The Pauline Epistles Flashcards
Romans
Author/Date: Paul to Roman Christians about Jew/Gentile Relations (Winter 57-58 AD)
Theme: Righteousness by faith in Christ empowers righteous living
- God’s Righteousness compared to man’s unrighteousness (1-3:20)
- God’s Righteousness given by faith in Christ (3:21-8:39)
- God’s Righteousness demonstrated in history (9-11)
- God’s Righteousness applied by His people (12-16)
1 Corinthians
Author/Date: Paul to Corinth, addressing divisions and answering questions (55-56 AD)
Theme: Handling church problems with the Word of the Cross rather than the wisdom of the world
- Response to report of problems (1-6)
A. Divisions (1-4)
B. Sexual Immorality (5-6) - Response to Corinthians’ letter (7-16)
A. Marriage (7)
B. Idol Food (8-10)
C. Church Life (11-14)
D. Resurrection (15)
E. Other Arrangements (16)
2 Corinthians
Author/Date: Paul to Corinth, vindicate his motives (56 AD)
Theme: Worthy ministry does not boast in the flesh but works by the power of the Spirit
- Defense of Paul’s ministry (1-7)
- Collection for Jerusalem (8-9)
- Critique of false apostles (10-13)
Galatians
Author/Date: Paul to Galatia, in response to Judiazers (around 50 AD)
Theme: There is no gospel but that we are justified by faith alone, in Christ alone, to live resurrected lives to God
- Situational: Galatian Problem (1:1-9)
- Personal: Paul’s Apostleship (1:11-2:14)
- Doctrinal: Christ who lives in me (2:15-4:31)
- Practical: Living Free in Christ (5-6)
Ephesians
Author/Date: Paul to Ephesus
Theme: The Church testifies to the victorious plan of the Triune God in uniting all things in Christ
- What God has done through the gospel (1-3)
A. Blessings in Christ (1)
B. Position in Christ (2-3) - What we do in the gospel (4-6)
A. General Duties (4-5:21)
B. Particular Duties (5:22-6:9)
C. Duty to Fight (6:10-24)
Philippians
Author/Date: Paul from prison to Philippian church (61)
Theme: Joy in Gospel work
1: Rejoice in gospel partnership (1)
2. Rejoice in humble service (2)
3. Rejoice in strive for the goal (3)
4. Rejoice in standing together (4)
Colossians
Author/Date: Paul to Colossae, against a Christ reducing heresy (60-61)
Theme: Christ is supreme over all things
- Work of Christ (1:1-2:3)
- Sufficiency of Christ (2:4-23)
- Life in Christ (3:1-4:18)
1 Thessalonians
Author/Date: Paul to Thessolanica (50 AD)
Theme: Pursuing Holiness amidst Death looking forward in hope to the Day of the Lord
- History (1-3)
A. Thessalonians’ faith, hope, and love
B. Paul’s absence
C. Timothy’s report - Instruction (4-5)
A. Ethics
B. Eschatology
C. Everyone
2 Thessalonians
Author/Date: Paul to Thessalonica, confusion about end times (51 AD)
* Theme: Hope in the coming day of the Lord leads to good works in the present*
- Reason for Boasting (1)
- Day of the Lord (2)
- Idleness/Labor (3)
1 Timothy
Author/Date: Paul to Timothy (Mid-60’s)
Theme: God’s Word shapes the ordering and behavior of the household of God
- False Teachers and Faithful Ministry (1)
- Conduct of Leaders in the Household (2-3)
- False Teachers and Good Servants (4)
- Honoring Specific Groups in the Household (5:1-6:2)
- False Teachers and Men of God (6:3-21)
2 Timothy
Author/Date: Paul to Timothy before his death (67 AD)
* Theme: Guard the gospel and keep working for Christ to the end*
- Endure Faithfully (1)
- Be Approved (2)
- Warning about godlessness (3)
- Endure to the end (4)
Titus
Author/Purpose: Paul to Titus to Combat False Teachers (63-65 AD)
Theme: The Truth of Christ, lived in the Church, transforms lives and cultures
- Appoint: good leaders (1:1-9)
- Silence: Insubordinate false teachers (1:10-16)
- Instruct: Various groups (2)
- Remind: Do good (3)
Philemon
Author/Date: Paul to Philemon, over the slave Onesimus (60 AD)
Theme: Power of God’s grace to reconcile Christians and transform our relations
- Thanks for Philemon (1-7)
- Plea for Onesimus (8-21)
- Final remarks (21-25)
