New Testament. Early Church Prison Epistles. Prison Epistles 1. Grouping. Prison Epistles. Pastorals. General 1. Gospel Tradition.

Transcription

1 New Testament Gospel Tradition Pauline Mission Early Church Literary Issues Acts Jesus Tradition Literary Issues Pastorals Mark/Matthew Early Epistles General 1 Luke-Acts Corinthians General 2 John Romans Revelation Early Church Pastorals General 1 General 2 Revelation 1. Grouping A. Common context (captivity) 1. Phile. 1, 9 10, 13, Col. 4:3, 10, Eph. 3:1; 4:1; 6:20 4. Phil. 1:7, B. Common similarities: subject, companions C. Common timing: Tychicus seems to bear Phile., Col., Eph. at the same time (Col. 4:7, 9; Eph. 6:21) Early Church

2 Prison Epistles Letter From Date Acts JC Galatians?? 2MJ 1 Thess 2 Thess Corinth 50 3MJ Previous Letter 1 Corinthians Harsh Letter 2 Corinthians Romans Macedonia Corinth Early Church 2. Links A. Personal references (Phile., Col.) B. Literary content (doctrine of church) 1. Christ as head of the church 2. the church as the body of Christ 3. Sequence A. Phile., Col., Eph. together B. relatively later 1. Long imprisonment, abandonment by friends 2. Sense of nearness of release (Phil. 1:25) Early Church 4. Date: depends on which imprisonment A. Caesarea unlikely, only conjectured B. most likely, hence A.D Early Church Pauline Mission Early Epistles

3 1. Authorship: Paul 2. Date: with (Col. 4:1) 3. Destination: A. Owner of slave Onesimus B. Patron of house church in Colossae 4. Occasion/Purpose A. Traditional: Onesimus, the runaway slave B. Proposal: Paul the relationship reconciler C. Paul seeks Onesimus s reconciliation and freedom Early Church : Traditional Occasion: Onesimus robs his master, runs away, encounters Paul, becomes a believer. His owner,, hosts a house church in Colossae. Paul, legally obligated to return the slave, desires a freedom he cannot demand. He composes a skillful letter that announces a planned visit, implies s Christian obligation to free Onesimus, and sends the letter either by Tychicus as retainer of Onesimus or by the slave Onesimus himself. Early Church : Recent Proposal: The slave Onesimus had some falling out with his owner for reasons unknown and went to Paul to ask Paul to mediate a reconciliation as a known friend of. The encounter with Paul, however, had two consequences: not only was Onesimus converted, which reframed his relationship with, but he proved useful as a missionary associate, which reframed his potential relationship to Paul. Early Church : Example (Oxyrhy. Pap ): I appoint you by this instruction as my representative to journey to the most illustrious Alexandria and search for my slave called... aged about 35 years, with whom you too are acquainted... and when you find him you are to deliver him up, having the same powers as I should myself, if present, to imprison him, chastise him, and to make an accusation before the proper authorities against those who harbored him, and demand satisfaction. Early Church :

4 5. Theme: for, (om slavery to brotherhood; for Paul, (om useless to useful (Onesimus s name) 6. Outline A. Introduction (1 3) B. Thanksgiving (4 7) C. Request (8 20) D. Conclusion (21 25) Early Church : 7. Critical Problems A. Relationship to 1. Salutations: Timothy in both 2. Greetings: share names (Aristarchus, Mark, Epaphras, Luke, Demas) 3. Archippus s changing status addressed in the greeting of to be admonished in (4:17) 4. Letter bearer: perhaps Tychicus for both Early Church : 7. Critical Problems B. Slavery in the ancient world 1. General background process: military conquest, inheritance, voluntary indenture (debt, etc.) types domestic: economy of households agricultural: landed Italian estates industrial: commerce, export civil: civil service, construction, military Early Church : 7. Critical Problems B. Slavery in the ancient world 2. Pauline approval or Pauline pragmatics? Early Church :

5 Pauline Mission Early Epistles 3MJ: Asia Satellite churches are established by Pauline associates, such as Ephaprus forming the church at Colossae. Antioch Iconium Lystra Cilician Gates Derbe Antioch CYPRUS 1. Authorship: questioned, but Paul viable A. Against Paul as author 1. vocabulary, style as unpauline 2. doctrine as unpauline Christology of 1:15 20 Christ as firstborn, beginning absence of Holy Spirit dynamic 3. hierarchy given Paul is later church 4. greetings simply copy 5. heresy seems too developed Early Church : 1. Authorship: questioned, but Paul viable B. For Paul as author 1. vocabulary: variations within acceptable range 2. style: inconclusive (both presence and absence of Pauline features) 3. doctrine: different, but not unpauline; development of thought over the years? 4. authority: Paul has no problem claiming 5. similar greetings: infers no more than close relationship; explained by story Early Church :

6 Pauline Vocabulary Variation Gal. Phil. Col. Eph. total words unique words percent unique Early Church : 2. Destination: Colossae A. Product of Ephesian ministry (3MJ) 1. satellite congregations apparently established 2. Epaphras (Acts 19:10; Col. 1:7; 4:12 13) B. Paul never visited 1. similar to writing to the Romans 2. associate work, however, provides connection Early Church : 3. Occasion/Purpose A. Epaphras arrives with news from Colossae B. Three problems to solve 1. rivalry between Epaphras and Archippus 2. rise of heretical teachings 3. return of an estranged slave 4. Theme: the a)-powerful, a)-sufficient Christ Early Church : 5. Outline A. Introduction (1:1 14) B. Body: Christ the all-powerful, all-sufficient 1. Object of believer s faith (1:15 2:23) 2. Object of believer s life (3:1 4:76) C. Conclusion (4:7 18) Early Church :

7 6. Critical Problems A. Authorship B. Origin:, Caesarea, Roman imprisonment? C. Nature of heresy: syncretistic 1. christological aberrations: demoting Christ 2. Jewish elements: asceticism, angel worship, exclusivism, legalism, diets, feasts/fasts, circumcision, Sabbath 3. Hellenistic elements: philosophical, fullness emphasis, knowledge emphasis, dualistic Early Church : 6. Critical Problems D. Identifying letter from Laodicea 1. Known from Col. 4:16 2. Speculations:?? Lost? E. Source of hymn in 1:15 23 (Paul or tradition?) F. Literary relationship: wording, content, G. Household codes: culture or compromise? H. Slavery issue: approval or pragmatics? Early Church : Pauline Mission Early Epistles 3MJ: Asia Antioch Iconium Lystra Cilician Gates Derbe Antioch CYPRUS

8 1. Authorship: questioned, but Paul viable A. Against Paul as author 1. style: quite different long, cumbersome sentences parallels seem redundant or overused 2. theology: in the heavenlies, devil not Satan, mystery for God s plan = unusual or unique 3. content: reflects more of early catholicism 4. literary dependence: large percentage of shared words with (33% of Col. in Eph.) Early Church : 1. Authorship: questioned, but Paul viable B. For Paul as author 1. style: serious problem, but perhaps due to liturgical content, use of secretary, versatility 2. theology: not unpauline, perhaps different spin for different needs 3. early catholicism: has to be read back into the material 4. literary dependence: heavy use of is a serious problem Early Church : 2. Destination A. Manuscript evidence divided 1. For some manuscript evidence external tradition: early and strong 2. Against in missing in earliest MSS internal evidence: impersonal tone, absence of reference to any specific situation, absence of Jew/Gentile controversy Early Church : 2. Destination B. Solutions assuming Paul as author 1. Laodicean hypothesis originally the letter sent to Laodicea proposed by Marcion 2. Circular hypothesis circular to Asian churches (cf. Galatians) later kept in largest church library = later scribes made specific to that church Early Church :

9 3. Occasion/Purpose A. Occasion: shrouded in ambiguity B. Purpose: summary reflections on the meaning of the church universal for Gentiles of Asia 4. Theme: God s eternal and cosmic purpose that in Christ a broken, (agmented humanity be unified in the church, the body of Christ Early Church : 5. Outline A. Introduction (1:1 2) B. God s Purpose in the Church (1:3 3:21) C. Implications for Believers (4:1 6:20) D. Conclusion (6:21 24) 6. Critical Problems A. Authorship B. Destination C. Origin Early Church : 6. Critical Problems D. Literary relationship to 1. 33% of in 2. If Paul, why necessary if exists? 3. If not Paul, what point not already clear? E. Doctrinal distinctives (M. Barth) 1. doxology as theology)) 5. charismata oral only 2. Jew/Gentile mystery ) 6. no dying with Christ 3. broken wall image) ) 7. marriage perspective 4. status of Israel Early Church : Pauline Mission Early Epistles

10 Acts Letter From Date JC Galatians?? 2MJ 1 Thess 2 Thess Corinth 50 3MJ Previous Letter 1 Corinthians Harsh Letter 2 Corinthians Romans Macedonia Corinth Authorship: Paul 2. Date/Origin A. Usually taken as last of 1. elapse of time, abandonment by friends 2. some expectation of release B. Traditionally, Roman imprisonment 1. mention of praetorian guard (1:13) 2. mention of Caesar s household [service] (4:22) Early Church : 3. Destination A. Philippi: Greek population, but Roman history B.C.: founded by Philip of Macedon to control gold mines (father of Alexander) B.C.: Battle of Philippi Cassius/Brutus lost after Caesar s murder Philippi made Roman colony for veterans B.C.: Battle of Actium Octavian defeats Antony more war veterans settle in Philippi Early Church :

11 3. Destination earliest patron of a house church was Lydia (Acts 16:14 15) B. Church at Philippi 1. Established on 2MJ (mostly women, Acts 16:13) 2. Supported Paul in money, personnel (4:16, 18) 4. Occasion A. Epaphroditus s biography B. Pauline Itinerary 1. Timothy s anticipated visit 2. Paul s expected release and anticipated visit Early Church : 3. Destination A. Philippi (established 2MJ) B. Always generous to Paul: both in money and in personnel (4:16, 18) 4. Occasion A. Epaphroditus s biography B. Pauline Itinerary 1. Timothy s anticipated visit 2. Paul s expected release and anticipated visit Early Church : 5. Purpose A. Express commendation, thanksgiving B. Report on Paul s gospel mission C. Address church problems 1. duress under persecution 2. disunity among members 3. disruptive rival missionaries 6. Theme: Joy in Christ Early Church : 7. Outline A. Introduction (1:1 11) B. Suffering as Paradigm (1:12 26) C. Unity through Humility (1:27 2:18) D. Preparing for a Visit (2:19 3:1) E. Warnings for a Minority (3:2 4:1) F. Appeal to Unity and Peace (4:2 19) G. Conclusion (4:20 23) Early Church :

12 8. Critical Problems A. Origin B. Unity 1. Abrupt transition at 3:2 = separate letter? 2. Nature of 2:5 11 (hymn? Pauline? early tradition?) C. Identification of opponents 1. Circumcision emphasis 2. Same as Galatian Judaizers? Probably not. Early Church : 8. Critical Problems D. Structure 1. Genre analysis: emphasis on thanksgiving section (prayer-report) as revealing themes 2. Rhetorical analysis: deliberative speech, with outline following typical rhetorical units Early Church :