New%20Testament%20Letters

1
New Testament Letters
2
Greco-Roman Background

• Typical Greco-Roman Letter
• Address
• Greeting
• Body
• Conclusion

3
Greco-Roman Background

• Typical Greco-Roman Letter
• Not all NT letters have addressees and greetings
• NT letters typically also include a doxology or
  benediction
• NT letters resemble their Greco-Roman counter
  parts only in a general manner

4
The Use of Amanuenses

• Amanuenses were trained scribes that help dictate
  ancient letters
• Rom 1622 specifically states that Paul used an
  amanuensis
• The final greetings in 2 Thessalonians and
  Galatians indicates amanuenses for these letters
  as well
• Amanuenses would have been given a certain amount
  of freedom in writing based on their skill and
  relationship to the stated author

5
Collection of Pauls Letters

• Sudden collection
• Perhaps Marcion was the first to collect Pauls
  letters
• Collected near the end of the first century after
  the publication of Acts (Goodspeed)
• Evidence suggests this is not the casesee Col
  416 and 2 Peter 316

6
Collection of Pauls Letters

• Gradual growth
• Collection completed by the end of the first
  century (Zahn)
• Assumes a simple process of collecting and
  copying
• Leaves little room for extensive rearrangement of
  Pauline material

7
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Definitions
• Pseudonymity author is falsely named
• Pseudepigraphy work is falsely ascribed to a
  particular author
• Neither of these are anything like the anonymity
  we find with the Gospels

8
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• NT Letters charged with being pseudonymous
• Ephesians
• Pastoral Epistles
• Colossians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 12 Peter

9
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• All literary forgeries are pseudonymous, but not
  all pseudepigrapha are literary forgeries
• Some works simply come to be attributed to
  certain authors without their knowledge or
  consent (e.g. Pelagius commentaries that were
  attributed to Jerome)

10
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• The motives of Pseudepigraphers
• A desire to get published and widely read
• Genre incentive students taught to compose
  speeches based on models left by ancient orators
• Ascribing to a philosophical-religious-mythical
  figure (like an Oracle)

11
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Jewish examples of pseudepigraphy
• Psalms of Solomon, 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, 3 Enoch, 4
  Ezra, Treatise of Shem, Apocalypse of Zephaniah,
  Apocalypse of Abraham, Apocalypse of Adam, etc.
• Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Testament of
  Job, Testament of Moses, etc.
• Wisdom of Solomon, Sibylline Oracles, Prayer of
  Manasseh, Odes of Solomon, Letter of Aristeas,
  Epistle of Jeremy
• Very rare for letters to be pseudepigraphical

12
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Christian examples of pseudepigraphy
• Apocalypse of Peter, Apocalypse of Paul, Gospel
  of Peter, Gospel of Paul, etc.
• Letters 3 Corinthians, Epistles to the
  Alexandrians, Epistle to the Laodiceans,
  correspondence between Paul and Seneca

13
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Stance of the Church Fathers on Pseudepigraphy
• There are few examples in which a document was
  known to be pseudepigrapha and was still accepted
  as religiously or philosophically binding
  (possibly 2 Peter, Pastorals)
• Tertullian tells of an Asian elder that was
  deposed from ministry after admitting to writing
  the Acts of Paul, even though it was out of
  great love for Paul and largely orthodox

14
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Evidence internal to the New Testament
• There are no indications that the NT church
  accepted pseudepigraphical works as authoritative
• Most of the internal evidence marshaled for
  pseudepigraphy can be used to argue against it
• E.g. hapax legemena in Ephesians several
  examples, but no more than in other Pauline books
  (said once)

15
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Evidence internal to the New Testament
• 2 Thessalonians 212, 317 indicate that there
  was already an awareness of the threat of
  forgeries
• It is clear that Paul and perhaps others used
  amanuenses
• Early Christians did not seem to have a great
  urge to attach apostolic names to highly valued
  writings

16
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Contemporary Theories
• Unambiguously forgeries some argue this for 2
  Peter
• If the Ephesians is pseudepigraphic, then
  references to Pauls ministry, chains, references
  to his friends, and exhortations to pray for him
  and to put off falsehood would make the letter
  morally reprehensible

17
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• Contemporary Theories
• Holy Spirit inspired it, so what does it matter?
• Something happened like the posthumous
  publication and editing of a work by another
  person
• School theory the apostle had a group of
  followers that felt free to write in the apostles
  name

18
Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy

• All theories that assert pseudepigraphy without
  any notion of deception fail due to the attitude
  of the early church and the internal evidence of
  the letters. The letters are either authentic or
  morally reprehensible deceptions.
• except 2 Peter, Jude, and especially the
  Pastorals, which reflect a 2nd century attitude
• A problem with this type of thinking is that it
  doesnt consider the early churchs doubts.

19
Paul Apostle and Theologian
20
Pauls Background

• Born in Tarsus of Cilicia
• Tarsus is a major city in Cilicia
• Cilicia is in the extreme southeast of Asia Minor
• Roman citizen by birth
• A tent maker by trade

21
Pauls Background

• Brought up in this city
• Paul likely spent a great deal of his childhood
  in Jerusalem
• Paul and his family were likely linguistically
  and culturally Jewish and Palestinian
• One should not make too strong a distinction
  between Jewish and Hellenistic when trying to
  understand Paul

22
Pauls Background

• Thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors
• Paul was trained as a Pharisee
• Received rabbinical training under Gamaliel I
• Persecuted the early Christian movement out of
  his zeal for the Law

23
Pauls Background

• As I came near Damascus
• Encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus was
  no mere psychological experience
• There was no hint up to this point that Paul was
  at all dissatisfied with Judaism
• It is appropriate to call this experience Pauls
  conversion

24
Pauls Missionary Career

• The Problem of Sources
• Differences between letters of Paul and Acts
• The apostolic council
• The number of visits to Jerusalem
• There is, by and large, a great deal of
  correspondence between Acts and the Pauline
  letters

25
Pauls Missionary Career

• Outline conversion to First Missionary Journey
• First visited Jerusalem three years after
  conversion (Gal 118) to get acquainted with
  Peter
• Visited again after fourteen years to set before
  the Jerusalem apostles the gospel he was
  preaching to the Gentiles (Gal 21)
• Probably refers to Acts 112730
• Three years and fourteen years both likely refer
  to time since his conversion

26
Pauls Missionary Career

• Outline conversion to First Missionary Journey
• After his conversion, Paul retreated into Arabia
• Refers to the kingdom of the Nabataeans, not the
  Arabian Peninsula
• Not simply a retreat, but likely engaged in
  active ministry during this time

27
Pauls Missionary Career

• Outline conversion to First Missionary Journey
• Spent 15 days getting to know Peter and other
  apostles
• Had to leave Jerusalem because Hellenistic Jews
  sought to kill him
• Fled to Tarsus
• Was invited to leave Tarsus and join the work at
  Antioch by Barnabas

28
Pauls Missionary Career

• Outline First Missionary Journey to Pauls death
• We are mostly dependent on Acts for this
  information, but chronology is ambiguous
• With Barnabas, Paul travelled to Cyprus, Pisidian
  Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe
• Took between 1 and 5 years

29
Pauls Missionary Career

• Outline First Missionary Journey to Pauls death
• Spent a long time in Antioch before travelling to
  Jerusalem for the apostolic council
• With Barnabas, Paul travelled through southern
  Galatia, Asia Minor, Philippi, Thessalonica,
  Berea, Acaia (including Athens and Corinth)
• Spent eighteen months in Corinth, so total time
  on journey was likely 2 years

30
Pauls Missionary Career

• Outline First Missionary Journey to Pauls death
• Returned to Jerusalem again, and then went back
  to Antioch
• Travelled from place to place throughout Galatia
  and Phrygia, then went to Ephesus (3 years),
  Macedonia, then back through Caesarea to
  Jerusalem
• Probably took 4 to 5 years

31
Pauls Missionary Career

• Outline First Missionary Journey to Pauls death
• Arrested in Jerusalem, sent to Caesarea, and
  eventually to Rome
• There are good reasons to think he did not die
  during the two years in Rome
• Church tradition has him dying during Neros
  persecution several years later
• Pastoral epistles (?) indicate further ministry

32
Pauls Authority

• Outline First Missionary Journey to Pauls death
• Authority as an apostle comes directly from
  Jesus post-resurrection appearance on the
  Damascus road
• Equal in authority to Peter, James, and John

33
Sources of Pauls Teaching

• Revelation vs. Tradition
• Makes clear in Galatians that his gospel came
  directly from the Lord
• Makes clear in 1 Corinthians 15 that the elements
  of Jesus life, death, and burial were handed
  down to him from other apostles
• The essence of gospel was revealed on the
  Damascus road
• The specifics of the gospel (historical details)
  were handed on to him by others

34
Sources of Pauls Teaching

• Early Christian Traditions
• Paul makes use of creedal formulations, hymns,
  and traditional catechetical material
• Phil 2611
• One must be careful not to overemphasize our
  ability to identify such formulations, and we
  should be wary of using speculative data as to
  the origin of such formulations to draw
  exegetical and theological conclusions

35
Sources of Pauls Teaching

• Earthly Jesus
• Paul likely made use of Jesus teaching
• 1 Thess 45
• 2 Thess 2
• Romans 12

36
Sources of Pauls Teaching

• The Old Testament
• Paul used many quotations and allusions to the OT
  throughout his letters
• Reads the OT through the lens of Jesus
  fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets

37
Sources of Pauls Teaching

• The Greek World
• References Greek philosophy and religion
• The Greek world sometimes acts as the clothing,
  but rarely the substance of Pauls teaching

38
Sources of Pauls Teaching

• Judaism
• Pauls thought world was decisively formed by his
  Jewish upbringing
• Paul claims that he was Hebrew of the Hebrews
• Use of OT
• Much of his teaching is in direct conversation
  with his Jewish upbringing

39
Paul and Judaism

• The New Perspective
• Protestants have often emphasized the legalism of
  Judaism, by which one received salvation by their
  own meritorious obedience to the Law
• Against this, Paul proclaimed that justification
  could only be attained by grace through faith
• This (over-simplified) view became embedded in
  nearly all NT scholarship

40
Paul and Judaism

• The New Perspective
• In 1977 E. P. Sanders published Paul and
  Palestinian Judaism
• Argued that the understanding of Judaism as a
  legalistic religion is wrong
• Argues that Jewish sources nearly unanimously
  portray a view he called covenantal nomism

41
Paul and Judaism

• The New Perspective
• Covenantal Nomism
• Gods gracious election of Israel placed them in
  a saving relationship their obedience to the
  Torah was a way of maintaining the relationship
• Obedience is not a way of getting in, but a way
  of staying in.

42
Paul and Judaism

• The New Perspective
• E. P. Sanders on Paul
• Paul objected to Judaisms exclusivist
  soteriology
• Paul had no problem with the Law per se it just
  wasnt Christ

43
Paul and Judaism

• New Perspective adherents that disagree with
  Sanders treatment of Paul
• J. D. G. Dunn
• Paul was not converted to Christianity, but
  remained a Jew
• Pauls problem was the ethnic exclusivism by
  which Jews used the Law to keep Gentiles out
• Works of Law is not the same thing as works
  in general

44
Paul and Judaism

• Tendencies of the New Perspective
• Pauls theology is read against the background of
  the story of salvation history
• Reformation contrast between faith and works is
  reduced
• Pauls teaching on justification is shifted from
  a vertical focus to a horizontal one

45
Paul and Judaism

• Response to the New Perspective
• The claim that covenantal nomism was the only
  soteriological paradigm is false
• Sanders ignored apocalyptic literature
• Sanders bypasses legalistic texts by reference to
  the larger structure of covenantal nomism or
  simply referring to their homiletical nature.

46
Paul and Judaism

• Response to the New Perspective
• Inadequately takes the NT into account as first
  century witnesses to Jewish thought
• First century Judaism placed great emphasis on
  obedience to the Law, and thus was likely to
  produce some adherents that saw their obedience
  as meritorious

47
Paul and Judaism

• Response to the New Perspective
• The notion of who was in the covenant was hotly
  debated in the first century amongst Jews
• First century Judaism was synergistic
• The quality of ones obedience separated Jew from
  Jew on the day of judgment
• Participation in the covenant community was very
  much a matter of personal decision

48
Paul and Judaism

• Faith vs. works of Law
• Dunn has not sufficiently demonstrated that Paul
  means works of Law every time he speaks of
  works
• It is better to understand works of Law (used 8
  times in Paul) as a subset of his use of works

49
Paul and Judaism

• Justification
• NP understanding is well-taken, but does not take
  sufficient account of Pauls move to universalize
  the human condition
• Paul certainly speaks of humans standing before
  God in general
• Paul places Jews and Gentiles on the outside
  looking in when it comes to salvation

50
Romans
51
Contents

• The gospel as the righteousness of God by faith
  (118425)
• The gospel as the power of God for salvation
  (51839)
• The gospel and Israel (911136)
• The gospel and the transformation of life
  (1211513)

52
Author

• The author was Paul
• Paul probably used Tertius as an amanuensis

53
Provenance and Date

• Probably near the end of his third missionary
  journey
• Corinth is the most likely place
• Probably written around A.D. 57

54
Addressees

• to all in Rome who are loved by God and called
  to be saints
• Jews had, by this time, returned to Rome after
  Claudius expulsion of the Jews in A.D. 49
• Paul greets fellow Jews, addresses himself to a
  Jew in chapter 2, discusses the Mosaic Law and
  the relation of believers to Abraham

55
Addressees

• to all in Rome who are loved by God and called
  to be saints
• The church was likely predominantly Gentile
• Paul includes Gentiles in his address, directly
  addresses Gentiles in 1113, and especially
  exhorts Gentiles to accept one another (157)

56
Nature and Genre

• A letter and more
• Seems to be intended to reach a wide audience
• Contains elements of
• Tractate letters
• Diatribe
• Epideictic, ambassadorial, or protreptic letter
• Memorandum

57
Purpose

• Paul does not specify his reason for writing, but
  it seems to include
• Gaining support for his upcoming missionary
  journey to Spain
• To set forth his mature views on Jews, Gentiles,
  the law, and circumcision
• To write a letter that embodies what he wants to
  say when he reaches Jerusalem
• To address known divisions in the church in Rome

58
Theme and Contribution

• Certain scholars have questioned the centrality
  of the doctrine of justification for Paul in
  Romans
• Albert Schweitzer
• E. P. Sanders

59
Theme and Contribution

• Many other proposals have been offered as to
  Romans main theme
• The role of Israel in salvation history
• God
• Hope
• Salvation
• Many others

60
Theme and Contribution

• There is likely that Romans does not have a
  single theme, but Pauls emphasis on the gospel
  throughout the letter is a good starting point.
• Prominent in the introduction and conclusion,
  where one would expect to encounter an
  overarching topic
• Provides a summary of the gospel in a
  tractate-like form

61
Theme and Contribution

• Romans seems less tied to specific first-century
  circumstances than other letters, but there are
  still important elements of the background worth
  repeating
• The nature of the continuity between the old and
  new covenants and the people of the old and new
  covenants.

62
1 and 2 Corinthians
63
Author

• Paul is identified as the author of both letters
  and few question this identification
• Some question whether or not parts of 2
  Corinthians are authenticparticularly 2 Cor
  61471

64
Destination

• Corinth
• Old city well-known for sexual promiscuity
• Destroyed by Romans in 146 B.C.
• Rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 29 B.C.
• Major trade center, Roman capital of Achaia, very
  wealthy

65
Occasion

• Paul and Corinth
• Paul first visited during his second missionary
  journey
• Paul left a well-established church in the Spring
  of A.D. 51
• He wrote 1 Corinthians during his stay in Ephesus
  between A.D. 52 and 55

66
Occasion

• Paul and Corinth
• Apollos and Peter ministered in Corinth after
  Paul left
• Corinthians began forming factions
• The church became marred by factions, lawsuits,
  immorality, abuses at the Lords table, eating
  food sacrificed to idols, an aberrant view of
  resurrection, and an infatuation with spectacular
  charismatic gifts

67
Occasion

• Paul and Corinth
• Paul wrote to Corinth
• Corinthians A the previous letter we do not
  have a copy of this letter
• Corinthians B 1 Corinthians
• Corinthians C lost written out of great
  distress and anguish of heart
• Corinthians D 2 Corinthians

68
Social Setting

• Corinth
• Substantially Gentile
• Primarily a Roman city
• Second Sophistic movement
• Roman Patronage system
• Great admiration for gifted rhetoricians

69
Social Setting

• Corinth
• Spiritually immature believers in the Corinthian
  church
• Factionalism and immature expectations are
  addressed in both letters
• The Corinthians held an over-realized eschatology
  that gave them an over-confidence in the
  blessings they already enjoy as believers

70
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• Strong shift in tone from positive to negative
  between 19 and 1013
• Could this be the severe and painful letter?
• This section is easier to account for if it was
  written before Titus brought a good report to
  Paul
• Certain arguments from 19 seem to presuppose
  comments in 1013

71
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• However
• No Greek manuscript would suggest that these two
  sections were ever separate
• Pauls comment the regions beyond you (1016)
  makes sense if Paul is in Macedonia
• There is no demand for an offender to be punished

72
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• However
• Chapters 1013 promise an immediate visit, while
  the painful letter was sent instead of a visit
• 1218 assumes that Titus had paid at least one
  previous visit to Corinth to assist in the
  collection for the Jerusalem church

73
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• The entire book was written at one time
• Coheres well with the textual evidence
• Perhaps Paul had a bad nights sleep between
  writing the two sections
• The difference in tone between the two sections
  is exaggerated

74
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• However
• The differences in tone are severe enough that
  some account must be given
• The psychological explanation (Paul was given to
  fits of rage) is inadequate

75
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• Chapters 1013 were written sometime after 19
• Paul immediately wrote 19 after hearing from
  Titus, but then received a second report shortly
  thereafter that was less than pleasingat which
  time he wrote a fifth letter
• Has the advantage of explaining the profound
  difference between the two

76
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• However
• Presupposes that the conclusion to the original
  letter was cut out and lost

77
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1013
• The two sections do correspond to two different
  reports that Paul received in close connection,
  but before completing the first section, Paul
  received the bad report

78
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 214714
• Pauls digression causes some to think that this
  is a later insertion
• Paul is given to digression in his letters

79
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 61471
• Passage constitutes a self-contained unit
• Contains 6 hapax legomena
• body and spirit in 71 is said to be un-Pauline
• Interrupts the flow between 613 and 72
• Betrays an un-Paulined exclusivism
• Apocalyptic dualism

80
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 61471
• It is not uncommon for Paul to use hapax legomena
  is sudden outbursts
• The section has parallels in Romans, 1
  Corinthians, and Galatians
• body and spirit is simply a reference to the
  whole person
• 72 sounds like a resumption rather than
  continuation of the argument of 613

81
Integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• Other proposed interpolations (which are not very
  convincing)
• 2 Corinthians 89
• 1 Corinthians 1433b35

82
Character of Pauls Opponents

• Pitfalls
• One should be careful not to assume that the
  situation of 2 Cor 1013, where the church
  appears to be taken over by leaders from the
  outside, is true in 1 Corinthians
• No evidence of Judaizers in Corinth
• No evidence that Gnosticism was the dominant
  problem

83
Character of Pauls Opponents

• Pauls opponents
• They are divided against one another and against
  Paul
• They are convinced that they are spiritual (in
  status) they treat baptism and the Lords supper
  as somewhat magical rites they are arrogant
  they do not deny the resurrection of Jesus, but
  believe that they themselves have already been
  raised they have an over-realized eschatology

84
Character of Pauls Opponents

• Pauls opponents
• By the time 2 Corinthians was completed, the
  church was invaded by outsidersHellenistic Jews
  who were concerned with power and prestige

85
Date

• 1 Corinthians
• Around A.D. 55
• 2 Corinthians
• Within about a year of 1 Corinthians

86
Contribution of 1 and 2 Corinthians

• Absolute necessity of the bodily resurrection of
  believers
• Illuminates Paul as a man, pastor, and Christian
• Addresses any notion of integrating generally
  orthodox confession with pagan values of
  self-promotion
• Contributes to the doctrine of the church

87
Galatians
88
Author

• Paul is identified as the author
• One of the undisputed letters of Paul

89
Destination

• South Galatian theory
• We only have information of people and places
  Paul visited in the south, but none in the north
• the region of Phrygia and Galatia (Acts 166)
  is best understood as a single territory
• Paul normally uses Roman imperial names for
  provinces

90
Destination

• South Galatian theory
• Galatians was the only word available that
  embraced all of the cities of the first
  missionary journey
• The Galatians contributed to his collection for
  the believers in Jerusalem
• The Northern part of the territory was not opened
  up for commerce like the southern part

91
Destination

• South Galatian theory
• It could be less likely that Pauls opponents
  would have made the difficult journey to the
  northern part of the region
• Gal 414 may be an allusion to Acts 1412
• The great lines of communication ran through the
  southern cities
• Barnabas is mentioned three times in the letter,
  but he only travelled with Paul to the southern
  cities

92
Destination

• North Galatian theory
• Galatia typically referred to the region
  occupied by Gauls in the north
• Luke referred to places according to their
  geographical locations (Acts 166)
• It would have been offensive for Phrygians to be
  called Galatians (this is doubtful)
• It is unlikely that Paul would have referred to
  the Lycaonians or Pisidians as foolish Galatians

93
Destination

• North Galatian theory
• The fickle and superstitious character of the
  Galatians is more fitting the Gallic peoples of
  the North (doubtful)
• The region of Phrygia and Galatia refers to two
  distinct regions in Acts 166
• Paul does not refer to Galatia when he speaks of
  going to Syria and Cilicia in Gal 121
• No hint of opposition in the southern cities

94
Destination

• Conclusion
• It is impossible to know for certain, but the
  south Galatian theory is more substantial that
  the north

95
Date

• Significant factors in favor of early date
• Paul recounts his visits to Jerusalem in Acts
  926 and 112830
• Does not mention the decree of the apostolic
  council
• Peters withdrawal from table fellowship is more
  likely to have happened before the council

96
Date

• Significant factors in favor of later date
• The north Galatian theory demands it
• Style and thoughts show affinity with 1 and 2
  Corinthians and Romans
• Galatians 2 could refer to the apostolic council
  of Acts 15
• The most likely visits to Galatia are recounted
  in Acts 166 and 1823

97
Date

• Significant factors in favor of later date
• Galatians fits the sequence between 2 Corinthians
  and Romans

98
Date

• Conclusion
• It seems best to hold that Pauls two visits to
  Jerusalem are those of Acts 9 and 11
• Thus, the letter was written slightly before the
  apostolic council, probably in A.D. 48

99
Occasion

• Opponents
• The Jews did not teach that Christians had to
  embrace the Torahonly Jewish-Christians did
• Undermined Pauls authority in comparison to
  other apostles
• Insisted upon circumcision
• They were persuading Christians to submit to the
  Torah instead of enjoying freedom in Christ

100
Occasion

• Opponents
• Paul speaks against libertinism
• Some regard this as a sign of a second group of
  opponents
• It is better to see this as a perversion of
  Pauls teaching Paul is pre-emptively arguing
  against a misunderstanding of his gospel

101
Occasion

• Opponents
• Appeared to have criticized Paul for teaching
  circumcision when it suited him
• The teaching of the opponents seriously
  compromised the gospel

102
Galatians in Recent Study

• New Perspective
• The Jews never thought of keeping the Law to gain
  salvation
• This does not take into account the Jewish
  teaching about rewards of righteousness and the
  seriousness of sin

103
Galatians in Recent Study

• New Perspective
• Paul was not concerned with justification per se,
  but with Christology Jews never expected the Law
  to save themthe problem was that they rejected
  Jesus
• This corrective cannot overlook that
  justification by faith in Christ is by nature
  opposed to any justification by works

104
Galatians in Recent Study

• New Perspective
• Sanders argues that Paul works from solution to
  plight starts with Christ and then works
  backward to his view of sin
• Thielman argues against this that Paul begins in
  Romans and Galatians with the plight and works
  toward the solution in Christ

105
Contribution of Galatians

• Makes clear that the cross is the only way to
  salvation
• Paul emphasizes Christian freedom, the heritage
  of everyone that is in Christ

106
Ephesians
107
Author

• Pauline authorship
• Letter claims to be authored by Paul in its
  opening and the body of the letter
• Letter was in wide circulation early and its
  authenticity never in doubt
• Many Pauline features
• Similarities with Colossians suggest it was
  written by the same author

108
Author

• Pauline authorship
• Paul is not mentioned in Revelation, which was
  addressed in part to Ephesus. There does not
  seem to be much of a reason why an author would
  use Pauls name pseudonymously if writing to
  Ephesus
• Themes in Ephesians have closest parallels in the
  undisputed Pauline letters

109
Author

• Pauline authorship
• The letter fits the context of Paul being in
  prison it shows development from earlier
  letters, which would have been natural as he
  approached the end of his life

110
Author

• Against Pauline authorship
• Theological features such as the cosmic function
  of the church and realized eschatology seem to be
  un-Pauline
• There is no reason to suggest these developments
  could not have occurred in the mind of Paul
  himself realized eschatology is overstated by
  scholars

111
Author

• Against Pauline authorship
• Paul uses the term ekklesia in reference only to
  individual congregations while Ephesians speaks
  of a universal church
• This makes sense if the letter was intended to be
  more widely circulated

112
Author

• Against Pauline authorship
• No emphasis on parousia
• This assumes a strange view of 114 430 56
  68
• Portrayal of Paul as commissioned to bring about
  unity between Jew and Gentile, though he was the
  apostle to the Gentiles
• Paul is concerned about this in most of his
  letters (Romans, Galatians, etc.)

113
Author

• Against Pauline authorship
• Ephesians contains language not found elsewhere
  in Pauls writings
• Use of hapax legomena (words used only once) is
  actually at a lower rate than 2 Cor. or Phil.
• Writing style is more pleonastic (repeating)
• This is present, but highly exaggerated it is
  not present to the degree some suppose, and Paul
  uses this type of language elsewhere

114
Author

• Against Pauline authorship
• Seems to be an example of early Catholic
  writing
• There are no distinct indications that the
  apostles are off the scene

115
Author

• Against Pauline authorship
• Colossians
• Some assert the same writer could not have
  produced both due to their similarities
• Some doubt Ephesians because it is too different
  from Colossians

116
Provenance

• Probably same as Colossians
• Likely from Rome, but there are other
  possibilities

117
Date

• Likely in the early 60s
• Speaks of Paul in prison, probably toward the end
  of his life
• If Paul isnt the author, then it could be as
  late as the early 90s

118
Destination

• To the Ephesians
• in Ephesus is absent from 11 in some of the
  best manuscripts
• Marcion thought it was the letter to the
  Laodiceans
• Basil said that the letter circulated in his day
  to the saints who are faithful

119
Destination

• To the Ephesians
• Could have originally been meant to be a circular
  letter
• Perhaps the best form of this theory holds that
  Paul sent the letter with Tychichus when he sent
  Colossians and the letter was copied and
  circulated from Ephesus with a blank instead of
  the name of the recipients, but was always
  associated with Ephesus

120
Destination

• To the Ephesians
• We do not know for certain to whom the letter was
  originally addressed, but most evidence points us
  to the church at Ephesus (though it was probably
  meant as a circular letter)

121
Purpose

• Paul seems to address
• Tension between Jew and Gentile Christians
• Instruction of Gentile converts in the new faith
• Unity and a distinctively Christian ethic
• Reconciliation in Christ

122
Contribution of Ephesians

• Stress on Christs saving work
• The importance of the Christians growth in
  knowledge of God and the gospel
• Emphasis on being rooted and established in
  love
• Ecclesiology
• Living in conformity with the salvation that God
  has given believers
• The supreme place of God, who brings salvation to
  undeserving sinners

123
Philippians
124
Author

• Pauline authorship
• Undisputed letter of Paul

125
Author

• Phil 2511The Christ-hymn
• Some of the vocabulary is unusual for Paul, and
  it has a rhythm different than other Pauline
  texts
• Written by Paul or Pauline usage of a
  pre-existing hymn?

126
Author

• Phil 2511Pre-existing hymn
• Language and rhythm is more fitting to Hebrew or
  Aramaic poetry
• Refers to Christ as servant whereas elsewhere
  Paul doesnt reference Isaiahs servant songs

127
Author

• Phil 2511Paul wrote it
• No reason Paul could not have written it
  previously and inserted it here
• The phrase death on a cross (v.8) is very
  Pauline
• Paul frequently interrupts his flow of thought in
  other letters

128
Author

• Phil 2511
• Traditionally used as a solemn doctrinal
  pronouncement and as the basis for kenotic
  theories of the incarnation
• Whether Paul originally wrote it or not makes
  little difference the fact that Paul uses it
  here suggests his intention to have it
  interpreted in the context of the letter itself

129
Provenance

• Rome
• Mentions the Praetorium (113) and those who
  belong to Caesars household (422)
• Paul was in a position to organize his co-workers
  when he was in Rome
• Paul appears to be in a location where there is a
  well-established church
• Marcionite prologue suggests a Roman provenance.
• Paul is faced with death or release

130
Provenance

• Ephesus
• Rome is nearly 1200 miles from Philippi the
  number of trips back and forth from Paul to the
  Philippians suggests he was closer
• Paul says he intended to go to Philippi upon
  release, but this would mean a change of mind
  about going to Spain
• Could be Caesarea, but this is not much closer
  than Rome

131
Date

• If written from Rome
• Around 6162
• If written in Ephesus
• Mid- to late-50s
• If written in Caesarea
• 5960

132
Occasion

• Paul appears to have written for the following
  reasons
• To address the illness of Epaphroditus
• To inform the church of Pauls situation
• To thank the Philippians for their gift
• To commend Timothy to prepare the way for Timothy
  to visit

133
Occasion

• Pastoral concerns
• Church has faced challenges from outsiders
• The church needed exhortation to unity
• To exhort reconciliation between Euodia and
  Syntyche
• Warn against false teachers
• Exhort to wholehearted service

134
Adoption into the Canon

• Philippians is cited by
• 1 Clement
• Ignatius
• Polycarp
• Marcionite canon

135
Unity of the Letter

• Suggestions of dis-unity in the letter
• At 31 and 49 there is a distinct break in sense
• No indication that Epaphroditus is still sick in
  418
• Pauls opponents are not the same throughout the
  letter
• Possible fragments at 419, 2023
• Polycarp speaks of more than one epistle to the
  Philippians from Paul

136
Unity of the Letter

• However
• Sudden breaks in sense are frequent in Pauls
  letters
• There is no reason that the illness of
  Epaphroditus should be brought up every time he
  is mentioned
• The statement of Polycarp does not suggest that
  the letters of Paul were combined, only that
  there was more than one

137
Pauls Opponents

• It is likely that Paul envisages opponents of
  more than one kind
• He is battling some who did not agree with his
  preaching
• He is battling some from the outside that were
  causing the church to suffer

138
Contribution of Philippians

• A letter to a church with whom Paul is very
  pleased
• The Christ-hymn is a very early example of high
  Christology amongst believers
• Firmly lays down the importance of the preaching
  of the gospel
• Pauls view of partnership in the gospel (15)
• Assurance amidst suffering

139
Colossians
140
Author

• Pauline authorship
• No serious question about Pauline authorship
  until 19th century
• Few questioned authenticity before Bultmann and
  others between WWI and WWII

141
Author

• Arguments about authenticitylanguage
• Hapax Legomena are present, but they are present
  to a great degree in all Pauline letters
• The style may be different than the undisputed
  Paulines, but Colossians also exhibits several
  stylistic features only found elsewhere in Paul

142
Author

• Arguments about authenticitytheology
• Absence of important Pauline concepts
• Justification, Law, and salvation
• This also occurs in other epistles, and there is
  no reason that Paul should write about the same
  things every time he writes

143
Author

• Arguments about authenticitytheology
• Presence of un-Pauline concepts
• Christs headship over the church
• Church as Christs body
• Cosmic portrayal of Christ
• Development is real, but not in any way divorced
  from Pauls other writings

144
Author

• Arguments about authenticitytheology
• Presence of un-Pauline concepts
• Eschatology many see a realized eschatology
• However, Colossians retains a deep sense of
  inaugurated eschatology e.g. believers lives
  are hid with Christ in order to be revealed on
  the last day

145
Author

• Arguments about authenticityEphesians
• Too similar to Ephesians
• Why shouldnt an author write similar things to
  two different churches?

146
Author

• Arguments about authenticity
• Why address the town of Colosse if writing
  pseudonymously?
• There are a number of links with the letter to
  Philemon, which is undoubtedly Pauline

147
Provenance

• Ephesus
• Paul asks for a room to be prepared for him,
  which doesnt make sense if he is so far away
• Luke and Mark are with Paul, but they do not
  appear to be in the we sections of Acts, when
  Paul visited Ephesus
• Onesimus may have found it easier to find Paul in
  Ephesus rather than Rome

148
Provenance

• Ephesus
• Onesimus may have found it easier to find Paul in
  Ephesus rather than Rome
• He may have preferred to get as far away as
  possible, and Ephesus may be too close
• If Ephesians was written at the same time, then
  it is improbable that he wrote a letter to the
  city he was in

149
Provenance

• Caesarea
• Unlikely that Onesimus would have fled here
• Pauls request for lodging is unlikely to have
  come from Caesarea, since his only hope of
  release was an appeal to Caesar in Rome

150
Provenance

• Rome
• Pauls plan was to go west toward Spain after
  Rome, not east
• He may have abandoned his plan
• The Pastorals indicate that he did deviate from
  his plan to go to Spain
• Rome is the most likely, but not by much

151
Date

• Early 60s
• If Paul was in Rome
• Late 50s
• If not from Rome

152
Occasion

• False teaching
• Detracted from a high Christology
• One had to go beyond Christ to attain spiritual
  maturity
• Christ was a created being
• Syncretistic Hellenistic/Jewish philosophy

153
Colossians in Recent Study

• Identity of false teachers
• Gnostics?
• Jews?
• The problem is that there are no known teachers
  who combined all of the features that Paul
  addresses

154
Contribution of Colossians

• Paul emphasizes the supremacy of Christ over all
  other powers, earthly and heavenly
• Emphasizes Christ and the head of the church and
  the church as his body
• Emphasizes reconciliation
• Expresses love and tenderness toward believers he
  had never met

155
1 and 2 Thessalonians
156
Author

• Pauline authorship
• No serious question about Pauline authorship of 1
  Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians began to be seriously questioned
  in the early 1970s with the work of Wolfgang
  Trilling

157
Author

• Co-authorship
• Both letters claim name Paul, Silas, and Timothy
  as authors
• Paul is likely the primary author, but Silas and
  Timothy likely assisted

158
Author

• Interpolations in 1 Thessalonians
• Scholars have singled out 2110 and 5111
• No textual evidence that these were ever absent
  from the letter
• These verses make good sense in their context

159
Author

• 2 Thessalonians
• Only a few scholars (mostly following Baur) ever
  questioned the authenticity of 2 Thessalonians
• C. Mason (1957) and Wolfgang Trilling (1972)
  turned the tide of scholarship away from Pauline
  authorship of the letter

160
Author

• 2 Thessalonians
• Vocabulary and style
• Focus on tradition, sound-teaching, and man
  of lawlessness are thought to betray a later
  period
• There is nothing in the eschatology of the letter
  that could not have come from the mid-first
  century

161
Author

• 2 Thessalonians
• Similarities to 1 Thessalonians (why would the
  same author write so many similar things to the
  same audience over such a short period of time?)
• Verbal and structural parallels

162
Author

• 2 Thessalonians
• Similarities to 1 Thessalonians
• Verbal and structural parallels are mostly found
  in the opening a closing of the letter
• Otherwise, there are significant differences
  between the two letters

163
Author

• 2 Thessalonians
• Differences from 1 Thessalonians
• Imminence vs. delay of the parousia
• 1 Thessalonians assumes the imminence of the
  parousia and commands the people not to try to
  calculate times and dates
• 2 Thessalonians warns against thinking the
  parousia is imminent and cites signs that will
  come about before the parousia

164
Author

• 2 Thessalonians
• Differences from 1 Thessalonians
• Many Jewish apocalypses have similar discussions
  about imminence and the warning signs that will
  come before an eschatological event
• Matt 2433, 44b reflect the same tension

165
Author

• 2 Thessalonians
• Differences from 1 Thessalonians
• The argument that Paul could not have taught such
  an eschatology only works if one accepts a very
  narrow understanding of imminent expectation of
  the parousia

166
Provenance and Date

• 1 Thessalonians
• From Corinth
• A.D. 50, early in Pauls stay in Corinth
• 2 Thessalonians
• From Corinth
• Late in A.D. 50 or early 51

167
Opponents and Purpose

• 1 Thessalonians
• Paul addresses
• His hasty departure from Thessalonica
• To remind Thessalonians of key ethical
  implications of their new faith
• Comfort the church over the deaths of some of
  their fellow Christians

168
Opponents and Purpose

• 1 and 2 Thessalonians
• Opponents
• Probably no specific opponents
• There was probably a general criticism of Paul
  that was circulating that Paul was like the
  immoral and unscrupulous sophists that travelled
  from city to city

169
Opponents and Purpose

• 1 and 2 Thessalonians
• Misunderstandings
• Misunderstanding about what would happen at the
  parousia
• The notion that the day of the Lord had arrived
  (2 Thess 2111)
• The tendency toward idleness (2 Thess 3615)

170
Contribution of 1 and 2 Thessalonians

• Word of God
• Strengthen the faith of new converts
• Eschatology
• Doctrine of the rapture
• Preparation for the Lords coming
• Future judgment for those who persecute the
  church
• Day of the Lord will come after preliminary events

171
The Pastoral Epistles
172
Pastorals

• Typical way of referring to 1 and 2 Timothy and
  Titus
• Contemporary critical scholars insist these
  epistles were not written by Paul

173
Pauline Authorship

• Vocabulary and Syntax
• P. N. Harrison
• Pastorals make use of 902 words
• 54 are proper names
• 306 words do not occur in the other ten Pauline
  letters
• Of these 306, 175 occur nowhere else in the NT

174
Pauline Authorship

• Vocabulary and Syntax
• This leaves 542 words shared by the Paulines and
  Pastorals
• 50 are characteristic Pauline words
• Many others are very common words, or very
  Christian words (love, faith, brothers, etc.)

175
Pauline Authorship

• Vocabulary and Syntax
• Of the 306 words in the Pastorals that are not in
  the Pauline epistels, 211 correspond to
  second-century Christian writings
• Of the 214 Greek particles found in the Pauline
  letters, 112 do not occur in the Pastorals

176
Pauline Authorship

• Vocabulary and Syntax
• Most of the words shared by the Pastorals and
  second century authors are also found in other
  writings prior to A.D. 50
• It would be absurd to think that Paul only knew
  the words he used in the other epistles

177
Pauline Authorship

• Vocabulary and Syntax
• It is misleading to say the Pastorals have 306
  words collectively that do not occur elsewhere in
  Paulvast majority are found in one letter
• 127 are in 1 Timothy
• 81 in 2 Timothy
• 45 in Titus

178
Pauline Authorship

• Vocabulary and Syntax
• While many particles are not used in the
  Pastorals, particles, pronouns, and prepositions
  are used at a similar rate to the other Paulines
• Harrison does not account for all of the evidence
  in his analysis there are another 93 particles,
  pronouns, and prepositions

179
Pauline Authorship

• Vocabulary and Syntax
• Statisticians point out that Pastorals are too
  brief and there is a lack of statistical controls
  in many studies
• Even where differences are shown, it does not
  tell us why they exist

180
Pauline Authorship

• Rhetorical Style
• Relative lack of personal material
• Particular patterns of argument in the Pastorals
• No opening thanksgiving in 1 Timothy and Titus
• There is one in 2 Timothy, and Galatians does not
  have an opening thanksgiving

181
Pauline Authorship

• Rhetorical Style
• Can the differences not be accounted for when it
  is noted that the writer is not writing to
  communities, but to trusted co-workers?
• There is clearly the possibility of the use of an
  amanuensis as well, or maybe he wrote it himself
  while making heavy use of an amanuensis in the
  other letters

182
Pauline Authorship

• Genre
• 1 Timothy and Titus are likened to mandate
  letters
• 2 Timothy is likened to a testament

183
Pauline Authorship

• Historical issues
• Paul spent a very brief time in Crete, and we
  have no record of his visiting Nicopolis
• 1 Clement 57 reports that Paul did go to Spain,
  which could have only happened after the events
  of Acts 28 would he have had time to go back to
  the Eastern Mediterranean?

184
Pauline Authorship

• Historical issues
• Several have shown that the data in the Pastorals
  could have fit into Pauls known ministry there
  is no reason to suggest that Acts records all of
  Pauls comings and goings
• He could have travelled to these cities in the
  East again before his execution, and patristic
  sources suggest that he did so

185
Pauline Authorship

• False teachers
• There is nothing in these letters in the way of
  false teaching that is not known elsewhere in the
  Pauline epistles

186
Pauline Authorship

• Ecclesiastical Organization
• Pastorals seem to reflect a strongly organized
  church with an ordained ministry
• Paul had an interest in church organization in
  Acts and his letters
• 2 Timothy contains nothing about church
  organization
• There is nothing in 1 Timothy or Titus that
  demands anything more than overseers and
  deacons in the church

187
Pauline Authorship

• Theology
• Scholars argue both ways from the same texts
  (e.g. 1 Tim 189)
• The demand for godliness and sound doctrine
  appears to be a later development
• Is this really a change from Romans, 2
  Corinthians, or Galatians?

188
Pauline Authorship

• Theology
• Paul presents himself as a saint, the example to
  be followed and prototype of a Christian convert
• Is this really a change from 1 Cor 111, Phil
  31, etc.?

189
1 Timothy

• Provenance
• Best suggestion appears to be that he wrote from
  Macedonia
• Date
• Probably the early to mid-60s after being
  released from prison in Rome
• If written in Pauls earlier ministry, then it
  could have been written in the mid-50s
• Destination
• Private letter to Timothy, but intended for
  Timothy to make public use of the teaching therein

190
1 Timothy

• Adoption into the Canon
• Quoted by Polycarp, Athenagoras, and later
  writers
• Widely accepted as authentically from Paul and
  canonical, though it seems to have been rejected
  by Tatian and Marcion

191
1 Timothy

• Contribution
• The fellowship between Christians in the service
  to the Lord
• Gives some of the fullest description of the
  qualification of a minister of the gospel
• Emphasis on the character and conduct of elders
  and deacons
• Emphasis on sound doctrine

192
2 Timothy

• Provenance
• Probably written from prison in Rome at the end
  of Pauls life
• Paul seems to have expected a speedy execution
• Date
• Anywhere from A.D. 6467, but probably 6465
• Destination
• Written to Timothy and is extremely personal,
  though Paul also extends greetings to those who
  were with Timothy

193
2 Timothy

• Adoption into the Canon
• Echoes in 1 Clement
• Polycarp
• Ignatius
• Irenaeus
• Clement of Alexandria
• Rejected by Tatian and Marcion

194
2 Timothy

• Contribution
• Final testament of Paul to Timothy
• Christian martyrdom
• Christians exhorted to live out the consequences
  of Gods saving act
• There are things of the essence of Christian
  faith that are not open to negotiation
• Cost of discipleship
• Warning against wandering from the truth

195
Titus

• Provenance
• In or on the way to Nicopolis
• Comes from a period of active missionary service
• Date
• If during Pauls earlier ministry, then probably
  in A.D. 57
• If after his first Roman imprisonment, then
  probably in the early to mid-60s
• Destination
• To Titus

196
Titus

• Adoption into the Canon
• 1 Clement
• Tertullian
• Irenaeus
• Tatian
• Muratorian Canon
• Rejected by Marcion

197
Titus

• Contribution
• Civilizing function of Christianity
• Gospel must be taught despite opposition
• Reliance on the grace of God
• Expectation of the parousia

198
Philemon
199
Authorship

• Paul
• Undisputed Pauline
• Only radical critics of the Tübingen school ever
  questioned its authenticity

200
Provenance and Date

• This question is tied closely to Colossians
• Both include Timothy as co-sender
• Both refer to Epaphras and Archippus
• Both include Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke
  as Pauls companions
• Colossians refers to Onesimus

201
Provenance and Date

• Ephesus, Caesarea, or Rome?
• Caesarea is generally dismissednot much reason
  for Onesimus to have fled there
• Ephesus
• Onesimus more likely