WAMT: New Testament Survey. Paul and His Letters

Transcription

1 WAMT: New Testament Survey Paul and His Letters

2 Paul s Epistles (Letters) Letters to Churches Romans 1 & 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 & 2 Thessalonians Pastoral Epistles (letters to people) 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon

3 Paul s Letters Rome Thessalonica Philippi Galatia Corinth Crete (where Titus is) Ephesus Colossae

4 Paul s Epistles (Letters) Things to keep in mind about the New Testament epistles They are occasional: written to a specific people in a specific situation. We have only some of the letters that were written, not everything. Paul wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians the ones in our Bible are #2 and #4 (Paul refers to previous/intermediate letters in 1 and 2 Corinthians). The authors were working within a specific historical and cultural framework. We cannot separate the words of a letter from its particular context! Not everything that is said is meant to apply for all time. We have to ask what is universally applicable and what is historical particularity. The authors were primarily concerned with the health and growth of the Church.

5 Paul s Epistles (Letters) Authors are making sustained arguments through the course of their letters; we can t just take statements out of context. The authors are probably not aware that they are writing scripture. The NT letters represent a variety of voices all working on the project of figuring out what does Jesus mean?

6 Paul s Epistles (Letters) Questions to ask: What was the situation that the author was trying to address? What was the author s original intent or message regarding that situation? Was this written as a universal declaration or a specific, situational truth? How does what the author says here compare to what he says elsewhere? Compared to what other NT authors say? Compared to the rest of the Bible? How does this passage/statement and the conclusions that I am drawing from it fit in with the story of God redeeming creation?

7 Test Case: Philemon Read through Philemon in groups and try to answer these questions: What was the situation that the author was trying to address? What was the author s original intent or message regarding that situation? Was this written as a universal declaration or a specific, situational truth? How does what the author says here compare to what he says elsewhere? Compared to what other NT authors say? Compared to the rest of the Bible? How does this passage/statement and the conclusions that I am drawing from it fit in with the story of God redeeming creation?

8 Test Case: Philemon The Bible's defense of slavery is very plain. St. Paul was inspired, and knew the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, and was only intent on obeying it. And who are we, that in our modern wisdom presume to set aside the Word of God...and invent for ourselves a higher law than those holy Scriptures?... While Jesus rebukes the sins of all around him, and speaks with divine authority...he lived in the midst of slavery and uttered not word against it...paul sent back a fugitive slave [Onesimus], after the slave's hopeful conversion, to his Christian master [Philemon] again, and assigns as his reason for doing that master's right to the services of his slave. -- John Hopkins (1864), an Episcopal pastor It is impossible to suppose that slavery is contrary to the will of God...We accept the Bible terms as the definition of our slavery and its precepts as the guide of our conduct. --Governor Hammond of South Carolina (1864)

9 Paul s Theology He [Christ] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him. Colossians 1:18-22

10 Paul s Theology: Jesus Christ Paul s focuses on salvation in Christ: the cross, resurrection, and reign of Christ. Paul believes in Christ s preexistence: Jesus was with the father, before creation. Paul believes that salvation is not just about an individual, but has cosmic and community implications: God is redeeming all of creation. Paul believes Christ is the end goal (telos) of all human life and all of creation: it all is for and about him. Paul believes Christ is both a real human being and divine.

11 Paul s Theology Jews and Gentiles: grace is the only thing that matters when it comes to being part of the People of God, everyone is invited in! Justification through faith: the only thing that reconciles us to God is faith in Jesus Christ...not just believing in Jesus but having faith that God is carrying his redemptive work to completion, living faithfully into God s reconciliation that comes through Jesus. Doesn t mean that we can do whatever we want! (see Romans 6) Works of the Law: refers to the signs of being a Jew, the boundary markers ; he says they don t matter!!! Sanctification: but how we live matters! Because we have the spirit of God, we should live in a way that testifies to that.

12 Paul s Theology Kingdom of God and Eschatology ( end things ): Paul is not writing about how to get to Heaven, but about what it means to be the People of God. He says the Kingdom is already here, but not yet here. The Church: very concerned with seeing the Church grow, because the Church is the manifestation of the People of God on earth.

13 The New Perspective on Paul Reformation (i.e. Luther) viewed Judaism as a legalistic, works-righteousness based religion, based particularly on Paul s talk of Law. This has been the dominant view for the past 500 years. The New Perspective sought to understand Second Temple Judaism on its own terms (not Reformation debates) and understand Paul as a Jew (not a Christian ). Recovers idea of Judaism as covenantal nomism, where one keeps the law out of response to the fact that they are in covenant relationship with God (not to earn your way in ). Much more focused on Jew-Gentile debates in the early church than Christian grace vs. Jewish legalism. Works of the Law is particularly referring to the three Jewish signs.

14 Reading Biblical Trajectories Where is scripture leading to, even if it doesn t specifically get all the way there? Where are there tensions to be wrestled with? What are the values that are promoted by scripture and how are we living them out today?

15 Living in Biblical Tension The Bible can at times offer statements that appear to be contradictory: the place of grace vs. works predestination vs. free will God s sovereignty vs. reality of evil, etc. These dilemmas do not always need to be resolved! The reason these are theological debates (still) is that a biblical case can be made for either side! The Bible is not a blueprint for life; it is the story of God working in creation: The Bible is meant to be a conversation-starter, not a conversation-ender. Don t try to reduce the tensions down to an artificial harmony

16 Romans Outline 1:1-17: Introduction 1:18-3:20: The Problem: Sinfulness 3:21-5:21: The Remedy: Justification 6:1-8:39: The Outcome: Sanctification 9:1-11:36: A Problem: Israel s Unbelief 12:1-15:3: Our Response: Precepts for Christian Life 15:14-16:27: Conclusion/Greetings