Unit 3: New Testament Notes

The Book of Acts Keyword: Church Author- Luke Recipient: Theophilus Importance- bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles Give history of the early church, provide guide for early Christians, Theme- holy spirit equipping followers of jesus to tell about jesus in jerusalem, samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Rome) Churches are growing in number, entire villages are converting to Christianity. Gospel goes to Philippi. Ended with a lot of people becoming believers of Christ. Historical Background- Historical Background. Roman occupation from 63 B.C. and a Roman province from 6 A.D. Tribute paid to the Roman Emperor. Increasing friction. Originally, the Romans thought Christianity was a sect of Judaism. The Roman empire has to pay tribute. Romans insisted that Caesar was God, and Paul said Jesus is Lord. Bit of a friction there. 2nd Chapter- Pentecost. In acts chapter 2, stay in Jerusalem until the holy spirit tells you not to Chapter 4/persecution- Peter and John are in trouble with their religious authorities. People are shocked at the boldness of Peter and John. Saw courage of them, and were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus. Their education wasn’t school-like, but was an education that provided more wisdom about Jesus. Chapter 9- The story of Paul meeting Jesus when he is going to arrest Jews. If the story is shown three times. Paul becomes a great missionary of the church. If Paul’s commission is to work on the Gentiles, why is the synagogue the first place he insists on going in a new city? He goes to the synagogue because he is Jewish and he explains how Jesus is the messiah and the one to rise from the dead. There were gentiles in the synagogue who were called God-fearers. God-fearers are not Jews, they want to know God. They are attracted to Judaism because it believes in one God, compared to their previousRoman beliefs. Have high ethical standards. One problem- all of the rules. They stay back and most of them don’t become a full fledged Jew. Pauls says you don’t have to follow all of these rules. Peter’s Vision- Peter is tempted to eat meat that is uncleaned, has the vision three times, wakes up and finds out there are visitors from Cornelius. He goes with them. Figures out on the w There are people who are clean (jews) and those who are unclean. (Gentiles) But God doesn’t have any picks or choices. Chapter 15- Aspotlic council. The Issue was “What requirements must gentiles fulfill to be a part of the Christian church?” The answer was”Don't make it difficult.” Avoid food offered to idols, sexual immorality, meat of strangled animals. Don’t do it if it offends one of your jewish brothers or sisters. You can be a Christian without also becoming a Jew. First Missionary Journey- started in Antioch. Antioch is the sending place for Paul’s missionary journeys. Ends in Antioch. Second Missionary Journey- “we”- Luke has joined Paul. Started in Antioch and ended in Antioch again. Establishes the church that he wrote Phillipians to. Third Missionary Journey- Goes to Ephesus and spends two years there. This is the city where their patrician dienty is Artemis. Yelled at the top of their lungs and was bordering on a riot when the city clerk warned them about soldiers. They calm down, but because Paul was so successful about telling the story of Jesus. He comes back and talks about an offering and gives the poor Christians of Jerselaum money. Riot almost started in the ephesian amphitheater. Started in Antioch and ended in Jerusalem. Paul’s missionary journeys begin in Acts _13___ (chapter) and were sponsored by the Christians in ______________ (city), Syria. On his first journey (46–48 A.D.), Paul took ____________ (person’s name) and John Mark. They visited the island of Cyprus and then went into modern-day central Turkey (Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe; Acts 13–14). After returning, Paul sent a letter back to them which we call ________________ (New Testament book name). In the face of false gospels, it emphasizes _________ and ______________. The Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 approved of Paul’s mission outreach to the ___________. On his second journey (Acts 15:39–18:22; A.D. 49–52), Paul took along Silas/Silvanus and picked up ____________ (person’s name) in Lystra. Paul revisited the cities of his first journey and moved further ______ (direction), crossing into the continent of ______________. After spending a brief amount of time in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea, Paul was sent south to Athens and Corinth. From Corinth, where he stayed 18 months, he wrote 2 letters back to the ____________________ (people in a city). Then he returned to his home-base. On his third journey (Acts 18:23–21:17; A.D. 53–57), Paul stayed more than 2 years in ___________ (city). From there he wrote 2 letters to the __________________ who were having trouble living properly in ____________ to the Gospel. Later on that journey, Paul traveled through Greece again, spending 3 months in _________________ (city) where he wrote ________________. At the end of Paul’s third journey, he was arrested in ____________________ (city, Acts 21) and kept under guard for 2 years in ___________________ (city, Acts 23:33). Then he took a ship to ___________ (city, 59–60 A.D.) where he waited at least two years for his trial to take place (Acts 28:16, 30). Where, if anywhere, do the four Captivity letters (Colossians, Philemon, Philippians and Ephesians) fit in this scenario? See your textbook. 1 and 2 Peter KEYWORD-PAIN WITH A PURPOSE Peter was a part of the inner circle as well as James, Peter, and John. Peter was the leader of the twelve or the spokesman. He was the witness behind the Gospel of Mark. The twelve are supposed to make sure Jesus' story gets written. One of the General (catholic or universal) Epistles ● ● ● ● ● The term goes back to Eusebius (A.D. 265-340), who first called them “Catholic Letters.” Most of them were also disputed. James 1, 2, and 3 John Jude And, of course, 2 Peter Peter talks about rising to the occasion when there are challenges that we have to face. First Peter “The Epistle of Hope” Author and Purpose of 1st Peter ● ● ● ● ● First word is peter Peter is the author behind the book, but benefiting from the writing skills of Silas (why its written in fluent Greek. Also why 2nd peter is challenged) The audience is Gentile Christinas in Asia Minor Purpose is to confirm and strengthen the readers in their Chrisitan faith He is probably writing it in Rome. The Teachings of 1st Peter A. Peter’s Past (Mark 14:27, Luke 22:31-32) B. 1:3-5, the Christian hope C. Salvation is all God’s doing D. Peter always talks in terms of God’s action and man’s response See especially 2:9-10 E. Christ is our example, 2:21 F. The Descent into Hell (and baptism), 3:18-22 G. Speaking to a persecuted church See especially 2:12, 3:15, and 5:8-10 H. Obedience to Civil Authorities, 2:13-17 Antilegomena (“spoken against”) Some of the books are disputed. Challenges are thrown out about what books should be included and what books should not be. The books were pushed back, but they were still related to what we’re talking about. Second Peter Weakest new testament book from episcolian perspective.Challenged because the Greek is bad. Definitely belongs in the new testament. The Parables of Jesus Definitions Comparison ● ● ● ● Good Definition: “stories told by Jesus using common metaphors to describe what ‘the kingdom of God is like.’” “a saying or story that seeks to drive home a point the speaker wishes to emphasize by illustrating it from a familiar situation of common life” (ZPE) A form of speech used to illustrate and persuade with the help of a picture. Literally, “comparison” or “setting alongside,” i.e. comparing the known with the unknown. X is “like” Y. The Importance of Parables ● ● ● ● One-third of the recorded teaching of Jesus consists of parables and parabolic statements. About forty parables About twenty parabolic statements, such as the statement in Matt. 9:35-38 about the harvest and the workers (A. M. Hunter, Interpreting the Parables) The world is a Harvest field, but not enough people to share the message of the kingdom. C.S. Lewis On Stories ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● “The Lion all began with a picture of a Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood.” (“It All Began with a Picture ….”) “Myth is thus like manna; it is to each man a different dish and to each the dish he needs.” (“Shelley, Dryden and Mr. Eliot”) “When allegory is at its best, it approaches myth, which must be grasped with the imagination, not with the intellect.” (The Pilgrim’s Regress) The author says that a good story, will scratch you where you itch A story or fairytale is something that needs to be grasped or visualized with the imagination “… he did not say anything to them without using a parable” (Matthew 13:34). In Mark, “Jesus used parables to confound rather than to instruct” (4:34) because of violent opposition (Johnson, 171). “… they knew he had spoken the parable against them” (Mark 12:12). “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). ● ● ● “Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:1-2). Mark 4:11: “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables…” Jesus used parables to confound rather than to construct Parables Do Two Things ● construct people on the inside, and confound people on the outside F.F. Bruce On The Secret ● “His parables helped to make it clear; to those whose ears were stopped, the parables were so many riddles that obscured the truth, which an honest and good heart would have welcomed.” Parables in Three of the Four Gospels ● ● ● Really only Matthew and Luke Few parables in Mark No parables in John Usually Parables Have One Main Point ● ● Focus on the kingdom of God Focus on the mission which is to offer hope St. Augustine on the Good Samaritan ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Adam The heavenly city Man’s mortality The devil and his angels Man’s former immortality The priesthood Jesus Christ The comfort of good hope ● ● ● ● ● The exhortation to work with a fervent spirit The flesh The church The period after the resurrection The apostle Paul Luke 10:25-37 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● The man Jerusalem Jericho Thieves Stripping of clothes Priest and Levite Samaritan Oil Wine Beast Inn Morrow Innkeeper Seven Kingdom Parables Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23 (The Sower)---Don’t be surprised at varying reactions and don’t become angry. Encouraging to want to be the good soil. Understand God’s word and don’t take it for granted. Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43 (The Weeds) Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t fall into temptation. Don’t pull the weeds. The Book of Hebrews-KEYWORD: MILK TO MEAT ● ● ● ● ● The first version of this book didn’t have a title at all. The earliest title came in the Second or early third Century. Written to people who were babies spirituality (milk) and needed to move on to get to know God better (meat) Written to Jewish Christians in danger of lapsing back into Judaism Heb 6:4-5 warns about lapsing back into old ways Heb 13:24 indicates that the letter was written either to or from the vicinity of Rome Author ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Unnamed-probably a Greek speaking Jewish Chirstian Clement of Alexandria said that Paul wrote and Luke translated Origen of Alexandria said “Only God knows” Tertullian saint Barnabas Luther said Apollos Council of Trent said it was a Pauline letter Other suggestions include Silas, Priscella, Timothy, Luke, Philip the Deacon, and Jesus Who cares? The Holy Spirit inspired it! Purpose of the Letter ● ● ● ● ● Readers had given evidence of sincere faith Wearing out spiritually They were not growing in their faith Had been persecuted and had aided others in similar situations Some were neglecting public worship ● ● ● ● Author urges them to be steadfast in their faith and keep their eyes focused on jesus A pastoral letter conquered primarily with the spiritual well being of people MAIN PURPOSE:To strengthen Jewish Christinas against returning to Judaism by showing the completion of Judaism in Christianity P.s. how did people get to heaven according to the new testament.---way of salvation (“by faith”) Date ● ● Two theories- 64 A.D. before or early in Nero’s persecution 80-90 A.D., close to Clement’s question Theological Emphases ● ● ● ● ● Hebrews is based on the Old testament The OT is the voice of God. Typology-the OT institutions, people, and new events foreshadow various aspects of the New Covenant. Ex: TabernacleHeavenly rest Hebrews is centered in Jesus Christ The days since God spoke through his son are the “last days.” Outline and Contents ● ● ● ● ● The Superiority of the Person of Christ, 1:1-4:13 The Superiority of the work of Christ, 4:14-10:18 Exhortations, 10:19-12:29 Admonitions, 13:1-19 Closing 13:20-25 Summary ● ● ● ● ● Grow spiritually Gather with others Look to jesus Hold to the hope praise Claim the promises of the scripture When we see the word “therefore”, we ask what its there for? Summary: How to Preserve The author recommends this. The book’s main purpose was to encourage Jewish Christians who were considered relapsing. 1. 2. 3. 4. Grow Spiritually Gather Look to Jesus Hold to hope What would you add? ● ● Pray, praise Claim the promises of Scriptures