Exam #3 - Paul's Letters Flashcards
1
Q
What in the world is going on in Acts?
A
- Author: Luke
- Focus: understanding who Jesus IS and how his Messiahship fulfills Israel’s Scriptures (OT reference)
- What we see: God in Acts being faithful to OT promises, the expansion of the mission to include Gentiles
2
Q
What are some notable verses in Acts and what is their significance?
A
- Acts 2:1-13; reverse Tower of Babel
- Acts 1:9-14; Jesus’ ascension
- Acts 2:42-47 and 32-37; ideal early community (prayer, eating together, nobody is in need, equality, sharing)
- Acts 5:1-11, 6:1-7; conflict & resolution within the church
- Acts 4:1-22, 5:17-42; conflict & resolution with outsiders
- Acts 6:8, 8:3; Stephen’s arrest, speech, & martyrdom (the first one); parallels between Stephen and Jesus
- Turning point in Acts 8:1; role of persecution
- Acts 8:4-40; Philip’s ministry, Gospel goes to Samaria
- Acts 10:1-11:18; Peter and Cornelius
- Acts 13; Paul and Barnabas sent out
- Acts 15; Jerusalem Council, how to include Gentiles in the community of Jesus followers
- Acts 16; Dr. Edwards on Standing Up to Injustice, story of Paul and Barnabas being beaten in public, uncondemned and thrown in prison, then discharged in secret (whoopsie). Holding people accountable
3
Q
What are some notable facts about Paul and his life?
A
- he was raised Jewish, an observant Jew (Pharisee)
- worked with Luke
- zealous persecution under the church
- persecution = preserving church law, righteousness
- born a Roman citizen in Tarsus
- first missionary journey in Acts 13
- extended stay in Ephesus in Acts 19; expensive magic books burned, threat to cult of Artemis, disruption of economy
- reaches Jerusalem in Acts 21
- execution under Nero
4
Q
What did Paul teach?
A
- -> Interpretive Matrix
- Israel’s scriptural traditions reinterpreted in light of God’s self-revelation in Jesus
- ->Theological Basis
- Jesus is Lord, moving towards Trinity theology
- the Holy Spirit equips us, strengthens us
- -> The Gospel
- the human predicament; the curse in Genesis
- Jesus is the “second Adam”
- sin and death; salvation (being made right, participating in Christ, new identity)
- -> The Church
- the body of Christ
- different gifts to different believers
- community of Jews and Gentiles
- a way to live out truth
5
Q
What in the world is going on in Philippians?
A
- Author: Paul
- Focus: citizenship in heaven vs. Roman citizenship
- Background:
- Roman colony (loyalty to Rome is rewarded with privileges/rights)
- Paul takes their money but NOT Corinthian money
Other things to note:
- Giving and Receiving: not replicating the patron-client system of Roman society (rather pointing back to Christ)
- the reward of Christian community is enough
6
Q
What are some notable verses in Philippians?
A
- Phil. 2:6-11; the “Christ Hymn”, Pliny the Younger, quoting a hymn, early tradition before Paul, humility + exaltation, Jesus rising = inverse fall of man, note Isaiah 45:23 “every knee shall bow”
- Joy in Philippians: “constantly praying with joy” (1:3-6), “rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4-7), and “I rejoice in the Lord greatly” (4:10)
7
Q
What in the world is going on in Colossians?
A
- Author: Paul
- Focus: Christ = the one and only God, enough, more powerful than spiritual forces
- Background:
- connections to Ephesians (the mystery of God)
- “Colossian hersey”; dangerous ascetic practices, worshipping angels, astral/star deities, gnosticism, Christ not being enough to protect them
- Colossians + Philemon (letter) = how Paul relates to slavery…Philemon vs. Prodigal Son
- Baptismal Imagery: transformed life in community
8
Q
What are some notable verses in Colossians?
A
- Col. 1:15-20; another hymn? how Christ relates to creation, hymn about humility vs. Colossians hymn about divinity, the one God
- Co.. 3:16; “putting on” singing, etc. (moving past just what to “put off”
9
Q
What in the world is going on in 1 Corinthians?
A
- foreshadowing in thanksgiving
- focus on the body
- implications for our embodied life (sex, celibacy, Christian community, food + rights, worship in community)
- wisdom + power
- Corinthians saying there’s no resurrection of the dead
- reasoning w/ idols + food
- embodied worship (head coverings + gender, the Lord’s supper)
10
Q
What in the world is going on in 2 Corinthians?
A
- Paul fall 50 - spring 52 (founds church in Acts 18)
- lost letter (1st)
- news from Corinth –> Chloe (word of mouth)
- 2nd letter –> 1st Cor
- 3rd letter –> 2nd Cor? “tears” lost
- recommendation letters
11
Q
What in the world is going on in Galatians?
A
- which Galatia? not sure (church w/ Gentiles)
- judiazers –> people who try to convert
- Paul is upset w/ them in the intro (circumcision, hypocrisy, not staying true to truth, authority)
Paul’s reminders:
- justification is by faith, NOT works (grace, not the act of significance –> new creation)
- God’s favor is universal (consistent w/ OT)
- fullness of time has come (law had purpose, now faith)
- Spirit produces what the law can’t (life in the Spirit not flesh)
OT in Galatians:
- what has God done + what is He doing in the church? egalitarian + complentarian
“There is no longer Jew or Greek…” Galatians 3:23-29
“…no longer male and female.” (Genesis?)
Freedom!!
12
Q
What in the world is going on in Ephesians?
A
- no personal greetings or local issues
- text criticism (circular letter?)
- audience?
- is Paul the author? (not as concerned with human author)
Chapter breakdown:
- 1-3 (praise)
- 4-6 (implications for life)
Themes:
- God’s mystery (different from problem + puzzle)
- timing
- church
- we cannot figure it out on our own (we need God)
Church –> Christ’s body (translocal)
God has already done things for us (emphasis on the “already/not yet”).
Household codes:
- lower parties in hierarchal pair
“Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
- husband should love wives –> die for them
- slavery
13
Q
What in the world is going on in 1-2 Thessalonians?
A
- Author: Paul
- Focus: persecution, perseverance and maturation, work, and eschatology (faith, hope and love)
- Background:
- very pro-Roman
- Paul eventually leaves due to persecution (guilt follows)
- familial language (“brothers and sisters,” “nursing, gentleness”, “like a father with his children”, etc.)
- a need to grow in hope?
14
Q
What are some notable verses in 1-2 Thessalonians?
A
- 1 Thess 1:2-10; “your work produced by faith,” “prompted by love”…imitation of Paul who imitates Christ
- 2 Thess 1:3-4; Paul using the Thessalonians as examples
- 1 Thess 2:2; Paul’s example of persecution
- 1 Thess 2:14; example set by Judean believers
- 1 Thess 3:3-4; persecution to be expected
- 2 Thess 1:4; Thess believers are exemplary in their endurance of persecution
- 1 Thess 2:5-9; Paul “working day and night” to reach the Thessalonians
- 1 Thess 4:9-12; “mind your own business and work with your hands”
- 1 Thess 5:14; “do not be idle or disruptive”
- people taking advantage of community generosity
- if Jesus is coming back tomorrow then why should I work?
- 1 Thess 4:13-14; people were worried about those who died before Christ’s resurrection
- meeting Christ “in the clouds”
- discussion of the Jews, relating the Thessalonians’ persecution by their own people to Jesus being persecuted by the Jews
15
Q
What in the world is going on in 1 & 2 Timothy (and Titus)?
A
“The Pastoral Epistles”
- Focus: how to choose leaders, how leaders should lead
- Caveats: elders, deacons, bishops positions meant something different back then, and these are individual letters
- Key themes: responding to false teaching, setting up leadership in the church, and ordering the common life
- False teachings: speculations/quarrels, godliness as a means to financial gain, forbidding marriage, legalistic attitudes regarding food (forced ascetism), having to “do more,” myths/profane speech, being manipulated by the devil, and manipulating others (especially women)
