Unit 2: New Testaments Notes

● ● ● ● ● ● kCatholic-means universal or general Diaspora-scattered We're not really certain of who wrote what. Philippians was written to a group of people in Philippi (Phillipians) James and Jesus both grew up in Nazareth Nations- ethine, -os KEY WORD FOR BOOK OF JAMES: FAITH GAUGE ● ● ● Author: James and John were brothers and Peter was spokesman of disciples. James was the son of Mary and Joseph. He was the half brother of Jesus. Paul talks about going to Jersulem and talks about seeing James (Jesus’ brother). The earliest order of New Testament books had James right after the Gospels and Acts. It was extremely important because it was written by a member of the Christian Church. James was leader of the Christian Church before Peter was. Various: ● Sometime between 45 and 55 AD. ● James is one of the earliest writings of the New Testament. ● Occasion for writing is not stated, but thought to be because of poverty and persecution. Also, it could be because he was the leader of the church. Poverty vs. wealth is talked about a lot. Persecution is the first major topic he talks about in his introduction. Talks about faith not being abstract. ● Contents contain 54 commands. ● Uses the words of nature a lot in his book Outline (practical topics) ● Talking to Jewish Christians who are scattered among the nations ● Trials and Temptations- dealing with people facing persecution (as well as poverty). He says that trials make you stronger, better, and develops character and perseverance. ● Nike- Just Do It, Let your actions show that you really believe what you say you believe. ● Respect people who are poor and treat them as equals. They are all equal before God. ● Faith without works is dead ● Cautions on teaching; dangers of the power of the tongue ● True wisdom avoids selfish inhibition ● The more you turn the television off, the less you are influenced by the world ● Warnings against slander ● Be careful if you are rich. Some people think that God loves them more or that they are better just because they are rich. ● Be concerned about a person who is turning away from God. James and Paul ● James does not contradict Paul. James says what Jesus says. He criticizes the people who don't practice what they preach. James is looking at the fruits, while Paul is looking at the roots. Paul is looking at the roots which lead to the fruit (faith) They are both right. Justify- james- faith is real, why did I do what I did/ Paul- forgiven for all of your sins ● James 2:19 To say I believe in God, doesn't mean that you're any better off than Satan is. To say I believe something, doesn't mean that you base your life on it. ● Man is justified by faith alone men, but man is never alone Galatians-KEY WORD-UNSHACKLED ● ● ● ● ● ● Paul's letters are always the first name of the book No Thanksgiving in Paul’s letters Servant of Christ Jesus and called to be an apostle Writing to people who live in Rome Hebrew word of peace is Shalom Has part 1 doctrine, part 2 practice Background-Judaizers ● The Apostolic Church asked Gentiles to refrain from certain practices that were going against God. Like don't eat meat that still has blood, refrain from a lot of sexual activities. Said that Gentiles didn’t need to become Jews. ● Judaizers believed that this ceremonial law was necessary and permanent for salvation. ● Judaizers accused Paul of being a second rate apostle. Greetings ● The Magna Carta Of Christianity ● 1:1, defense of Paul’s apostleship ● 1:4, Jesus as atonement for sin ● 1:4, the evil of the present age ● Martin Luther called the epistle to the Galatians “my wife.” “To it I am, as it were, in wedlock. Galatians is my Katherine.” Defense of Paul’s Apostolate ● He is an apostle by grace, he was saved by grace, he was called to be one by God. ● He has God’s approval ● Talks about obsolescence of sacrifice ● “I no longer live for myself, but I live for/with Christ. My sinful human nature has been nailed to the cross. I was living for me, now I’m living for him.” Defense of The Gospel ● Law says you don’t measure up, but The Gospel says that God allows you to measure up, you’re unshackled, you're free. ● The witness of the Galatians, Old testament, and law itself. ● Greek Language; in the Mediterranean world, everyone spoke Greek ● Corrupt religions ● Culture was asking questions that they couldn’t answer, but Christianity could. Defense of Freedom, Under The Gospel ● Am I subject to no one, or am I subject to everyone? Answer: Yes ● Paul says you can choose to either to be a servant of sin or a servant of Christ What advice does Paul give in 6, 9, and 10? Let us not become weary in doing good, don't give up, let us do good to all people, especially to those who believe in God. Verse 11- large letters are more for him, rather than the people reading it. Paul hasn't been doing physical writing. “I'm writing this in large letters with my physical hand.” Evidence that he had poor eyesight. Co author- probably Silas or Timothy. 1 and 2 Thessalonians KEYWORD: STAY ON TARGET ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Thessalonica was a city of communication Fertility cults Prositution was practiced at these vacant temples Paul's 2nd missionary journeys trying to develop churches. He spent three years there. Began his work in the synagogue. He was commissioned by God to be an apostle to everyone but the Jews. Paul is accused of causing trouble so much that he leaves the city. Paul and Silas Left for Berea, but Paul caused trouble there too. He left there and went to Athens. Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to encourage the new church He wrote to the Thessalonians in the name of all three missionaries First Letter to the Thessalonians ● ● He likes their spiritual progress, and wants to answers charges against being self seeking Church is being prosecuted Theme ● Tim’s report Eschatology - the study of the last things ● ● ● ● New chrisitans had problems practicing chastity Some adopted a life of idleness and quit their jobs because they thought that Jesus was coming soon. Some thought that love was sex and found it difficult to be unselfish when loving another person Some thought that whoever already died would not be able to participate in the Second Coming Outline ● ● ● ● Faith, birth, and love Severe suffering is happening High works of praise; becoming leaders and models for others to follow Paul is writing to church a year or so after he established it Thess. 4:13-18 It's okay to grieve when you lose a loved one, but don’t grieve in a hopeless matter when you have fallen asleep. If you're alive, you don't have an advantage over those who have died. You will meet the Lord together. We will be with the Lord forever. 2 Thess KEY WORD- WORK WHILE YOU WAIT ● Mount Olympus- where the Greek Gods, like Zeus, lived. Second Letter to the thess ● Some are still being persecuted, being idle, and haven’t figured out the Second Coming. ● Echos of first letters ● Gets into the teaching of the Anti Christ. (Controversy of who was the anti christ) Outline ● Greeting ● Thanksgiving ● God’s judgement on those who persecute the Church ● Work while you wait KEY WORD for 1st CORINTHIANS- SPANKING THE SAINTS ● ● Corinth- Was a cosmopolitan city. Cosmo means world. major commercial and shipping center. Wide variety of people live in that city. Most important city of Greece. Reputation of immorality. Notorious for its wickedness. A lot of Greek Gods and their temples. Its the capital city of Achaia. Strategic: for Paul’s missionary efforts Outline ● Six chapter of paul spanking the Corithian church ● They are divided into factions and groups ● Don't realize that Christ is the head of the church ● ● ● Moral unethical problems with incest Lawsuits with Christians Inmorrality 2nd Corithians KEYWORD- Anatomy of Apostle Isagogics- introductory study, especially of the literary and external history of the Bible prior to exegesis. Author- Paul, Date-A.D. 55, Location Macedonia, Purpose- to explain and defend Paul’s aposltic ministry Between first and second corinthians- Paul sent Timothy to Corinth from Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:10). On Timothy’s return to Ephesus, from which Paul had written 1 Corinthians, he reported to Paul the state of affairs. Paul visited Corinth (2 Cor. 2:1). This did not settle the situation. Someone at Corinth continued to cause Paul real pain. He wrote another letter (now lost), addressing the problems (2 Cor. 2:4). Paul sent Titus to Corinth. Titus returned and reported that many of the problems had been solved. Not all of the Corinthians had disciplined the offending teacher (2 Cor. 2:6). Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia (2:13; 7:5). Key issue: Paul’s authority over the Corinthian Church The Opposition- Jews who professed faith in Christ and who claimed to be true apostles of Christ more so than Paul. Tried to stop the offering and take credit for the work of others. May have been Judaizers. May have been liberal Jews encouraging moral laxity. They are probably representative of an early form of Gnosticism (LBC, 891) Those who lament the divisions within Christendom fail to see that divisions came almost from the very start and are symptomatic of the human condition. Summary of Contents- Introduction- no thanksgiving. 1:8, a hardship of some sort. Paul’s Apostolic Authority- Paul’s ;letter of recommendation is the church, “jars of clay” 4:7-5:10, and Paul’s pride and joy, especially v.4, 7:12-16. The collection for the church at Jerusalem- 8:1, the churches of Macedonia have set an example, 8:3, proportionate giving 8:5, the first step 8:8-9, our giving is a response to God’s giving 8:10, no online bill pay 8:11, match your willingness with your activity 9:6, we reap what we sow 9:7, hilarios 9:11-12, their giving will benefit both churches Tradition and traditionalism-Paul was to some extent a traditionalist. Some traditions are really good, like the Lord’s prayer or the apostle’s creed. Tradition is The Living Faith of the dead. Traditionalism is doing stuff that has been done for a long time. We do it just because. Colossians and Philemon Pauls’ Imprisonment- Return to Jerusalem, Caesarea and Rome, Roman imprisonment, No known Ephesian imprisonment. Ephesus Philippians: encouragement to live joyfully: Rome Colossians: the all-sufficiency of Christ: Ephesus Philemon: the Gospel transforms lives: Ephesus. Written from an Ephesian version because of geographical reasoning. Written at the same time as Galasians. Most people think he wrote it in a Roman prison. Intro: Written ca. 60-62 A.D. from Rome or Ephesus. This letter arrived at the same time as Colossians. Delivered by Tychicus (and Onesimus), cf. Col. 4:7, 9. The Message: having converted Onesimus to Christianity, Paul sends Onesimus (the runaway slave) back to his owner Philemon with a letter of commendation, so that Philemon will receive Onesimus back and set him free. The Cast of Characters: Paul, Onesimus, Philemon (receives the letter), Apphia (probably Philemon’s wife), and Archippus (possibly Philemon’s son). Outlines: A. Greetings, B. Thanksgiving, C. Paul’s two requests D. Conclusion Colossae the City- On the south bank of the Lycus River in Asia Minor (Turkey) Relatively unimportant city 125 miles east of Ephesus. Renowned for a purple wool. Destroyed by the Turks in the 12th century. Archaeologists have unearthed the city but not excavated in very much. Scribe- The last verse of the book, Col. 4:18, states, “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” Remember the conclusion of Galatians? Gal. 6:11, “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!” LBC, 721: “Epistles Likely Prepared through a Scribe (Amanuensis) or with Co-Authors” Ten of Paul’s thirteen letters! The Church of Colossae- founded and served by Epaphras. Archippus, Philmon, and Onesimus were members of this church. They included angel worship and stated that Jesus was an angel and one of the lowest one of them. Paul said no, that he was the creator, not the creature. If Christ was an angel, that lowers his status. Had a lot of rules and emphasized rituals. Keep your body in subjection, to be as effective as possible. Paul tells them that if they want wisdom or knowledge, they should go to Christ. Tiger Balm Garden: Beautiful plant life, Laughing Buddha, Animal figures, Eighteen Gates of Hell (according to Chinese beliefs, it depicts what happens to you when you go to hell) Philippians KEYWORD- HAPPILY HUMBLE The City of Philippi- Macedonia, named after, Founded in 356 B.C., Military colony in 31 B.C., School of medicine Philippians- Paul wrote it in jail. Paul had the joy of the lord in his heart. Could be joyful even when in jail. The word “think” or “attitude” appears nine times in the letter. Letter of friendship. Wrote to a church that supported him in many ways. So, what is my attitude toward Jesus Christ? A Prison Epistle, Ca. 61 A.D. Luke Timothy Johnson. “it is a letter of friendship” The Church● first christian church on European soil ● Mostly gentile ● Established by paul on 2nd journey ● Pauls’s favorite, sort of ● Lydia and jailer were members ● First church to be christened ● First to help Paul with ministry Value of the letter- shows Paul’s joyful attitude toward his sufferings, well known passages about Christ and why he did what he did. Joy regardless of circumstance, so content regardless of the circumstances. Outline- We will start working through this as we read the book of Philippians with the assistance of the next two slides. The Message- 12 joys/ Paul and timothee serve christ jesus and are in the same city together. I thank my god and always pray with joy. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. Whether I am in chains, all of you can share God’s grace with me. This is my prayer that your knowledge is filled with the consciousness of Jesus Christ. Paul is in jail and telling the jailers about Jesus. Christians around him are saying that Paul is in jail and still preaching, so I should be too. I am put here for the foot of the Gospel. I will rejoice and continue to rejoice. Through your prayers and help from Jesus Christ, I will get through this. To live as Christ, and to die as gain. I am glad and rejoice, so you Philipians should too. Paul’s starts bragging, but says his resume is rubbish compared to what’s really important. Paul is being sort of proud and stuck up in his message. He doesn’t put them down, but says “I’m going to count on God to be your teacher.” Instead of worrying about something, pray about it. I can do everything through him which gives me strength. What Problem does Paul Address?- Don’t live for yourself; selfishness and selfish ambition is not good. Paul holds up Jesus as an example as an opposite of deceit. Do not consider equality with God. Jesus humbled himself by not only becoming a man, but becoming a man and being willing to die on a cross.