NT 2 Midterm Flashcards
Define hauptbriefe
Chief or principal letters. Galatians, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians
What are the two categories by which Paul’s epistles are arranged in the NT? How are the letters arranged within each category?
- 1st group: Paul’s letters to churches, 2nd group: Letters to individuals
- Within each group: longest to shortest
How many epistles did Paul write which appear in the NT? According to Dr. Wicker, are any of them anonymous or pseudonymous?
13 letters. None are anonymous or pseudonymous
Which Pauline letter is written to a group of churches?
Galatians
In which epistle did Paul describe his conversion and early ministry?
Galatians
Explain the main difference between the North Galatia and the South Galatia theory of the destination of Galatians.
- South Galatia view – Paul wrote it in AD 49, after his first missionary journey
- North Galatia view – Paul wrote it in AD 54-56, during his third missionary journey
What occasion led Paul to write Galatians?
- Paul and Barnabas went to Asia Minor on their 1st missionary journey, AD 48-49. Later, Jewish Christians (Judaizers) went there and told people they had to become Jews before becoming Christians (had to be circumcised.)
In what sense did Paul use the term “apostle” to refer to himself? What is the meaning of this term that can apply to every Christian?
- An apostle was an eyewitness of Jesus and a leader in the early church.
- The definition of “one sent forth” applies to every Christian.
What is legalism? What was the legalism that Paul wrote against in Galatians?
- Depending on good works for salvation, rather than grace through faith alone
Who were the Judaizers? Briefly share how did Paul answered the Judaizers in Galatians.
- Judaizers insisted that people had to convert to Judaism (be circumcised) in order to be become Christians (be saved).
- Paul refused to give in to them at all. He refuted their claims passionately.
What word was the common greeting used by Gentiles and what word was the common greeting used by Jews in Paul’s day that to which he gave a deeper meaning in the greetings of his letters?
Gentiles - grace; Jews - peace (shalom)
What is a doxology?
- A short praise to God or Jesus. Usually uses words like “praise, forever, and amen”
When Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem for Paul’s “second time,” who was a test case that they brought with them (2:1-5)? What was the issue? Why did Paul visit with the pillars of the church at Jerusalem at this time?
- Titus was the test case. Judaizers tried to convince him to be circumcised. Paul opposed them and said that Titus did not have to be circumcised.
- Paul met with the pillars of the church at Jerusalem for them to approve his ministry and recognize his calling to minister to the Gentiles
What is the New Perspective on Paul?
- Argument that Paul was not talking about individual salvation (works vs faith) but rather about uniting Jews and Gentiles. He was arguing against the Jew-specific portions of the law.
- Judaism at that time was not monolithic. They did not try to earn salvation by obedience to the law. The reformers misinterpreted this.
- Rather, Jews practiced covenantal nomism – good works kept them within the covenant of God.
- Paul merely argued against Jewish nationalism and exclusivism – dealt with who got saved, not how they got saved.
What is the negative use of the law (3:19, 22)? What is the positive use (3:23-24)?
- Negative use – reveals sin
- Positive use – a tutor or custodian to lead first the Jews and then all people to Christ
What does Galatians 3:28 address?
- There are no distinctions regarding salvation
- Distinctions such as male and female certainly exist, but not in regards to salvation. Everyone is equal when it comes to salvation
How was Jesus born “in the fullness of time” (4:4)?
- For thousands of years, God had been preparing for that particular moment in history for Jesus to be born.
- The Law had prepared the Jews for their need for Christ, their Scriptures all pointed to him.
- Jews were sick of foreign subjugation and had a heightened Messianic expectation. Religious hunger because of the emptiness of the Greek philosophies and “gods.”
- Greek language had spread, Romans built excellent system of roads, pax romana.
What does it mean that the Galatians would have plucked out their eyes for Paul (v. 15)?
- They would have done anything to help Paul with his physical affliction, even sacrificing something as precious as their own eyes. Could mean that Paul’s affliction was eye-related, but not necessarily.
When Paul used Hagar, Ishmael, Sarah, and Isaac as allegories, who do each represent (vv. 21-31)?
- Isaac represents the sons of faith (Sarah) while Ishmael represents the sons of works of the law (Hagar)
What does Galatians say about a Christian being free in Christ (Gal 5:1, 13-14, 16)?
- We are free from slavery to sin and from living under the law. But we should use our freedom to love and serve others, not to satisfy our own desires.
What are the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23)? Describe them as a whole. Contrast them as a whole with the deeds of the flesh.
- Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- Godly virtues developed in Christians by the Holy Spirit.
- They are all self-sacrificial, putting others first. They reflect God’s own character.
- Deeds of the flesh are selfish and sinful, putting our own desires over those of others. They stand in stark contrast to the character of God.
Name and describe the five typical divisions of one of Paul’s epistles.
- Prescription – greeting and identification
- Thanksgiving
- Body – content of the letter (opening, doctrine, application)
- Travel log
- Subscription – final greetings, instructions, Paul’s own signature
How did the original recipients know a letter was really from Paul (and not an imposter)? There were two ways.
- Testimony of the letter’s carrier (he used friends to deliver his letters)
- Paul’s autograph near the end (in large letters)
What is an amanuensis? Describe three different ideas on how much control an amanuensis had who recorded a writing that became part of the NT.
- Amanuensis – secretary or scribe – wrote the letter as Paul dictated
- 1) Dictation – no control, just wrote it down
- 2) Some change – Made changes, but Paul corrected if necessary
- 3) Much change – Paul did or did not correct
Know the following terms: papyrus, parchment, scroll, letter, and epistle
- Papyrus – plant based, about 9 ½ x 11” in size. Each sheet held 150-250 words. Pages sewn together to form a scroll.
- Parchment – made from animal skin, more durable, more expensive.
- Epistle = letter
When and from where did Paul write 1 and 2 Thessalonians? Thessalonica was located on what major Roman road?
- 1 Thess – spring/summer AD 50
- 2 Thess – AD 50-51
- Both written from Corinth during Paul’s second missionary journey
List Paul’s six major themes in 1 Thessalonians.
- Encouraged the church as they faced persecution
- Defended his motives and actions when he had previously ministered to them
- Urged them to live in sexual purity
- Explained a proper Christian work ethic
- Answered their worries about the death of some Christians (they will participate in the return of Christ)
- Exhorted them to respect their church leaders
What is another name for Silvanus (1:1)? Who are the “saints” (3:13)?
- Silvanus = Silas
- Saints = believers
How did Paul describe his pastoral parental skills in dealing with the Thessalonians (1 Thess 2:7, 11)?
- Gentle as a mother, implored them as a father
- Sought to please God (not men), shared the gospel as well as their upright lives
Who several times prevented Paul from visiting the Thessalonians after his initial visit (2:18)?
Satan
Whom did Paul send to strengthen and encourage the Christians at Thessalonica (3:2)?
Timothy
What are two practices Paul often did to strengthen and encourage a church after he established it and went to other places (1:2; 3:2, 10-13)?
Sent letters, sent a coworker to encourage them
Define “sanctification”? What is a person’s “vessel” that must be kept in “sanctification and honor” (4:4)?
- Sanctification – the process of growing in Christlikeness, being set apart for Him
- A person’s vessel is his body.
Who are the ones Paul referred to who were “asleep” according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18? Why were the Christians at Thessalonica worried them? What was Paul’s answer to them?
- Asleep was a euphemism for dead
- Christians at Thessalonica were worried about them because they thought the dead might miss out on the resurrection and future glory when Christ returned
- Paul told them that dead Christians were already with Christ and would return with Him at His second coming.
How is it that “the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thess 4:16)? How does this event fit with 2 Corinthians 5:8 saying that to absent in the body is to be present with the Lord?
- Dead in Christ will rise first – earthly bodies joining their pre-resurrection bodies
- No soul sleep. Their spirits/souls were already with Christ
Distinguish between a monophysite, bipartite (dichotomy), and tripartite (trichotomy) view of a human? What are the three parts of a tripartite view?
- Monophysite – humans are a single indivisible unit
- Bipartite (dichotomy) – humans consist of two parts, body and soul/spirit
- Tripartite (trichotomy) – humans consist of three parts, body, soul (personality), and spirit (part that can know God)
List Paul’s three major themes in 2 Thessalonians.
- Paul encouraged them during their persecution
- He straightened out their misunderstanding regarding the second coming of Christ
- Explained how to deal with unruly and undisciplined people
What was the problem in the church at Thessalonica that Paul tried to correct in 2 Thessalonians (2 Thess 2:2-3; 3:10-11)?
- Some thought that the second coming had already happened
- Some people were being lazy, unruly, undisciplined
Who is the “man of lawlessness”? What are two other names for him?
- Antichrist, son of destruction
- Satan’s man sent to deceive and draw people away from God
Explain six possibilities for identifying the “restrainer” in 2 Thessalonians 2.
- Roman government/Caesar
- Missionary preaching of Paul
- The Bible
- An angel, such as Michael
- Pretribulation church
- The Holy Spirit (Dr. Wicker’s preferred view)
What is the “apostasy” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3?
- Antichrist will set himself up in the Temple and declare himself to be God
Paul gave a simple work ethic for Christians in 2 Thessalonians
if a person does not work, he does not eat (2 Thess 3:10).
Explain the reasons for the four letters Paul wrote to Corinth and their chronological order.
- Paul’s second missionary journey – Paul made first visit to Corinth (AD 50-52)
- Paul wrote Corinthians A (no longer extant)
- Paul wrote 1 Corinthians (Corinthians B) from Ephesus during his 3rd missionary journey (spring 55 or 56)
- Timothy maybe visited Corinth and returned to Paul with a bad report
- Paul’s second visit to Corinth (a painful visit)
- Paul wrote Corinthians C, no longer extant. Sorrowful letter.
- Titus probably delivers C and returns with encouraging report
- Paul wrote 2 Corinthians (Corinthians D) from Macedonia in fall 56
- Paul visits Corinth for the third time, write Romans from there
What were the four problems in the Corinthian church as reported to Paul by members of Chloe’s household that Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians chapters 1-6?
- Church factions
- Incest, apostolic discipline
- Dealing with courts (Christian lawsuits)
- Immorality
Who was Sosthenes (1:1)?
- Former Corinth synagogue leader whom the people beat up at Gallio’s bema (judgment seat) after Paul was dismissed
In 1 Corinthians 1:16 Paul wrote that he baptized the house of Stephanas, but other than that household, Paul did not remember if he baptized anyone else in Corinth. What does this statement tell us about the process of the inspiration of the Bible?
- Not straight-up dictation. If God was literally dictating these words to Paul, he would have just helped Paul remember the names of the people he baptized
In 1 Corinthians 1:16 Paul wrote that he baptized the house of Stephanas, but other than that household, Paul did not remember if he baptized anyone else in Corinth. What does this statement tell us about the process of the inspiration of the Bible?
- Not straight-up dictation. If God was literally dictating these words to Paul, he would have just helped Paul remember the names of the people he baptized
In 1 Corinthians 1:16 Paul wrote that he baptized the house of Stephanas, but other than that household, Paul did not remember if he baptized anyone else in Corinth. What does this statement tell us about the process of the inspiration of the Bible?
- Not straight-up dictation. If God was literally dictating these words to Paul, he would have just helped Paul remember the names of the people he baptized
How was the issue of baptism divisive at Corinth?
- The church had split into factions based on who had baptized them.
