Still later, they came to be regarded as inspired writings comparable to the sacred Scriptures of Judaism. [30] Therefore, regardless of the role of a coauthor or scribe in the composition of a letter, the final product was reviewed and accepted by Paul, who thereby attributed to it apostolic authority. The cost of the finished letter included both the cost of the papyrus and secretarial labor and could be quite high. 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. Instructions Concerning Doctrine (1:3-20), A. Rather, three clear purposes unfold for the writing of Romans. 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. Because of this, he could appeal to Caesar as a citizen of Rome while imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:37-39). 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). The Power and Provision for Our Walk (5:14-18), C. The Believers Walk in the World (5:19-6:9), 1. 69 From the footnote in the NET Bible, BSF web site CD, electronic media. [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. Two other key words are grace (1:4; 2:11; 3:7, 15) and faith (1:1, 4, 13; 2:10, 13, and 3:15). These epistles deal with church polity, policies, and practice, all of which are concerns vital to the pastoral health of the church. 62 NIV Study Bible Notes, Zondervan, 1985, electronic media. From there he went to Jerusalem to deliver the money, intending to continue on to Rome and Spain (15:24). Paul addressed them to Timothy and Titus to guide them in matters concerning the pastoral care of the church, which is the household of God (cf. ( A.D. 55, 57) Philip., Col., Eph., Philem., Heb. In his studies, he had advanced in the religion of the Jews beyond many of his fellows as one extremely zealous for his ancestral traditions (Gal. Paul, as is his custom, uses his Greek name Paulos rather than his Hebrew name Shaul. Web200) codex quire containing the Pauline Letters in the following order: Romans, Hebrews, I and II Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and I Thessalonians. Paul did not establish the church in Rome, but as the apostle to the Gentiles, he had longed for many years to visit the believers in Rome (15:22-23) that he might further establish them in the faith and preach the gospel there as well (1:13-15). As a Roman citizen, he died by the sword (beheaded) rather than by crucifixion as did Peter. In fact, the situation is even worse than that, for the knowledge that one ought not to do certain things often acts as a stimulus creating the desire to do it. Here the apostle taught them that the day of the Lord had not come and could not until certain events had taken place, not for the rapture of the church which is imminent, but for the day of the Lord, Daniels seventieth week. The apostle then visited Ephesus, where he left Timothy to supervise the church, and went on to Macedonia. 9:22). 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. He then visited Crete, leaving Titus there to put in order the remaining matters in the churches of Crete. Twice, the writer calls himself Paul (1:1; 3:1). 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. He had denied the Christian claim that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. The fact that believers are not under the Law in no way means the freedom to do as one pleases, but the power to do what we should by Gods grace through the Spirit. 1 Cor. Want to Explore Your Childhood? Start With a Floor Plan. It should be pointed out that the two lost letters were lost only because they were not intended by God to be part of the biblical canon. Further, in view of all Christ was, is, has and will accomplish, Paul declares Christ as the believers life, for to me to live is Christ (1:21), that He is the perfect model of humility and sacrificing love (2:4-5), that He is the one who will transform our humble bodies into the likeness of His glorious body at the resurrection (3:21), and He is our means of enablement in any and all circumstances of life (4:12). The body of a longer letter was frequently structured according to the principles of Classical rhetoric, varying the style depending upon the purpose of the letter, while a shorter letter could be written quite simply. Download PDF Word. 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. 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]. The Importance of the Resurrection (15:1-11), B. 2); (4) to give guidance regarding numerous issues that would arise and to show how they should be handled. omit the words at Ephesus in 1:1. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. [1] Some of Pauls teaching, taken in isolation and out of context, can seem confusing or even to be in contradiction with gospel principles explicated elsewhere in the scriptures generally or even in the rest of the Pauline corpus itself. 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). Amen (Romans 16:2527). [26] Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 92. Miller understands value of education | News, Sports, Jobs Both 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written from Corinth during the apostles eighteen-month stay in that city (cf. [22] Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 1619; Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 3336. Biblical literature - The Pauline Letters | Britannica These individuals can be viewed as collaborators in the composition process and may have contributed substantively to much of the initial material that the scribe, under Pauls direction, later wove into the final draft. Some, however, would immediately claim such a doctrine leads to license, so the apostle demonstrates that Christian liberty does not mean license. 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). . [21] Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 3644. After he was released he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus, was arrested again, wrote 2 Timothy, and was martyred in Rome. Early church fathers support Pauls authorship beginning as early as A.D. 140 (Marcion). 61 The outline used here is taken from an outstanding series of 12 studies by Dr. S. Lewis Johnson in Bibliotheca Sacra, Studies in the Epistle to the Colossians, beginning Vol. Thus, the Epistles answer these questions, give the interpretation of the person and work of Christ, and apply the truth of the gospel to believers. Final Instructions to Timothy (6:11-21), C. Exhortations to Remain Faithful (6:20-21). Nevertheless, their involvement in the composition process may, in fact, help to explain the differences of style and diction between the different letters of Paul. Two New Testament scribes are identified by name: Tertius in Romans 16:22 and Silvanus in 1 Peter 5:12. 1 / 4. As previously mentioned, the apostle was a prisoner when he wrote this epistle (Eph. The A or alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, was undoubtedly a latter addition to distinguish it from Second Corinthians which shortly followed this epistle. 4. Application: the Practice of Righteousness in Service (12:115:13), F. In Relation to Other Christians (14:115:13), VII. 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. Familiar with both Jewish customs and scripture on the one hand and Greek philosophy and lifestyle in Corinth on the other, he may have been particularly sensitive to the problems facing the congregation there. 1 / 4. Pauls advocacy before Philemon is parallel to Christs work of mediation before the Father. 1:1). 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). Second Thessalonians anticipates Christ, the coming Judge. 59 A.T. Robertson, Paul and the Intellectuals, rev. The Prospective: The Endurance of Hope (4:13-5:28), A. The letter contains a number of historical references that agree with known facts of Pauls life and the doctrinal content of the book is consistent with the other writings of the apostle, a fact quickly evident by a comparison with his other letters. Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Summary and Analysis He opened them by identifying the He was born of Jewish parentage in the city of Tarsus of Cilicia. The Explanation of the Evidence (1:8-10), B. While there he lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla who were of the same trade, tent-makers (Acts 18:3). 11:28). These congregations also consisted largely of Gentile converts, but in Pauls absence a subsequent group of missionaries had disturbed the new converts by teaching them a different gospel (see Galatians 1:610). The Conduct of the Apostle and His Fellow Workers (2:1-12), C. The Conduct of the Thessalonians (2:13-16), 1. Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXVII Date & Time. The Expression of Thanks for Timothy (1:3-7), III. As to Ones Self and the Church (5:19-21), D. The Believers Walk in Warfare (6:10-20), 2. He wrote (1) to urge Timothy to come to Rome as soon as possible in view of his impending death (cf. It is a cosmic book, presenting the cosmic Christ: the Creator/Sustainer and Redeemer/Reconciler of man and all the universe. Liar! they cried and stoned him. In the New Testament there are 13 books written by the Apostle Paul. Corinth was a large metropolis (approximately 700,000; about two-thirds of whom were slaves) located on a narrow isthmus between the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea that connected the Peloponnesus with Northern Greece. E.g. 10-13 are part of that lost sorrowful letter. Although some features of those chapters correspond to what must have been the contents of the lost letter, the principal subject of that letter (the offender of 2 Cor. Directions Regarding Gods Grace (2:11-15), V. Final Instructions and Greetings (3:12-15). 10), B. Paul Forced Into Foolish Boasting (chs. [11] Furthermore, Paul wrote this letter with over a decade of preaching and writing behind him, including the letters to the Thessalonians, Galatians, Corinthians, and perhaps to the Philippians and to Philemon. 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). Colossians . Hampton wrote many articles for the Biblical Studies Foundation and on More. Petition of Paul for Onesimus (vv. The Present Walk of the New Life (4:20-32), 4. Most of these came from the humbler ranks, although there appear to have been some of the nobler class also (1:26-31). Several passages stand out in pointing us to the person and ministry of the Savior. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). The Propagation of His Work (1:24-2:3), II. Titus was written around A.D. 65 and 2 Timothy in A.D. 66. There he met Titus, who brought good news about the general well-being of the Corinthian church but bad news about a group who were standing in opposition to Paul and his apostleship. When we think of Christ we dont always reflect on the stunning power that comes from the perfect unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but it is picture of unity Christ desires for his church. He Commands and Convicts Regarding Idleness (3:1-16), V. His Concluding Benediction and Greeting (3:16-18). While we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3), we are nevertheless faced with a formidable enemy for which we need the armor of God. There is an absence of controversy in this epistle, and it does not deal with problems of particular churches. 1013), A. Pauls Defense of His Apostolic Authority and the Area of His Mission (ch. Convinced now that Jesus was a righteous man and that his death on the cross was not the just punishment of a criminal but rather that of a martyr who died for a noble cause, Paul was ready to give himself to that same cause, which was more alive than it had been before Jesus' crucifixion and which pointed the way to a salvation that could not be achieved by obedience to a set of laws that were contrary to human desires. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. However, as noted above, Pauls letters were unusually long, and he adapted the standard letter format to meet each occasion. The simple concluding formula of a Greek or Roman letter is considerably developed in New Testament letters. Also this epistle is written after Pauls usual manner or pattern with greetings and thanksgiving, a doctrinal section followed by the practical application of that doctrine with concluding personal remarks. 1:7; Col. 4:10; Philemon 9). Pauls epistles may be divided into four groups: 1 and 2 Thes. As the letter states, Paul is the author (see 1:1). II. Everton fan board issues no confidence verdict in Bill Kenwright Unger writes, No trace of doubt as to the authority, integrity, or apostolic genuineness of the epistle comes from ancient times.49. Pauline Hanson claims list of Indigenous 'demands' found via FOI 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.. [25] Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 92. As a result, care was given to the way the letter was written, both in its language and its structure, so that it could best be understood, remembered, and repeated to others. As was his custom, Paul first preached in the synagogue but was eventually forced out by Jewish opposition. This is expressed in a number of ways like, being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose (2:2); standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together (1:27), and be in harmony (4:2). Any date assigned will have to be approximate, though probably A.D. 51-52. The Pauline Letter Structure and the Letter to the Romans 3:1; 4:1; 6:20; Phil. In the upcoming Letter from the Producer LIVE, well be covering information on whats to come in Patch 6.4! 10-17). Accordingly our passage is included in the request section as part of the paraenesis, which starts Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 4 3:1; 4:1; 6:20). Instead, it is to be dated during Pauls first imprisonment in Rome, where he spent at least two years under house arrest (see Ac 28:16-31).58. 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. That Colossians is a genuine letter of Paul is not usually disputed. As with many of Pauls epistles, picking a key chapter is difficult, but perhaps chapter 6 stands out because of its very important revelation regarding the nature of our warfare with Satan (6:10-18). The date when Paul penned this letter depends on the destination of the letter. Marked social and economic differences existed among them (7:20-24; 11:21-34); some of them had even been steeped in pagan vices (6:9-11). Removing #book# For more discussion see Wallace, Exegetical Syntax, 270-78, esp. A more utilitarian approach to remembering the most vivid parts of your life. 2:1). So the apostle wrote to deal with the condition of idleness or disorderliness which had increased (3:5-15). Tit. No! 15:19). School attendance is a major issue. Whereas Ephesians sets forth the glorious mystery, the church which is Christs body, Christ as the head of the Church (1:22-23), and believers as co-members of one another who are equally blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3; 2:11-22), Philippians guards the practice of Ephesians. 8-9), the writing of Romans must follow that of 1 and 2 Corinthians which is dated about A.D. 55. Further, there is no evidence for so partitioning 2 Corinthians.45. Condemnation: The Need of Righteousness Because of Sin in All (1:183:20), A. School attendance is a major issue. In the earliest Greek literature it was linked with wealth (Homer Iliad 2. Internally the letter reveals the stamp of genuineness. Consequently, these letters have been labelled the Johannine epistles, despite the fact that none of the epistles mentions any author. Letters 55 Ryrie, p. 1875. At least five clear purposes can be seen in 1 Timothy. 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. 14 The Deutero-Pauline Letters in Contemporary Research Notes. 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. In this letter Paul had two major purposes in mind. 16 as part of an epistle sent to Ephesus. that included southern districts and those cities just mentioned. 2:12-13; 7:5-6; 8:6). Although the differences in the types of writing found in the gospels, the book of Acts, the book of Revelation, and the various epistles or letters in the New Testament are fairly obvious, distinctions in genre also exist among the various letters themselves. Accordingly, Paul explained in his first letter that the dead in Christ shall rise first to be followed by those who were alive at His coming who would be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:1617). Naturally, many questions would arise as to the meaning and application of the gospel for Christians. Pauls epistles are part of Gods inspired word. bookmarked pages associated with this title. )[16] This concept of an encyclical, or circular letter, is further developed in 1 Peter and in the other general epistles. Some scholars, in fact, have tried to reserve the term epistle for letters of this type, comparing them to the literary letters of classical authors such as Cicero and Pliny, who, even when they were writing real letters to specific individuals, expected their letters to be more widely published and so often wrote with a broader audience in mind. Second, Timothy and Titus undoubtedly possessed the gifts needed for pastoral ministry and while there was an element of pastoral care in what they did, they were not elders or pastors who are given by the Lord to various churches for more long-term ministries (1 Pet. . To understand the contents of these letters, it is necessary to know something about the man who wrote them, as well as about the particular circumstances under which they were written. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. The Practical Portion of the Epistle; The Walk and Conduct of the Church (4:1-6:24), B. Finally, (5) he wrote to warn against the evils of materialism (chap. [3] Instead, the letters were written to congregations or individuals in response to specific circumstances or problems and therefore emphasize or apply specific aspects of gospel principles in response to the original situation. This letter is addressed to a congregation at Colossae in the Lycus Valley in Asia Minor, east of Ephesus. The Previous Walk of the Old Life (4:17-19), 2. Then, either from Macedonia or Nicopolis, Paul wrote the epistle to Titus to encourage and instruct him. But certainly two sections of the book do stand out. 253-60. In 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul was free and able to travel, but here he is a prisoner in a cold dungeon and facing death. With perfect calm and an inner peace of mind, Stephen knelt down and prayed that those who were casting the stones might be forgiven. 1:7, 13; Col. 4:10, 18; Philemon 1, 9, 10). The internal evidence is obvious. The beneficiaries of thorough gospel instruction, upon Pauls departure the Corinthian Saints developed internal divisions arising from factionalism, pride over special knowledge and gifts, and moral misbehavior arising from doctrinal speculation. The only question concerning the authorship revolves around chapter 16. Paul lists the keys to an enduring successful ministry: A reproducing ministry (1-2); an enduring ministry (3-13); a studying ministry (14-18); and a holy ministry (19-26).68. The 3-Minute Cheat Sheet for Understanding Pauls Letters 2:3). Practical: The Practice of the Believer in Christ (3:5-4:6), 2. 2:2, 10; 3:16; 4:7, 8; 6:3, 5, 6, 11 with 3:15 and 4:12). I. [36] A short example from what is perhaps Pauls earliest extant letter illustrates the thanksgiving section of one of his letters: We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God (1 Thessalonians 1:24). Again, as is so consistent with the teaching of Paul, we see how good works or the conduct of the Christian is so connected with the person and work of Christ, past, present, and future. The theme is the fruitful and effective power of the gospel message which heralds the supremacy, headship, and the utter sufficiency of Christ to the church which is His body. Because Ephesians gives no hint of Pauls release from prison, as in Philippians (1:19-26) and Philemon (v. 22), many believe that Ephesians was written in the early part of his imprisonment about A.D. 60, while Paul was kept under house guard in his rented quarters (Acts 28:30). Apart from the salutation and benediction, the book easily divides up into five sections: II. Contained therein are the principles for giving (8:1-6), the purposes for giving (8:7-15), the policies to be followed in giving (8:16-9:5), and the promises to be realized in giving (9:6-15).47. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Ryrie writes: The mention by name of 26 people in a church Paul had never visited (and particularly Priscilla and Aquila, who were most recently associated with Ephesus, Acts 18:18-19) has caused some scholars to consider chap. Click the card to flip . During the first, Paul was kept in or near the barracks of the Praetorian Guard or in rental quarters at his own expense for two years (Acts 28:30), during which these epistles were written. Not finding Titus there, he pushed on to Macedonia, undoubtedly with concern about Titus safety (7:5-6). The stoning of Stephen was one of these incidents. Yet as Greeks they prided themselves on their intellectualism, although in their case it had degenerated into a crude and shallow type (1:17; 2:1-5) 43. ( A.D. 64, 65) . [34] For example, Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:1). Provo, UT 84602 In essence, then, their case was lost by default, and Paul was freed. Exhortation Regarding the Philosophy of the False Teachers (2:8), B.