things for lesson 8: Paul and his apocalyptic mission Flashcards
the first of Paul’s surviving works to be written
1 Thessalonians
the oldest book of the New Testament
1 Thessalonians
the earliest surviving Christian writing of any kind
1 Thessalonians
when does 1 Thessalonians date to?
around 49 C.E.
to whom is 1 Thessalonians written to?
to a congregation for which Paul has real affection and in which no major problems have arisen
what is 1 Thessalonians mostly about?
Paul spends most of the letter renewing his bonds of friendship with the congregation, largely by recounting aspects of their past relationship
the analysis method used for 1 Thessalonians
socio-historical
Thessalonica
a major port city, the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia
here, the Roman governor kept his residence, and one of the principal targets chosen by Paul for his mission in the region
one of the principal targets chosen by Paul for his mission in Thessalonica
the Roman governor
Paul generally chose to stay where?
why?
in relatively large urban areas where he would have the greatest opportunity to meet and address potential converts
how does the Book of Acts explain how Paul would convert people?
Paul would go to the local synagogue, where as a traveling Jew he would be quite welcome
–> using the worship service there as an occasion to speak of his belief in Jesus as the messiah come in fulfillment of the Scriptures
Does Paul mention the jewish synagogue in Thessalonica in his letter?
nah bruv
difference between who Paul converted in Thessalonica according to Acts, and 1 Thessalonians?
Acts: other jews
1 Thessalonians: the Christians that he brought to the faith were former pagans
–> he never mentions the presence of any Jews, either among his Christian converts or among their opponents in town
according to 1 Thessalonians, how would Paul preach his faith?
he had been working full time and had used his place of business as a point of contact with people to proclaim the gospel
–> Paul preached while on the job
Paul as accompanied in Thessalonica by who else?
Timothy and Silvanus
what would philosophers at the time of Paul preach to the people they wanted to convert to their way of thinking?
they wanted them to change their perspective on what makes their followers happy
they wanted to make them stop making their happiness dependent on material and uncontrollable aspects of life
Was Paul and his two companions seen as a new religion or as a new philosophical ideology in Thessalonica?
as a new philosophical ideology
did Paul and his two companions rely on patrons?
nah
they chose to work with their own hands rather than rely on the resources of others
was Paul educated
yeee boy
Paul’s first step to convert people?
to have them realize that the many gods they worshipped were “dead” and “false” and that there was only one “living” and “true” God
–> he first had to win converts to the God of Israel
a central component of the converts’ faith that Paul needed to preach?
the belief that Jesus died “for them”
the converts needed to believe in the death and ressurection
What appears to have been the most important belief about Jesus to the Thessalonians
that he was soon to return from heaven in judgment on the earth
what kind of message did Paul preach to the Thessalonians?
a strongly apocalyptic message
from what Thessalonian social class were the converts from?
usually not from the upper class, but some were
did christian converts in thessalonica appear as an open or closed group?
closed group
Not just anyone could come off the street to join
who could join the christian group in thessalonica?
membership was restricted to those who accepted Paul’s message of the apocalyptic judgment that was soon to come and the salvation that could be obtained only through faith in Jesus, who died and was raised from the dead
–> Paul instructs his converts that they too should expect to suffer
what made the consolidation of Thessalonians christians stronger?
A shared experience of suffering
They were brothers and sisters bonded together for a common purpose, standing against a common enemy, partaking of a common destiny, and connected with other communities of like purpose and destiny who all shared the history of the people of God, as recorded in the traditions of the Jewish Scriptures
Associations in the greco-roman world
privately organized small groups that met periodically to socialize and share a good meal together
they would often perform cultic acts of worship together
many of them were concerned with providing appropriate burial for their members
where did Paul and his companions go after staying in Thessalonica?
which of the companions was sent to check on the young church?
they journeyed to Athens
Timothy
what does Timothy say about the young Thessalonians church when he reports back to Paul?
the congregation was still strong and deeply grateful for the work they had done among them
The closest analogy to 1 Thessalonians from elsewhere in Greco-Roman antiquity
a kind of correspondence that modern scholars have labeled the “friendship letter”
a letter sent to renew an acquaintance and to extend friendly good wishes,
one important issue that has arisen in the Thessalonian church since Paul’s departure
it is a question pertaining to the events at the end of time
something troubling had happened: some of the members of the congregation had died
–> These deaths caused a major disturbance among some of the survivors
–> The Thessalonians had thought that the end was going to come before they passed off the face of the earth
Paul instructs them that they shouldn’t worry, for those that died are the first to meet Jesus
where the Thessalonian Christians eventually prosecuted?
ye bruv
like 60 years after 1 Thessalonians
Does Paul expect his followers and himself to stay alive until the rapture?
yeee bruv
the end of time was imminent
Paul’s three-storied universe
the world consists of an “up” (where God is, and now Jesus)
–> a “here” (where we are),
–> and a “down” (where those who have died are)
what did people generally believe of secret societies then that could have negatively affected the Thessalonians?
if people meet together in secret or under the cloak of darkness, they must have something to hide
Why were the Thessalonian Christians surprised that some of their members had died, and why didn’t they know that at Jesus’ return he would raise the dead to be with him forever? Had Paul simply neglected to tell them that part? Morever, why was Timothy unable to answer their question? Why did he have to return to ask Paul about it, leaving them in uncertainty for some weeks at the least? Didn’t Timothy know what was supposed to happen at the end?
The Thessalonians’ Perplexity
One possibility is that when Paul was with the Thessalonians his own views were in a state of flux
If he himself didn’t realize how long it would be before Jesus returned, he might not have discussed the matter with either the Thessalonians or his own close companions, Silvanus and Timothy
The members of the Thessalonian church had unusually strong bonds of cohesion, reinforced by which factors?
(1) the insider information they had as those who understood the course of history here at the end of time
(2) the mutual love and support that they showed one another
(3) the common front they projected in the face of external opposition from those who did not know the “truth”
(4) the rules that governed their lives together
how are the thirteen New Testament epistles attributed to Paul arranged?
roughly according to length, with the longest coming first and the shortest last
longest epistle
Romans
shortest epistle
Philemon
the latest arriving Epistle we have
Romans
the canonical chronological order of Paul’s epistle
1 Thessalonians
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Philippians
Philemon
Romans
Corinth
a large and prosperous city south of Thessalonica
in the Roman province of Achaia, of which it was the capital
a major center of trade and communication
why was Corinth’s image intentionally tarnished by the citizens of Athens?
because it was one of its nearby rivals and the intellectual center of ancient Greece
Corinthianize
word invented by an Athenian
meant to engage in sexually promiscuous activities
The problems of the congregation that Paul addresses in 1 Corintihans
interpersonal conflicts and ethical improprieties
some of its members were at each others’ throats, claiming spiritual superiority over one another and trying to establish it through ecstatic acts during the course of their worship services
At their periodic community meals, some had been gorging themselves and getting drunk while others had been arriving late to find nothing to eat
Some of the men in the congregation had been frequenting prostitutes and didn’t see why this should be a problem
difference between the narrative of Acts and what Paul himself says about his main convert targets in Corinth
Acts: Paul devoted himself chiefly to evangelizing the Jews in the local synagogue until he was dismissed with the left foot of fellowship
–> Even after leaving the synagogue, Paul principally converted Jews
Letters: Most of his converts, appear to have been non Jews
were some of the Corinthian converts wealthy?
yeee
why did Paul not want to deal with rich patrons?
he saw it as putting his gospel up for sale
problems created by wealth differences in the christian community of Corinth
the upper classes would have seen things differently from the lower classes
–> this most likely led to some differences of opinion in the community
ex: some members may have thought that eating meat offered to idols was a real and present danger, in view of the demonic character of the pagan gods (possibly a lower-class view), while others took such scruples as baseless superstition (possibly the view of some of the more highly educated)
were people in Corinth easier to convert than in Thessalonica?
why?
ye bruv
they had a higher degree of education
what message did the Corinthians not take as seriously as the Thessalonians?
to await God’s Son
Paul’s principal message to the Corinthians
how did the Corinthians grasp this?
was about Jesus as the crucified Christ
It appears to be a message that the Corinthians, or at least a good portion of them, didn’t absorb
main differences in the messages Paul preached in Thessalonica and Corinth
the message itself
the other in the way that it was received
how did Paul preach his message in Thessalonica and Corinth?
Thessalonica: Paul directly linked his gospel message with the Jewish religion, but never does he quote the Jewish Scriptures or assume that his followers are personally conversant with them
Corinth: Paul had taught them that Jesus’ death and resurrection were both anticipated in the Scriptures
–> throughout this letter he appeals to the Scriptures in order to make his points
–> he emphasizes that the Scriptures were not written only, or even especially, for Jews in times past, but even more particularly for Christians in the present
true or false
If the Thessalonians had insider knowledge, the Corinthians have even more;
true
how did Thessalonians and Corinthians interpret Paul’s message
Thessalonians: saw Jesus’ resurrection as the beginning of the major climax of history
–> when he would return and remove the Christians from this world before God’s wrath destroys all his enemies
Corinthians: some interpreted Jesus’ resurrection in a more personal sense
–> his exaltation to glory that they themselves, as those who have participated in his victory, have come to share
–> some of the Corinthians came to believe that they had already begun to enjoy the full benefits of salvation in the here and now, as members of Christ’s resurrected and exalted bod
Paul states that he has learned about the activities of the Corinthian congregation from whom?
“Chloe’s people”
Paul’s perspective in 1 Corinthian
he is reminding them of something they already know: that Jesus was raised bodily from the dead
–> For Paul, Jesus’ resurrected body was a glorified spiritual body
–> Christians do not yet have the full benefits of salvation
the problems that Paul attacks in 1 Corinthians
the divisions within the church that were caused by leaders claiming to be spiritually superior to one another and to adhere to the teachings of various predecessors
–> Paul insists that all of the sides (even his) are in error
The “wise and powerful” leaders of the community have been unable to deal with the most rudimentary issues
–> They have not recognized how shameful it is for a man to sleep with his stepmother or for others to visit prostitutes or for others to rely on civil law courts instead of the “wise” judgment of those in the community
They do not see that there are still evil forces in the world, which will infect the congregation if allowed to enter
they use too many ecstatic pleasure and forgot christ would give them gifts if they were good followers
–> Anyone who has all of the gifts that can be given by the Spirit but who fails to love the brothers and sisters in Christ is still in total poverty
in 1 Corinthians, why does Paul think all of the sides that were formed are in error (even his)
because they have elevated the status of individual leaders on the basis of their superior wisdom and superhuman power
–> the leaders claim that wisdom and power indicate the superior standing of those who have already been exalted to enjoy the privileges and benefits of the exalted life in Christ
–> For Paul, though, a high evaluation of wisdom and power represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel
–> God works not through what appears to be wise and powerful but through what appears to be foolish and weak
the different ways that Paul’s opponents conceived of life after death
Annihilation
Disembodied Existence
Bodily Resurrection
Annihilation in life after death
a person who dies ceases to exist
Disembodied Existence in life after death
life apart from the body
Bodily Resurrection in life after death
the body is not inherently evil or problematic but has simply become subject to the ravages of evil and death
–> Paul maintained this view
was the message gave to the Corinthians different from the Thessalonians?
not very much
the change in the tone between 1 and 2 Corinthians
Paul’s tone changes even within his second letter, and rather severely
–> scholars are convinced that 2 Corinthians does not represent a solitary letter that Paul sat down one day and wrote but a combination of at least two letters that he penned at different times for different occasion
explain the change in tone in 2 corinthians
In chapters 1–9 Paul appears to be on very good terms with this congregation
–> He is overflowing with joy for them, almost as much as he was for the Thessalonians even though he acknowledges that their relationship has been more than a little stormy in the past
in chapters 10–13, everything seems to change, or rather, to revert
–> No longer is Paul joyful in this congregation that has returned to him
–> Now he is bitter and incensed that they have come to question his authority and to badmouth his person
in 2 corinthians, which parts were written first and last
chapters 10–13 were written first
–> the letter that was written soon after Paul’s public humiliation and before his reconciliation with the Corinthians
chapters 1–9 are the reconciliation
Paul’s First Visit in Corinth
when Paul and Silvanus and Timothy first arrived in Corinth
–> set up shop
–> preached the gospel
–> won a number of converts
–> provided them with some rudimentary instruction before leaving for other areas ripe for mission
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians
has been lost
refers to it in 1 Corinthians
appears to have dealt, at least in part, with ethical issues that had arisen in the community
The Corinthians’ First Letter to Paul
Some of the Corinthians, either in response to Paul’s first letter or independently of it, wrote Paul to inquire further about ethical matters
–> for example, about whether Christians should have sex with their spouses
Paul’s Second Letter: 1 Corinthians
wrote as a response to the Corinthians’ queries and in reaction to information that he received from “Chloe’s people”
Paul announced his plans to travel through Macedonia south to Corinth, where he hoped to spend the winter
Paul’s Second Visit to Corinth
a painful visit for Paul
–> he was not well received
–> someone in the congregation did something to cause him pain and possibly public humiliation
The Arrival of the Superapostles in Corinth
other apostles of Christ arrived in town, claiming to be true spokespersons of the gospel
were of Jewish ancestry
appear to have appealed precisely to that aspect of the Corinthians’ views that Paul found most repugnant
–> their notion that life in Christ was already an exalted, glorified existence
They and Paul did not see eye to eye
The Partitioning Theory of 2 Corinthians
chapters 1–9 are not a unity but are made up of several letters spliced together
Paul’s Third Letter to the Corinthians
After his second visit, Paul wrote a letter in which he went on the attack against the superapostles
Those who boast of their power and wisdom do not understand that the end has not yet come, that this is an age of weakness in which God’s wisdom appears foolish
the superapostles are not apostles at all
Paul also used this letter to attack the person who had publicly humiliated him and to warn the congregation to deal with him prior to his arrival in judgment
Paul’s Fourth Letter to the Corinthians
After hearing the good news from Titus, Paul wrote a friendly letter to express his pleasure at the Corinthians’ change of heart
He also wanted to explain why he had not come for another visit
why does Paul go to such lengths to “boast in his weaknesses” in 2 Corinthians?
to prove that all apostles of Jesus must suffer like he did
to show that those relying on their abilities are in collusion with evil forces and Satan
for Paul these are signs that he is the true apostle of Christ, who himself suffered the ignominious fate of crucifixion
is there a question concerning the unity of the Galatian epistle?
no
it is just one letter, written completely at one time, to address one problem
the problem addressed by Galatians
After Paul converted a number of Gentiles to faith in Christ in the region of Galatia, other missionaries arrived on the scene, insisting that believers must follow parts of the Jewish Law in order to be fully right before God
–> Specifically, the men in these congregations had to accept the Jewish rite of circumcision
–> Paul was absolutely outraged at this proposal
Paul’s thoughts about circumcision made on Gentiles
Gentiles who underwent circumcision showed a complete and absolute misunderstanding of the meaning of the gospel
–> it was an affront to God and a rejection of the justification he has provided through Christ when Gentiles did it
the only letter in which Paul does not begin by thanking God for the congregation
Galatians
How does Paul claim to have converted the Galatians?
He had taken seriously ill and was nursed back to health by the Galatians
–> In this context, he preached the gospel and converted them
Differences between Acts and Galatians
Acts:
–> Paul converted in the southern regions of Galatia
–> Paul converted when passing through as was planned
–> Paul got his mission form the Jerusalem apostles
Galatians:
–> Paul never mentions southern regions
–> Paul fell ill and Galatians took care of him. It was unexpected, and there, he preached the Gospel
–> Paul got his mission form Jesus himself
Paul’s Response to His Opponents in Galatians
he claims he is an apostle who has been “sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father”
–> He has been commissioned by God himself
Paul begins with a rebuke: the Galatians have deserted God by adopting a gospel that differs from the one that Paul preached to
Paul gives an autobiography to legitimize his claims
he wants to show that the Jewish Law has no role in a person’s right standing before God and that, as a consequence, his opponents in Galatia are in error not only for doubting his authorization but also for perverting his gospel
what was the basic issue in Galatians?
a person’s right standing (“justification”) before God does not come through doing the works of the Jewish Law but through faith in Christ
–> If a person could be made right with God through the Law, then there would have been no reason for Christ to die
the Galatians, former pagans who converted to faith in Christ, have begun to adopt the view that Paul opposes, namely that doing works of the Law (in particular, circumcision) is important for one’s standing before God
why does Paul cite the Jewish Law to the Galatians in order to show that the Law even though it plays no role in a person’s standing before God?
He maintains that the Scriptures themselves teach that the Law was not given in order to bring about a right standing before God
–> For Paul, the true children of Abraham are those who have faith
It is also possible that Paul makes such a lengthy appeal to the teachings of the Torah to show that he himself is quite capable when it comes to interpreting the Jewish Scriptures
Why does Paul not want gentiles to follow the law?
because anyways, nobody can follow it at 100%
–> this puts everyone in a curse
the Law cannot place someone in a right standing before God because the Scriptures indicate that a person will find life through having faith
Why Then Did God Give the Law in the First Place According to Paul?
to provide instruction and guidance to the Jewish people
informing them of God’s will
keeping them “in line” until God came to fulfill his promise to Abraham to “bless his offspring”
–> this would be Jesus
served as a “disciplinarian” until the arrival of Christ
Who Then Are the True Descendants of Abraham According to Paul?
Paul understands that the Jews and Gentiles who have faith like that of Abraham are his true descendants
–> In Paul’s view, Abraham’s son Isaac, born of the promise, represents the Christian church
–> his son Ishmael, born of the flesh, represents Jews who do not believe in Christ
If the Law was given in order to provide direction and discipline to God’s people, but Gentile believers don’t have to keep it, aren’t they liable to turn to wild and reckless behavior?
For Paul, nothing could be further from the truth
Paul indicates that Gentile believers in Christ, who are not obligated to keep the Law are to be totally committed to one another in love because in so doing, they fulfill the Law
–> Christians must be enslaved to one another in love precisely because “the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’”
Why do we not know very much about the Christian community in Philippi?
because Paul does not provide as many explicit reminders of their past relationship
where did Paul send the letter Philippians from?
why did he write the letter?
from prison
to keep the Philippians informed of his situation and to express his pleasure that all had turned out well
how does the Philippians letter go into a complete 180?
he starts well in a very friendly tone
neat the end, he completely angers himself and roasts his opponents hardcore
how can we explain the odd nature of the timing in the Philippians letter?
One solution is that there are two or possibly even three letters that have been edited together here, letters that come from different times and were written for different occasions
main themes of Philippians?
- apocalyptic message
2. love thy neighbor
the “Christ hymn” of Philippians
one of the most poetic and beloved portions of all of Paul’s letters
–> readers have long observed the striking cadences of the passage, its balanced rhythms and exalted views
–> basic message is rather than striving to be equal with God, Christ humbled himself, becoming human and submitting to a death on the cross
what does the letter of Philemon concern itself with?
with a single man, the runaway slave Onesimus, and his fate at the hands of his master, Philemon
the occasion and purpose of Philemon
Paul writes from prison
he met and converted Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus
he would serve as a mediator between the slave and the master
–> the slave could have used this a method to escape punishment because he is now converted to christianity
who was Philemon
slave master of Onesimus
he must have been a relatively wealthy Christian
he evidently had valuable property that could be stolen, as Paul thinks that Onesimus might have run off with some of it, or else embezzled some of the funds entrusted to his charge
was a leader of the church in the town of Colossae
he appears to have stood in Paul’s debt
why was Paul unconcerned with social change and equality?
because the end was coming soon anyways
