulfillment (15:30-32). The power of the cross provides deliverance from the curse of the law, from the power of sin, and from self (1:4; 2:20; 3:13; 4:5; 5:16, 24; 6:14). [20] See Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 1931. 2); (4) to give guidance regarding numerous issues that would arise and to show how they should be handled. It seems clear by comparing Acts with the epistles that 1 Timothy and Titus belong to the period after Pauls first release and acquittal in Rome. While the occasion helped determine what Paul wrote and to some extent the form the letter took, the realities of ancient letter writing affected how he wrote. According to this rule, in the article-noun-kaiv-noun construction the second noun refers to the same person described by the first noun when (1) neither is impersonal; (2) neither is plural; (3) neither is a proper name. When a specific occasion influenced Paul to write regarding certain topics, he employed the basic letter form common in the Mediterranean world at that time. He anticipated being released (Philem. Gods wisdom manifested to us in Christ is to change believers on both the individual and social level. 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]. In this one and some others he writes a greeting toward the end in his own distinctive handwriting, to give a warm personal touch and also to prevent forgery.. I. Internally the letter reveals the stamp of genuineness. . All we need for life is found in Him. [29] For instance, the subscription to 1 Thessalonians reads: The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens. First Thessalonians 3:16, taken together with Acts 18:15, make it clear that Paul wrote the letter from Corinth, after he had left Athens and when Timothy had come to Corinth with news about the Church in Thessalonica (see Anderson,Understanding Paul, 72). From there he went to Jerusalem to deliver the money, intending to continue on to Rome and Spain (15:24). In this letter Paul had two major purposes in mind. 1:1). Although an occasion, or reason for writing, can be identified for all of the letters of the Pauline corpus, the occasional nature is particularly apparent in some of the earliest of the Apostles letters, each of which is a response to specific situations in the early branches of the Church. WebThe reports are exclusively narrative until July 1867 when a printed form first came into use. The entire process of composition, dictation, writing, revision, review, and approval was not only time-consuming but also expensive. The former referred to north-central Asia Minor, north of the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe; the latter referred to the Roman province (organized in 25 B.C.) 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. o Is highly complimentary. Hortatory: The Collection for the Christians at Jerusalem (chs. [40] The classical point of discussion begins with Aristotle, Ars rhetorica, 1.3 (1358b) and includes Quintillian, Institutio oratorio, 3.4.1215. 1:1, Tit. The Pauline Letters. The fact these great epistles were written while Paul was imprisoned, either in Roman barracks or chained daily to a Roman soldier in his own rented house (Acts 28:30), which gave him access to the whole elite Praetorian Guard, is a marvelous illustration of how God takes our apparent misfortunes and uses them for His glory and the increase of our opportunities for ministry (see Phil. Suggestion 2. In summary, then, these books were designed by God to aid us in our pastoral responsibilities and in organic development and guidance for the life of local churches. Whereas the average ancient letter was 87 words long, the literary letters of the Roman authors Cicero and Seneca averaged 295 and 995 words respectively. All in all, in their content, these books are pastoral in nature and give directions for the care, conduct, order, ministry, and administration of churches or assemblies of believers. For more discussion see Wallace, Exegetical Syntax, 270-78, esp. Being written to the church at Corinth, this epistle came to be known as Pros Corinthious A, which in effect means First Corinthians. 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. In fact, it is stamped with his style and it contains more autobiographical material than any of his other writings.44 The only problem concerns the claim of some regarding its apparent lack of unity. They taught, among other things, that a number of the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament were still binding on the church. Provo, UT 84602 So, while our methods will often vary, they must never contradict the moral or spiritual principles of the Word of God. The Prayer That Their Hearts Might Be Established in Holiness (3:13), II. In doing so he pursued three broad purposes. The Prize of the Christian Life: Having the Knowledge of Christ (3:1-21), A. For this reason a proverb warned, Not for every man is the voyage to Corinth., From the account in Acts it would appear as if Paul had little fruit among the Jews and that nearly all of his converts were Gentiles. 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).
