I'm tired of studying the traditional way, so I'm going to write it out for you all -- I know you care.
1 Thessalonians
From: Paul & Timothy, carried by Silvanus
To: the church in Thessaloniki
Occasion/Situation: Timothy has been sent from Athens to check on the new gentile church in Thessaloniki and make sure they are still following Paul's teachings despite the pursecution they are experiencing. Timothy has reported back that they are still faithful. Paul writes this letter of thanksgiving, explanation of his delay in visiting, direction, and exhortation.
Themes:
- Dominant Apocalyptic Outlook
- persecution as a function of the coming end time
- You are children of the light, not of darkness
- "thief in the night"
- "keep awake and be sober"
- Reminder of Paul's ministry and affection
- seeking to share the gospel and himself
- gentle, tender nurse caring for children
- They took him in after a bad experience at Philippi
- Paul's behavior among them was blameless and he worked so as not to be a burden
- He is afraid that his delay in returning wil cause them to doubt his message
- "Satan blocked our way"
- "night and day we pray earnestly to see you face to face"
- Directions on how to live
- control your bodies
- live in holiness, not w/ lustfulness
- live quietly and mind your own affairs
- don't repay evil for evil
- What about those who die before the 2nd coming?
- dead in Christ shall rise first
- we will meet them with JC in the air
- Closing Exhortation
- respect those who labor among you
From: Paul & Timothy, carried by Epaphroditus
To: church in Philippi
Occasion/Situation: Paul is in jail (probably in Ephesus) and the Philippians have sent him aid via Epaphroditus. While with Paul, Epaphroditus has gotten sick, which the Philippians have heard about and has caused them to worry. Paul sends Epaphroditus back (once he's better) with a letter for the Philippians, thanking them for their support of his ministry.
Themes:
- Thanks
- Warning against circumcision teachers
- "beware of dogs, evil workers, those who mutilate flesh"
- they haven't been by yet, but they're in the area
- Paul has reason to be confident in the flesh, but counts it as loss compared to knowing Christ
- Their (circumcision teachers) god is their belly
- Moral Exhortation
- true, right, honorable, pleasing, etc. -- think on these things
- Appeal for Unity
- "be of the same mind"
- Syntych and Euodia fighting --> please get along!
- Look out for interests of others
- Paul is being poured out
- Timothy is concerned for your welfare
- Epaphroditus has risked his life
- Christ Hymn
- JC didn't regard himself as equal w/ God or as his divinity something to be exploited
- JC humbled himself and became obedient
From: Paul & Timothy
To: Philemon, Apphia (wife), and Archippus (son)
Occasion/Situation: Paul is in prison. The slave, Onesimus, has come to Paul, either as a run away or by Philemon's bidding (perhaps to bring aid to Paul). While with Paul, Onesimus is converted by Paul. Onesimus is delayed in his return to Philemon, either by his conversion or because he was helping Paul after his conversion. Paul is asking Philemon to greet Onesimus's return as he would greet Paul.
Themes:
- Father Metaphor
- "I became your father through the gospel"
- Paul asking Philemon to charge Onesimus's "disobedience" to Paul's account
- Paul's view of slavery
- stay in the condition in which you were called to be a follower of Christ
From: Paul (conclusion written in his own hand -- not by a scribe)
To: church in Galatia --> unclear exactly where in the region
Occasion/Situation: Paul has heard that the church in Galatia (gentiles) has turned from his teachings and is following those who advocate circumcision of gentile converts. Paul is PISSED!! Paul chastises them thoroughly and then defends his own presentation of the gospel and calling.
Themes:
- Missing the traditional opening thanksgiving section --> instead has a curse
- Circumcision teaching
- if you are circumcised you are obligated to follow the law
- "I wish those who had confused you would castrate themselves"
- circumcision teachers know it isn't necessary, they're just trying to avoid pursecution at the synagogue
- circumcision is a way into Abraham's family via the law, but Christ provided another way
- Paul's Teachings are Legitimate
- Paul isn't a secondary source
- Paul's knowledge doesn't come from human sources (the apostles), but through direct revelation by God
- When Paul recieved the call he went immediately and did not stop to confer w/ apostles
- After 3 years Paul met w/ Peter in Jerusalem for 2 weeks -- you think he learned everything he knows in 2 weeks from Peter?!
- after 14 years Paul met w/ Jerusalem leaders (including Peter and James) who had nothing to add to his message
- also Titus (gentile convert) who went with Paul was not compelled to be circumcised by the Jerusalem leaders
- Peter is sent to Jews and Paul to gentiles, but their message is the same
- Confrontation w/ Cephas (Peter) about Hypocrisy
- used to eat w/ gentiles, but now doesn't for fear of the circumcision factor
- Abraham
- the law is the disciplinarian until Christ came
- w/ Christ, the law gives way to faith
- Freedom from the law means loving one another --> love your neighbor as yourself
- Moral reasoning
- live by the spirit & do not gratify the desires of the flesh
- fruits of the spirit vs. sins of the flesh
From: Paul, carried by Phoebe
To: multiple house churches in Rome
Occasion/Situation: Paul is writing a letter of introduction to churches he didn't establish and isn't familiar with. He is seeking to explain his mission and theology in order that the churches in Rome will fund his mission to Spain. He is currently on his way to Jerusalem w/ a collection from Macedonia (Thessoliniki and Philippi) and Achaia (Corinth) but will be in Rome once he is finished in Jerusalem
Themes:
- Righteousness through faith
- "To the Jew first and then to the Greek"
- Gentiles under sin
- claiming to be wise, they became foolish
- exchanged God for idols
- Jews under sin
- circumcision is valuable if you follow the law
- true circumcision isn't just physical, but of the heart
- How God makes sinners righteous
- through faith in JC --> all sin and have fallen short
- Abraham had faith and was made righteous
- Adam vs. Christ
- Jesus is an alternative to Adam
- one man's trespass vs. one man's righteousness
- Life in the Spirit
- suffering in the present
- all of creation groaning
- God's promise through christ doesn't mean God's promise to Israel isn't kept
- children of the promise(s) are Abraham's descendents
- God hasn't rejected Israel
- Olive tree metaphor --> gentiles grafted on
- God's promise is for all, but Jews and gentiles don't have to share practice
- Spiritual living
- your bodies as a living sacrifice
- don't be conformed to this world
- The weak and the strong
- don't pass judgement on one another
- don't eat things that cause others to stumble
From: Paul, carried by Stephanas
To: multiple churches in Corinth, a letter intended to be circulated among them
Occasion/Situation: Paul has heard of division among the churches from the church at Chloe's house as well as from a letter carried by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus. Paul writes to appeal for unity and to answer questions posed in their letter to him.
Themes:
- Lack of unity and appeal from Paul for unity
- Divisiveness over Teachers
- Paul vs. Apollos --> you were baptized in the name of Christ
- wisdom vs. foolishness
- "for I decided to know nothing among you except JC and him crucified"
- "I couldn't speak to you as spiritual people" --> because they wre too dependant on human knowledge and not God's knowledge/ways
- If they'd valued God's knowledge appropriately then they'd value teachers appropriately too --> under God
- 10,000 guardians in Christ, but not many fathers
- "am I to come at you with a stick or with gentleness?"
- Porneia! What you do with your body matters!
- man living with his father's wife --> "hand the man over to Satan for destruction of flesh"
- put him outside of the community
- don't associate w/ sexually immoral Christ followers
- Lawsuits --> deal with your disagreements from within the community
- Single vs. Married --> remain as you are b/c Christ is coming soon
- sex between married people is not Porneia
- If you are single and can remain untempted you should remain single
- Eating sacrificial meat
- issue is not eating the meat, it's the witness you present to those around you who might not be as strong in faith --> pagan converts who understand the sacrificial meat to be communion w/ that pagan deity
- don't harass the town butcher over where his meat comes from -- it probably comes from the temple
- don't turn down food from your host, unless eating it will cause someone else to stumble
- Traditions in the Assembly
- women should cover their heads
- men shouldn't
- don't wear veils as Roman priests do
- men should have short hair
- women should have long hair
- the communion meal
- shouldn't be a status symbol
- should be a shared rememberance
- "one gets drunk and one goes hungry"
- Spiritual Gifts
- variety of gifts
- body consists of many members
From: Paul
To: churches in Corinth
Occasion/Situation: Corinth has been visited by "Super-Apostles" and they have turned a faction of the Corinthians from Paul's teachings. Paul is writing to defend himself and his message.
Themes:
- Defense against "Super-Apostles" Critiques
- Humble presence vs. bold letters --> critique of Paul's rhetorical skills
- Boasting:
- Paul doesn't boast about work others have accomplished, aka, Paul doesn't take credit for other people's work (unlike the S-As)
- Worked w/ his own hands so that no one could say his message had been purchased by either the church or a benefactor
- also, so as not to burden the Corinthians financially
- Paul emphasizes all he's suffered --> beatings, shipwrecks, cold, hungry, naked, etc.
- boasting about his weakness
- weakness as being boastworthy --> parallels Christ's weakness
From: Paul & Timothy
To: churches in Corinth
Occasion/Situation: Paul had a bad visit with the Corinthians. After he left, the Super-Apostles arrived and began undoing his work. Paul wrote Chs 10-13 in defense of his ministry, which Titus then delivered. Paul is on pins and needles until Titus returns with a favorable report -- the Corinthians have faithfully returned to Paul's teachings! Paul then writes Chs 1-9 in response, and also to explain his delay in returning to them.
Themes:
- Consolation --> word used A LOT
- "Painful visit" --> allusion to material in chs 10-13
- Letters of recommendation --> the church in Corinth is Paul's letter
- "written on stone" as an allusion to the law
- Paul's mission is Spirit/heart centered rather than other folk's law-centered mission
- Glory --> glory in the spirit vs. the law
- Veil
- the law veils the true glory of God
- the Spirit removes that veil
- Body as "clay jars"; vessles of God
- Body as "earthy tent"
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