NT: FINAL EXAM Flashcards
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Authorship & Audience
*Personal letters from Paul to Timothy/Titus
(rather than to entire congregation)
*Nicknamed the “Pastoral Epistles”
*Written from one pastor/shepherd (=Paul)
to another pastor/shepherd (=Timothy/Titus)
about pastoring/shepherding (=Christian leadership)
(Titus so similar to 1 Tim, don’t cover Titus)
- Warnings about fables, genealogies… (Titus 1:14; 3:9)
- Advice to bishops (Titus 1:6-9)
- Warnings against evil people (Titus 1:10-16)
- Council about widows (Titus 2:3-5)
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Paul’s Pastoral Epistles
Timothy - Bishop of Ephesus
“For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.” (Phil. 2:19)
Titus - Bishop of Crete
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Background of the Epistles
1 Timothy was likely written by Paul from Macedonia to Ephesus, AD 66, after Paul’s 1st Roman imprisonment
Titus was likely written by Paul from Macedonia to Titus in Crete, AD 67-68
2 Timothy was likely written from Paul’s 2nd Roman imprisonment, AD 68
***What the Pastoral Epistles present us with is a close-up look at how the “Apostasy” looked/progressed in the early Church.
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Clear evidence of Apostasy- what Paul means when he battles “genealogy”? Anti-Genealogy?
“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
(1 Tim 1:4)
- Paul is not referring to our modern understanding of Family History and vicarious temple work.
- We are commanded to do Family History for the sake of temple work.
In this case, Paul wrote to Timothy about “fables and endless genealogies” as examples of false ideas that simply “minister questions” and do not edify and as a rebuke to those who sought out their ancestry to prove they were “chosen,” or superior to other people. Paul wrote that “the end of the commandment [the summary or capstone of all doctrine] is charity” (1 Timothy 1:5). The Book of Mormon prophet Mormon similarly taught that “charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever”
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Clear evidence of Apostasy- what Paul means when he battles “science”? Anti-Science?
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called”
(1 Tim 6:20)
“Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” (2 Tim 2:18)
- “oppositions” = disputations
- “science” = translation of the Greek term gnosis, which means knowledge
The term was probably referring specifically to the Gnostic movement that was then finding its way into early Christianity. Gnostics believed that salvation was obtained by being instructed in secret knowledge (called gnosis ). Gnosticism was a major source of controversy in second-century Christianity.
- Paul warns against certain Christians (later called Gnostics) who taught they had correct “knowledge” (gnosis) about the origins of the gods.
- Gnostics speculated about “fables” or “genealogies” of the gods.
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Guidelines for Bishops in 1 Tim 3
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Tim 3: 1-7)
- We should not seek for office, but…
- Paul’s main point: “If someone desires to serve, it is a good thing.”
- “Bishop” (Greek: episkopos), or bishop, is one who watches over the flock as an overseer or supervisor
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Guidelines for Bishops in 1 Tim 3 [Continued…]
One Wife? (1 Tim. 3:2)
- Not refer to polygamy vs. monogamy.
- “Husband of one wife” = “married to one wife” or “married only once”
- Early Christians viewed divorce and remarriage very negatively
- Bishops should not be unnecessarily divorced and remarried.
No Novice (1 Tim. 3:6)
- “Novice” = recent convert
- New members should not be given leadership positions (except by necessity).
- They may get overwhelmed, or become proud.
Those Without (1 Tim. 3:7)
- “Them which are without” = Those who are outside of the gospel (i.e. non-members)
- This is about ecumenical or interfaith dialogue.
- Bishops should not pick fights with other local religions; cause problems.
- Bishops must get along well with all types of people and religions in the area.
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) The Latter Times
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1 Tim 4:1)
- NT references to “latter times” (“last days”) often refer to the current time period or immediate future, rather than only 2000 years later.
- Paul and other early Christians felt they were living in the “last days”
“Paul used the term ‘latter times’ to denote the period in which the developments that he foretold would take place. In the ultimate sense, the period of time in which we now live can be called ‘the latter times’ better than any other… Yet Paul spoke using a different definition for ‘latter times.’ His focus was on the last days of the Christianity of his era, the ‘latter times’ of the early church.”
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) 2 Tim probably is the last thing Paul writes
In 2 Timothy, however, Paul alludes to another imprisonment in Rome, which was apparently a separate incident from when he was under house arrest there earlier. In the imprisonment, Paul was in chains, and he was held in a cold cell or dungeon, and his friends struggled to locate him. Luke was apparently his only contact, and Paul expected that his life was coming to an end. According to early Christian traditions, Paul was executed during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Nero. Since Nero died in a.d. 68, the Second Epistle to Timothy may have been written about a.d. 67 or 68, just prior to Paul’s martyrdom.
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) 2 Tim probably is the last thing Paul writes [Continued…]
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”
(2 Tim 4:6-8, 11)
- Paul’s departing testimony.
- Right before Paul’s second trial in Rome.
- Paul does not expect to be acquitted this time.
- Paul is in the covenant, and if he dies, he is ok.
- Notice of Luke & Mark
(1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) Apostasy
Apostasy comes from within and slowly destroys, like acid
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”
(2 Tim 3:1-8)
(Hebrews) Authorship & Audience
Background:
- Paul is the traditional author of Hebrews.
- However, Hebrews was likely originally anonymous.
- Epistles of Paul are in order by size, except Hebrews.
- -Early Christians were not certain who wrote it
- -So they placed it at the end of Paul’s letters
- Some early Christians thought Paul wrote Hebrews, while others thought that Barnabas or Luke or Clement or Timothy wrote it.
- Those who thought that Paul wrote it eventually won.
- -So they put Paul’s name in the title
- General conclusion: Hebrews probably is being written for Jewish Christians at Rome.
General Problem:
*Christians slipping into Jewish practices (an old problem!).
General Answer:
*Christ, the Gospel, and the Melchizedek Priesthood are superior (in every way) to Moses, the Law, and the Levitical Priesthood.
(Hebrews) Authorship & Audience [Continued…]
Audience was Jewish (Hebrew) Christians. These converts apparently wrestled with several questions: If we accept that the rituals of the law of Moses are not required of Gentile Christians, what is the true value of the Old Testament? If the gospel of Jesus Christ is the right way, why are we being persecuted so much for being His followers? If Jesus was the Messiah, why is Israel still in bondage to the Romans?
Under the pressure of various afflictions, many of these Jewish Christians were withdrawing from the Church and returning to the relative safety of Jewish worship at the synagogue. One reason that the book of Hebrews was written was to encourage Jewish converts to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and not revert to their former way of life. The book’s structure can be seen as three main sections of teachings that build to a concluding exhortation:
(1) the preeminence of Jesus Christ as the Son of God
(2) the superiority of Christ’s priesthood
(3) the superiority of His atoning sacrifice and ministry
(Hebrews) Jesus vs. Angels
“Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” (Hebrews 1:4-5)
*Jesus is better than angels. How/why?
“Name” = identity
*Christ has more excellent name/identity than angels.
*God identified Christ as a “Son”
*But what are angels?
*Angels are “ministering spirits sent to minister” (i.e. “servants sent to serve”)
*Conclusion: Christ’s identity as God’s Son is superior to angels’ identity as God’s servants.
(Hebrews) Jesus vs. Angels [Continued…]
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
(Hebrews 2:9-10)
Lower than the Angels?
- Jesus became a little lower than the angels = Jesus condescended to come to earth as a lowly human being. (Mortals, Angels, and then Jesus Christ)
- Jesus, the “captain of our salvation”, was made perfect through suffering.
- Something about suffering was essential for Jesus [“he that sanctifies”] and is essential for us [“they who are sanctified”]?
(Hebrews) Jesus vs. Angels [Continued…]
(purpose of Christ’s suffering)
Ans: Heb 4: 15-16
-because he can feel what we feel, he can succor us, and help up, approach God boldly because he knows how we felt, became us, can meet us and has tied himself up in those moment, broken the chains if we turn to him, christ meets us wherever we need him
- Suffering / temptation allowed Christ to learn perfectly how to be merciful to others.
- If Christ was “without sin”, how does he really know what it is like to be you and me?
- Answer: In Gethsemane, Jesus vicariously experienced what it was like to be guilty!
- Jesus became like us “in all things.”
- Not only does he know what it feels like to be tempted…but to give in to temptation.
- Thus he is able to give us mercy
(Hebrews) Jesus vs. High Priest
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:15-16)
- “Throne of grace” = top of ark of the covenant (“mercy seat”) where high priest sprinkled blood, symbolizing God’s presence and merciful atonement.
- Because Jesus knows what it is like to be us, we can boldly approach him for mercy and forgiveness.
(Hebrews) Jesus vs. Moses
- Jesus is greater than Moses.
- How or why?
- Just as angels, Moses was God’s servant, but Christ is God’s Son
For the Jews, Moses was the most highly revered prophet, the one who received God’s law at Sinai. The Jewish Christians being addressed in Hebrews were contemplating abandoning their faith in Christ and returning to Judaism in an attempt to remain loyal to the law of Moses. They did not understand (or believe deeply enough) that Christ was preeminent to Moses. Having shown in Hebrews 1–2 that Jesus Christ is greater than the angels, Paul next explained that as “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,” Jesus is greater than Moses.
(Hebrews) Identity of Melchizedek - Who was Melchizedek, and how was he related to Abraham?
“But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.”
(Hebrews 7:6)
- “he” = Melchizedek
- “them” = Abraham & Levi
- Melch. was a contemporary of Abr.
- Melchizedek was not related to Abraham and his descendants.
- Melch. was a Gentile high priest.
- Melchizedek blessed Abraham and received tithes from Abraham.
- Melchizedek is greater than Abraham, since the greater person is the one who blesses and receives tithes from the lesser person.
(Hebrews) Melchizedek Priesthood
- Christ was also a high priest. (Not a Levitical high priest, but a Melchizedek high priest).
- Jesus was from the tribe of Judah — not the tribe of Levi (and Moses said nothing about the tribe of Judah having priesthood).
- So Jesus could not have been a Levitical high priest. He was a Melchizedek high priest.
- If the Levitical Priesthood could bring salvation, there would be no need for another priesthood.
- Conclusion: The Melchizedek Priesthood is greater than the Levitical Priesthood.
(Hebrews) Jesus sheds his blood in the Holy of Holies as the sacrifice and the sacrificer
The ordinances performed by ancient Levitical priests foreshadowed the Atonement made by the Son of God. Ancient priests offered up goats or lambs from Israel’s flocks; the Lamb of God voluntarily offered up Himself. The high priest offered sacrifices in this manner every year on the Day of Atonement; Christ offered His sacrifice “once for all”. As the ancient high priest entered into the Holy of Holies on earth and sprinkled the goat’s blood upon the mercy seat for the sins of Israel, so Jesus Christ our Mediator entered the sanctuary of heaven itself, there to intercede by virtue of His own spilt blood before the Father in behalf of those who would repent. Thus, Jesus was not only the High Priest for us in making the offering; He was also the very offering Himself. Jesus came “to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself”
(Hebrews) Divine Ascent on Day of Atonement/Scapegoat
Day of Atonement:
1) High Priest, clothed in white, offered bullock as sin offering for himself; offered one goat as sin offering for Israel; Entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle their blood on the mercy seat. (Symbolism of Holy of Holies, Mercy Seat, & sprinkling of blood?)
2) The 2nd goat (Azazel) had the sins of Israel placed upon it and was driven into the wilderness (symbolism? SCAPEGOAT)
3) As the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies, the congregation lifted their hands and prayed (symbolism of prayer & veil?)
- Under Law of Moses, only high priest (not people in general) allowed to enter Holy of Holies (or the presence of God).
- This symbolized that God not yet revealed way for everyone to enter presence of God.
- Only through Gospel of Christ can everyone enter presence of God.
- Christ offered himself only once, and it worked permanently!
- Christ didn’t need to repeat his sacrifice every year like Levitical high priests.
(Hebrews) Major elements of Holy Place and in the temple
“For there was a tabernacle made; the first [room], wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary…which had the golden censer.”
(Heb. 9:2,4)
“First [room]” = the Holy Place
“The candlestick” = the Menorah
“The table and the shewbread” = the table of showbread (or “bread of the presence” of the Lord)
“The golden censer” = the altar of incense (Heb. 9:4 places the altar of incense in the Holy of Holies, but it really was in the Holy Place.)
(Hebrews) Major elements of Holy of Holies in the temple
“And after the second veil, [in] the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had…the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables [i.e. “tablets] of the covenant. And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat.” (Heb. 9:3-5)
“Holiest of all” = Holy of Holies (*The Holy of Holies symbolized the presence of God.)
Ark of the Covenant
(ABSENT from the Temple of Herod)
Inside the ark: pot of manna, Aaron’s rod, & tablets of 10 commandments
(1 & 2 Peter) Authorship & Audience
These are both general (catholic) epistles, written by Peter 60-68 A.D.
Not intended for one specific church.
Paul’s letters showed the internal strife affecting the church. First Peter shows how external persecution should be handled.
(1 & 2 Peter) Authorship & Audience [Continued…]
1 Peter was probably written from Rome, before the Neronian persecutions, probably AD 62-63, to Saints in the five provinces of Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1). It was written to forewarn church members of a “fiery trial” yet to come, and teaching them how to react to suffering & persecution. It was a warning & preparation for ominous days ahead.
2 Peter was probably written from Rome, prior to AD 68. It appears to follow the Neronian persecutions (no mention of persecution or suffering) but precedes Peter’s martyrdom in AD 68. The purpose is to teach how to come to a knowledge of Christ. It also warns of impending apostasy & reminds saints to stick to apostolic teachings. Danger is more from within than from without at this point.
(1 & 2 Peter) “Babylon”
- Ancient Babylon = modern Iraq.
- Christians used “babylon” as metaphor for evil, rather than land of modern Iraq.
- Because Romans persecuted Christians, they referred to Rome by code-name: Babylon.
- Thus “the church at Babylon” is the church at Rome.
- Peter is in Rome, with Silvanus and Marcus (traditionally the John Mark of Acts 16).
(1 & 2 Peter) Christians & Persecution
3 things about Christians were a concern for Gentiles:
- Pax Deorum (The Peace of the Gods)
- Cannibalism
- Immorality
(1 & 2 Peter) Christians & Persecution Background [Continued…]
- Roman Attitudes:
1) If you honor the gods, they will protect Empire from danger (war, famine, etc.).
2) Burn incense to honor Emperor (who represents the gods and protects Empire). - Christian Attitudes:
1) Renounce Roman gods. They don’t really exist.
2) Refuse to burn incense. Should not worship Emperor; he is only a man - Roman/Gentile response to Christians:
1) Christians make the gods angry. If bad things happens, we blame Christians.
2) Christians are dangerous: disloyal (& encourage disloyalty) to emperor/gov’t. - *Christians felt these were issues of private religious worship.
- *But Romans felt these were issues of public social stability & political disloyalty.
- Both Christians & Jews refused to burn incense to Emperor!
- *Romans respected / tolerated ancient religious traditions.
- At this point, Romans realizing Christianity is separate from Judaism.
- *Romans tolerated Jews, because Judaism was ancient. (& Jews offered sacrifice in behalf of emperor each day at temple)
- *Romans did not tolerate Christianity, because it was perceived as new!
(1 & 2 Peter) How to handle trials
Peter knew that Church members were facing ridicule for their beliefs; however, he wrote that trials of faith are “more precious than . . . gold”. Like gold, our faith in Jesus Christ is refined when we faithfully endure fiery trials. Jesus is our Exemplar in all things— His crown of thorns came first and then His crown of glory. There is an eternal principle associated with suffering. After affliction and tribulation—which bring sorrow and the need to be long-suffering—come joy, blessings, and exaltation
“How do you remain ‘steadfast and immovable’ during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others. “When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view”
