Welcome to New Testament 2

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Welcome to New Testament 2

• Union University
• Master of Christian Studies
• Dr. Ken Easley

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Introduction to the Epistles

• Of the 27 books of the New Testament, 21 are
  epistles (letters)
• All were written by apostles of Jesus or close
  associates of the apostles
• Paul, John, and Peter apostles
• James, Jude and author of Hebrews associates
• Names of the epistles
• If written by Paul, titled by RECIPIENT
• If written by another, titled by AUTHOR

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Groupings within the Epistles

• Pauls Epistles
• In New Testament order 9 letters to churches,
  then 4 letters to individuals
• Catholic (Universal or General) Epistles
• Hebrews (anonymous)
• Early James
• Middle Group 1 and 2 Peter and Jude
• Late Group 1, 2, 3 John
• Revelation (prophecy rather than an epistle)

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Purpose of the Epistles

• Theological reflection on the death and
  resurrection of Jesus
• To meet specific needs and settle problems

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Key Events in Roman History During This Period

• Rule of Claudius (AD 41-54)
• Rule of Nero (AD 54-68)
• Fire in Rome, AD 64
• Rule of Vespasian (AD 69-79)
• Jerusalem destroyed, AD 70
• Rule of Titus (AD 79-81)
• Rule of Domitian (AD 81-96)
• Persecution of Christians, AD 90-96

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Key Events in Jewish History During This Period

• Herod Agrippa I dies (AD 41, Acts 12)
• Herod Agrippa II rules Galilee (AD 50-70)
• Felix governs Judea (AD 52-59)
• Festus governs Judea (AD 59-61)
• Jewish revolt begins (AD 66)
• Jerusalem and temple burned (AD 70)
• Masada taken (AD 73)

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Key Events in Christian History During This Period

• Pauls 1st missionary journey (AD 47-48)
• Jerusalem Council (AD 49, Acts 15)
• Pauls 2nd journey (AD 49-52)
• Pauls 3rd journey (AD 52-57)
• James, Jesus brother, martyred (AD 62)
• Nero begins persecution (AD 64)
• Peter and Paul martyred (about AD 65)
• Destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70)
• John exiled on Patmos (about AD 95)

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Ministry of Paul, Phase 1 Personal Maturing

• Big idea before the missionary journeys
• Date 14 years, AD 33-46
• NT source Gal. 1-2 2 Cor. 11 Acts 9-12
• Major events Conversion, obscurity, teaching in
  Antioch, famine relief to Jerusalem
• Epistles none
• End of this phase AD 46, return to Antioch from
  Jerusalem after famine relief visit

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Ministry of Paul, Phase 2 Planting Churches

• Big idea three missionary journeys
• Date 11 years, AD 47-57
• NT source Pauls writings, Acts 13-21
• Major events Galatia, Jerusalem Council, Europe
  (Corinth), Asia (Ephesus), collection
• Epistles Galatians, 1 2 Thessalonians, 1 2
  Corinthians, Romans
• End of this phase AD 57, arrest in Jerusalem

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Ministry of Paul, Phase 3 Preparing for Martyrdom

• Big idea imprisonment and beyond
• Date 8 years, AD 57-65
• NT source Pauls writings, Acts 22-28
• Major events 2 years each in Caesarea and Rome,
  further travels, rearrested
• Epistles Prison Epistles and Pastoral Epistles
• End of this phase AD 65, death in Rome

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The Essence of Pauls Theology Salvation in
Three Tenses

• Christ has saved me
• Sin and the law
• Gods sovereignty in salvation (election and
  grace)
• Christs work on the cross
• Justification by faith alone (Luthers recovery)
• Christ is saving me
• In Christ
• Holy Spirit and holy living (spiritual fruit)
• The Church, the body of Christ

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The Essence of Pauls Theology Salvation in
Three Tenses

• Christ will save me
• Return of Christ
• Resurrection body
• Final judgment (heaven and hell)
• Eternal kingdom of Christ
• To God be the glory forever

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In What Order Should We Study Pauls Letters?

• Traditional Canonical order
• Topical
• Second coming (eschatological) 1 2 Thess.
• Work of Christ (soteriological) Rom., 1 2
  Cor., Gal.
• Person of Christ (Christological) Eph., Phil.,
  Col., Philem.
• Church organization (ecclesiastical) 1 2
  Tim., Titus

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GALATIANS Historical Concerns

• Author Paul, without debate
• Date probably about 48
• Before Jerusalem Council
• Place of origin Antioch of Syria, Pauls home
  base of ministry
• Destination and Recipients
• Cities of southern Galatia Antioch of Pisidia,
  Iconium, Lystra, Derbe
• Gentile converts young in the Lord

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GALATIANS Historical Concerns

• Background and occasion
• Pauls new pattern of preaching
• Reaction in Jerusalem the Judaizers
• Some measure of keeping the Law is necessary for
  everyone to be saved
• Issue later settled at Jerusalem Council

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GALATIANSTheological Concerns

• Authors purposes
• To defend his apostolic authority
• To argue that salvation is by faith alone
• To teach that Christian living is based on
  freedom from the Law
• Key concept Sinners are justified by trusting in
  Jesus Christ alone, not by good works or by
  keeping the Law.

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GALATIANSTheological Concerns

• Key text Galatians 216
• Key term faith (alone)
• Themes
• Grace, faith, justification, freedom
• Fruit of the Spirit
• (This is Luthers Book)

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GALATIANSLiterary Concerns

• Greek style Pauls Greek is average in
  difficulty and vocabulary
• Literary features
• Exceptionally emotional and personal
• Omits the usual thanksgiving at beginning
• Includes an autograph farewell

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GALATIANS Outline

• Defense of apostleship (chaps. 1 2)
• Justification by faith (chaps. 3 4)
• Living in freedom (chaps. 5 6)
• Special issues
• The North Galatian Theory
• E. P. Sanders and covenantal nomism

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GALATIANS Contrasts

• NEGATIVE
• 1-2
• lost in Adam
• human reasoning
• 3-4
• law, works, bondage
• condemnation
• 5-6
• living in the flesh
• works of the flesh

• POSITIVE
• 1-2
• saved in Christ
• Gods revelation
• 3-4
• grace, faith, freedom
• justification
• 5-6
• walking in the Spirit
• fruit of the Spirit

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GALATIANS Living the Christian Life
LOVE
Legalism
License (Phariseeism)
(Libertinism)
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GALATIANS So What?

• Gods people are to trust in Jesus Christ alone,
  not good works or keeping the Law, for their
  standing before God.
• AND TODAY?

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1 THESSALONIANS Historical Concerns

• Author Paul, without debate
• Date probably AD 50
• During the second missionary journey
• Place of origin Corinth, capital of Achaia
• Pauls focus city for the second journey
• Destination and recipients
• Thessalonica, Roman capital of Macedonia
• Gentile converts (mainly), young in the Lord

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1 THESSALONIANS Historical Concerns

• Background and occasion
• Pauls short ministry in Thessalonica (2-3
  months?)
• preaching emphasis on the parousia
• Pauls sending Timothy from Athens for follow-up
• Timothys report upset and confusion

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1 THESSALONIANS Theological Concerns

• Authors purposes
• to instruct about the coming of the Lord
• to encourage new Christians in basic doctrinal
  truths
• to inspire Christians to make progress in holy
  living
• Key concept The return of Christ is the true
  hope of the Christian

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1 THESSALONIANS Theological Concerns

• Key text 1 Thess. 416-17
• Key term Parousia
• Coming, arrival, presence
• Themes
• Rapture
• Importance of holiness
• Return of Christ

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1 THESSALONIANS Literary Concerns

• Greek style Pauls Greek is average in
  difficulty and vocabulary
• Literary featuresTypical Pauline epistolary
  form
• Salutation
• Thanksgiving
• Body
• Farewell

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1 THESSALONIANS Outline

• Pauls thanksgiving (11-10)
• Pauls actions and absence (21-313)
• Encouragement in holy living (41-12)
• The coming of Christ (413-511)
• Final instructions (512-28)

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1 THESSALONIANS Special Issue

• Pauls Teaching about the Parousia
• Use of parousia in secular Greek
• All who take the Bible as truthful believe in the
  rapture
• The question is the relationship of the rapture
  to Christs glorious revelation

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1 THESSALONIANS So What?

• Gods people are to reflect in their lives that
  the return of Christ is the true hope of the
  Christian.
• AND TODAY?

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2 THESSALONIANS Historical Concerns

• Author Paul, but challenged by some critical
  scholars
• Date probably AD 51
• During the second missionary journey
• A few months after 1 Thessalonians
• Place of origin Corinth
• Destination and Recipients
• Same as 1 Thess.

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2 THESSALONIANS Historical Concerns

• Background and occasion
• The writing of 1 Thessalonians
• The church received another letter, supposedly by
  Paul
• The Day of the Lord has come
• Some had quit their employment
• Some were experiencing harassment
• Much confusion

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2 THESSALONIANS Theological Concerns

• Authors purposes
• To correct doctrinal error(that the Day of the
  Lord had already come)
• To correct practical error(that had caused some
  to quit their employment)
• Key concept Because the return of Christ may be
  in the distant future, Christians should settle
  down and live useful lives

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2 THESSALONIANS Theological Concerns

• Key text 2 Thess. 23
• Key term Day of the Lord
• Themes
• Day of the Lord
• Man of lawlessness
• Rejection of idleness

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2 THESSALONIANS Theological Concerns

• Greek style same as 1 Thessalonians
• Literary features Cooler, more sense of rebuke
  than 1 Thess.
• Outline
• Encouragement in persecution (1)
• Teaching about the Day of the Lord (2)
• Rebuke concerning idleness (3)

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2 THESSALONIANS Special Issue

• The differing emphases between1 Thessalonians
  and 2 Thessalonians
• On the Second Coming
• 1 Thess. SUDDEN, IMMINENT
• 2 Thess. NOT IMMEDIATE, SIGNS
• On Congregational Order
• 1 Thess. CALM WARNING
• 2 Thess. SHARP REBUKE

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2 THESSALONIANS So What?

• Gods people are to settle down and live useful
  lives because the return of Christ may be
  distant
• AND TODAY?