18^th Nov 2007

I Introduction

II Literary form of Pauline letters

!!! Paul the person

IV Theological themes

 

1) There are 27 books in the NT………of which 21 are Epistles / letters

The 4 Gs, Acts, Rev (6) they have different literary form.

2) Letter writing is an ancient practice; there were business letter royal official pvt correspondence

     Ester 9 : 20 memorandum of Mordacer

 

3)                 Religious purpose; St Paul & other Xtian writers

 

Letter is non literary, confidential, personal in nature, communication between person who are separated, freestyle , intimate , conversational.

Epistle is an artistic literary form just like a dialogue speech or oration. It is carefully composed, it is intended for publicity, the aim of the Ep is to interest the public.

Ep form was developed by the Gk philosophical school in the 4^th century BC

Ep is a treatise, dialogue, essay, devoted to the same theme

Paul personal letters to Tim, Philemon. Tretise; Roman Galatians.

Ep is an open letter… like the popes Enclyical, he used description in his letters, ( Pauls letters are pathetic)

 

What is the purpose of writing

A To build the Xtian communities…after JC died there was only oral communication …these letters were written even before the Gs around 51 AD

b. To present his theological concepts (ideas) of the mystery of Xt

c . To answer certain problems on faith & morals.

 

Pauline Corpus: 13 letters ( not Hebrews) AUTHENTIC LETTERS

A Genuine Pauls letters: Romans, 1 & 2 Cor, Gal, 1 Thess, Philippians, Philemon.

B   Deutro Pauline : some one else who wrote for paul 2 Thess, Eph, Col

C. Pseudonymous Not written by Paul, written by his Disciples. Under inspiration

By the end of the 1st century of Paul were being gathered 2 Pet 3:15-16   67AD Paul was killesd

 

In the OT they would not keep any letters without names ..they would put the names of great people that had these identities.

Psalms were named after David

The book of wisdom was named after Solomon since he was a man of wisdom

The Pentateuch were named after Moses

 

TYPES OF LETTERS;

Philippians 1: 7,13,14   Col 4:3,18   Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20   Philemone vs 9, 10, 23

1 Tim; 2 Tim Titus

Rom, Gal, 1 & 2 Cor

Early letters:

1 & 2 Thess (2)

 

CHRONOLOGIY OF LETTERS:

In the NT The books are in the order from the largest in volume to the shortest

Romans is the largest……………..Philemone is the shortest

They are not in Chronological order

 

1 Early letters:                    1 Thess      51AD

2 Great Letters                       Gal         54-57AD

3 Captivity Letter          Philemone       56-57 / 61-63

                                                Col         61-63 / 70 -80

4 Pastoral letters                      Tit          65 / 95-100

1. Most of the Pauline letters / Ep were written as instructions& encouragement to churches that paul himself evangelized except Romans. These letters were written to handel particular problems in particular churches. In Col 4:16 Paul recommends the exchange in circulation of his letters among the neighboring churches. By the end of the 1^st Cent. AD Pauls lettes were being read in the churches far distant from the original destination. A school of discipline continuing Paulwork could explain the editing of fragments present from Pauls correspondence as well as the composition of numbers of post Pauline letters.

 

 

The Ancient form of letter writing had 3 parts

1.                 Opening Formula: (Praescriptio) it was a long sentence giving the name of the sender & of the address, & a short greeting. The address was written on the outside of the papyrus & folded.

2.                  Message: The main content of the letter / & issue.

3.                  Final Greeting         In a dictated letter the final greeting was written by the sender; There could be an insertion of a thanksgiving that served as an introduction to the main body of the message, it could be religious or non religious; peace, blessing, & gratefulness.

 

(3)

Pauline Forms :

 2 Cor 1:1; 1 Cor 1:1; 1 Thess1:1 ; Gal 1:3 ; Philapine 1:2

Gal 1:6-9;    I Gal 1: 3

4.                 Message Of the letter: The main body has either the doctrinal part presenting the truth of Xtian message And a moral exhortation ( Instruction on Xtian conduct. In this letter Paul mingles elements of revelation( Rd to Damascus), fragments of the primitive Kerygma ( Proclamation) eg Xt has died Xt has risen xt will come again. Teachings of Xt, interpretation of the OT; a person understanding of Xt events, & his own pvt opinion….ladies should not talk too much, men should not have long hair, widows to live a chaste life.

Conclusion & Final greetings:

It contains personal new or specific advice for individuals followed by his last greetings or blessings Col 4: 7-18; 1 Thess 5:28; Gal 6:18; Philip 4:23; 1 Cor 16:23; 2 Cor 13:13; Rom 20:24; Philem 25

 

CONCLUSION: Pauls letters were sent to communities & individuals to express his apostolic presence & authority in building up xtian churches. He used a letter form as a means of spreading, understanding the Xtian gs & especially of applying it to the concrete problem that arore in areas that he could not visit in person.His writings are best characterized as apostolic letters. He did not write precise systematic theology by casting his apostolic teaching in letter form.

 

Apostle calls himself PAULOS Gk 2 Pet 3:15; Acts 13:9   prior to Paulos he was Saulos

 Hb ( Saoul) only in the conversion act   Act 9:4-17; 22:7-13; 26:14

Saul means” asked “of the Yahweh Act 13:9;

Paulos was a well known Roman name of highly placed Romans / Patricians Act 13:7-12 we know of another Sergius Paul A Roman who got converted to Xtianity.

Many Jews had 2 (Double Barrelled) names , A Gk 7 a Roman name.

Acts 1 : 23 Barsabas                      Heb Barsabas                                    Bar is son of Sabas

Acts 10 : 18                                   Heb   Simeon                Gk Peter

Paulo means little Gk/ short; perhaps Paul was short

 

Sources that tell about Paul from the Acts of the Apostles: 7 : 58;   8 : 1-3; 9 :1 -30 ; 11: 25-30 ;12 : 25; 13 : 1-28, 31; Letters of Paul 1 Thess; Philippians; 2 Cor; 1 Cor; Rom ; Gal.

 

Paul was born in 5 AD

His Damascus experience took place in 36 AD

Paul Died I 67AD

Paul lived as a Zealot Pharisee for 30 yrs & 30 years as a Xtian

He came from the Benjamin family

He was a Zealous Pharisee Rom 11: 1; Philippians3:5,6

He was born in Tarsus Acts 16:37; 21: 39

He studied under Gamalel Acts 22 : 3; 5:37

Paul had only 1 passion to serve God by scruples observance of the law, the law was his life., hence he could not accept JC as the messiah

He called J a blasphemer and therefore condemned by the authorities / law.

Jesus hung on the cross therefore was cursed

He was given the authority to direct the persecution of the xtians Acts 7 : 58; Gal 1 ; 13 onwards

He approved the death of Steven Acts 8 ; 1; He left for Damascus to persecute the disciples of Steven who had taken refuge there.

 

 

(4)

Paul was born in Tarsus an ancient city , this was a Roman colony Acts 22:3,6 ; Tarsus was the capital of Cilicia, people of Tarsus were given citizenship Acts21:39.; Tarsus was a center known for cultural, Philosophy, commerce special kind of linen & high quality of tents;

Paul was a tent maker Act 18:3

He spoke both Gk & Aramic Act21:41; 26:14

He had a married sister Act 18:3

He was a rigid Pharisee Acts 23:6; 1 Cor 59; Acts 22:7

Paul was a recognized teacher, devoted & Zealous for the law

Acts 22:7 Why are u persecuting me. Saul was persecuting the Xtians ie the body of Xt. He calls himself the apostle since he had met the risen lord; he was an apostle on the basis of the Damascus experience.

He does not use the word converted, he uses revelation Gal 1:16

P is a Pharisee, apostle of the Gentiles Rom 11:13; He was a Judaiser—Zealot Jew

Acts 9 : 3-19 Narrative story

Acts 22: 6 -16   Paul tells the Jesus experience

Acts 26 :12-18 Paul tells the Jesus experience to Festus / King Agrippa

 

P conversion is not psychological , not moral it was a theological conversion- an act of God 1 Cor 15:8-9;

2 Cor 12:2-4;Gal1:15-16

 

Other Conversion Narratives: Acts9:4-6; Gen 46:2-5;     Ex 3:4-10

 

Confusing details ….falls to the ground

Acts 9:7 Hear and could not see………..Jesus gives Paul a mission

 

CONCLUSION : The narrative is explaining the objectivity that every thing is happening under the guidance of God. All the great events of the church had their objectivity. Events of history are events guided by God. Everything happens under the influence of God.

 

46-49AD 1^st missionary journey Acts 13 : 3; 14 :28 ; Col 4: 10 Paul, Barnabas & Johnmark

He started at Seliucia…Cyprus…Salamis…Paphos (here Sergus Poulous was converted Acts 13 :7-12)….Perga..( Johnmark goes back to Jerusalem)…Pisidia…Iconium…Lystra…Derbe….went back

 

What were the key Qs that came up in connection before the Xtians – Judaism

Gentile Xtians—Jewish converts

Should the Gentiles keep the whole Mosaic law

 

Acts 15 : 37—59 2^nd Missionary Journey Paul refuses to take Johnmark to Silas

Antiock---Syria---Cilicia---Derbe---lystra---Phyrgia---North Galatia---Turkey---Mysia---Troas---Neapolis---Port of Phillipi---Thesolonica---Bexoea---Athens----Corinth---(Hear he was for 18 months staying with Prescilla & Aqiuilla) Ephesis---Cesaria martima---Antiock

 

54-58AD   3^rd Missionary Journey   Antiock—North Galatia--- Phyrgia---Ephesis—Here he writes 3 letters to Gal; Philipine; Philomone---Troas---mecedonia—corinth---Goes back from—Mecedonia—Phillipi---Troas—Ephisis—ceasaria Martima—Jerusalem.

This was his last visit to Jerusalem

He was arrested for violating the Mosaic Law, For bringing the Gk in the temple, felix keeps him in prison for 2 yrs; 58-60AD Pauls appeals to Ceasar—61AD Paul goes to Rome.

. Paul was under house arrest 61-63AD. He evangelized in Rome Jewss Act 28:17-28

63-67 tradition information; 67Ad Paul was executed

 

1..Paul speaks on nature of man— What is man,           man is body soul spirit & mind; Conscious heart—aspect from the same person seen from different perspective

2. What was man before he comes in faith--.--------. problems of the flesh, sin, death, world

(5)

3.. What happens to man after he comes to faith-----Righteous, faith, freedom of sin, death & law

 

a)                 Body---Soma Gk---Body means the objective self------The body expressesmans comprehensive existence-----man exists only with the body

Romans 12:4 Body is unity of many parts

2 Cor 10 : 10 Body is a physical presence

1 Cor 9 : 27 Body is impacted on

1 Cor 13 : 3 Giving up ur body & not having love You gain nothing

1 Cor 6 : 13 Body is the seat of sexual life; ur body is the temple of the HSp

1 Cor 7 : 4   Husband & wives do not have authority over their own bodies

            Rom 1 :24   Body is the self the I—I am the body

Rom 7 : 19   Body is neither good nor bad, man can divert to be good or bad

Rom 12 : 1 Present ur body as a living sacrifice, offer ur whole body to GOD

Philp 1:20 Xt will be honored in my body   

Rom 6 : 6 That the sinful body may be destroyed

b)                 Flesh---Sarx Gk Flesh for Paul is a power that is at enmity with God, hence my body can be ruled

       Rom 7 : 24    flesh ruled the body

 c)    Soul—psyche Gk

c)                  Spirit----pneuma Gk—Gods Spirit; mans spirit

Rom 8 : 16 For Paul spirit is knowing & willing self

Spirit refers to the whole person Rom 14 : 7; 2 Cor 5 :15; Gal 2 : 19

d)                 Mind---nous—inner most self

Rom 7 :23 Mind is the self as knowing or judging, it has a contemplative aspect Philippian 4 : 7 mind surpasses all understandings

Mind also has a connotation of conscious willing. It designates a capacity of intelligence Understanding planning decision.    I think I plan with my mind   1 Cir 1 : 10;   2 : 16.

The conscience  prescribes what is to be done

The mind thinks consciously it also judges the past.

Conscious is the capacity to judge ones action, either right or wrong, or as a guide for proper activity.

Conscience is the universal phenomena Rom 2 : 12 – 15

All people will have to pay witnesses

This demand is founded on a transcended source

Rom13 : 5 hence man must assume Gods responsibility for actions

Paul says the heart is synonymous to the mind

Mind knows & the heart makes the decision.

2 Cor 3 : 14-15 their hearts were hardened

Rom 10 :1 Desire & pray to God

Rom 1 : 24 

Rom 9 : 2 Sorrow in my heart