The Epistles of Paul Galatians

1
The Epistles of PaulGalatians

• audience the churches of Northern Galatia,
  written from Ephesus
• date 54-55 AD
• themes validity of Paul's apostolic mission
• acceptance of Gentiles into the community
  (Jerusalem Council, Peter's duplicity)?
• covenant in Christ fulfills covenant with
  Abraham, the Law is no longer needed
• freedom in faith

2
The Epistles of PaulGalatians

• Points to note
• no thanksgiving, Paul is too angry to include
  one
• Paul's anger/frustration cause him to be very
  blunt in this letter
• anathemas
• 6 arguments for justification by faith,
  outside the Law (from R. Brown Introduction to
  the New Testament)?
• a) if Spirit was received without observing
  works of the Law,
• how can those works be made necessary?
• b) fufillment of promise to Abraham
• c) the Law was a custodian of Israel until the
  heir (Christ) should come
• d) why become slaves again when you have been
  freed?
• e) how can one (Paul) whom they accepted now
  be an enemy?
• f ) redefining the lesson of Abraham and his
  wives
• paraenesis freedom in the Spirit
• passionate conclusion in 'my own hand'

3
The Epistles of PaulRomans

• Audience the churches in Rome, written from
  Corinth/Cenchreae
• date winter of 57/58
• themes Righteousness
• Justification
• Salvation

4
The Epistles of PaulRomans

• Points to note Paul's most thorough and
  organized presentation of his theology
• Greeting and Thanksgiving
• Doctrinal matters (1.16-11)
• Righteousness (dikaiosune) (1.16-2)?
• Justification (3-4)?
• Sin since Adam (5 -6)?
• Law (7)?
• Glorification (8)?
• Salvation History, remnant (9-11)?
• Hortatory (12-15.13)?
• The Ethical Christian life (12-13)?
• unity, charity, orderliness, love is
  fulfillment
• Tolerance and Endurance (14-15)?
• self-recommendation/last testament
• 26 individuals in Rome greeted in the
  conclusion

5
The Epistles of PaulPhilippians

• Audience the community at Philippi
• date 56(?) uncertain, written while in prison
  (Ephesus?) where and when are debated possilby
  over a period of time, possibly another
  'collection' of letters or parts thereof
• themes gratitude to the community
• Paul's imprisonment
• dangers of false teachers

6
The Epistles of PaulPhilippians

• Points to note Christological hymn 2.6-11
• Paul's zeal for Christ and warnings against
  false teachers possible multiple letters
  indicated by more than one greeting/farewell
  

7
The Epistles of PaulPhilemon

• Audience Philemon, Apphia and Archippus and
  their house church
• date 61-63 AD
• theme return of Onesimus the slave, brotherhood
  in Christ

8
The Epistles of PaulPhilemon

• Points to note Paul's boldness in declaring a
  slave son/brother in Christ
• Roman slavery
• Onesimus a runaway
• Paul will 'pay what is owed'
• need for Philemon and Onesimus to reconcile
• Paul's theology of freedom in Christ
• situation reflects Paul's eschatology
  imminent parousia

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Pauline Theology

• Gospel
• revelatory
• apocalyptic
• salvific mystery
• dynamic
• kerygmatic
• normative
• promissory

10
Pauline Theology

• Christocentric Soteriology
• Christ crucified
• Christ the Power of God
• Christ the Wisdom of God

11
Pauline Theology

• Salvation History/Covenantal Fulfillment
• God does all things for His people
• God's Wrath
• God's Righteousness/Fidelity
• God's Love
• the 'fulness of time'
• Lawless, Under the Law, Eschaton

12
Pauline Theology

• Justification
• not through 'works of the Law'
• a gift from God of faith, in faith, through faith
• faith produces love (agape, philia)?
• love manifests in good works