IntroductionIntroduction

© John Stevenson, 2011

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Professional Life

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Professional Life

• Spiritual Life

• Ministry Life

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

http://JohnStevenson.net

JohnStevenson@Bellsouth.net

Jstevens@mail.tiu.edu

Group IntroductionsGroup Introductions

• Your nameYour name

• Your home churchYour home church

• Where are you in the TIU process?Where are you in the TIU process?

• What classes have you already What classes have you already taken in the area of the Old or New taken in the area of the Old or New Testament?Testament?

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• To see the different social situations and To see the different social situations and

theological developments that distinguish theological developments that distinguish the later New Testament epistles from the later New Testament epistles from the earlier epistles.the earlier epistles.

• To understand the critical issues of To understand the critical issues of authorship of these epistles.authorship of these epistles.

• To explain the political background of To explain the political background of these epistles.these epistles.

• To understand the flow of thought of To understand the flow of thought of each individual book.each individual book.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• To assess the influences of various sub-To assess the influences of various sub-

Christian cults or religious tendencies Christian cults or religious tendencies such as Gnosticism, Doceticism, and the such as Gnosticism, Doceticism, and the Ebionites.Ebionites.

• To produce contemporary applications of To produce contemporary applications of the lessons learned from these epistles.the lessons learned from these epistles.

Marshall, Travis, & Marshall, Travis, & PaulPaul

Exploring the Exploring the New Testament: A New Testament: A

Guide to the Guide to the Letters and Letters and Revelation. Revelation.

InterVarsity, 2002InterVarsity, 2002

R. Martin & P. R. Martin & P. DavidsDavids

Dictionary of the Dictionary of the Later New Later New

Testament and its Testament and its Developments. Developments. InterVarsity, 1997InterVarsity, 1997

• HebrewsHebrews

• JamesJames

• 11stst & 2 & 2ndnd Peter Peter

• 11stst, 2, 2ndnd, 3, 3rdrd John John

• JudeJude

What What makes them makes them “general”?“general”?

• HebrewsHebrews

• JamesJames

• 11stst & 2 & 2ndnd Peter Peter

• 11stst, 2, 2ndnd, 3, 3rdrd John John

• JudeJude

A question A question of of

authorshipauthorship

• Which of the General Epistles have been Which of the General Epistles have been questioned as to their canonicity?questioned as to their canonicity?

• On what basis do critics claim someone On what basis do critics claim someone else wrote these books other than their else wrote these books other than their named authors?named authors?

• Are you persuaded by these arguments?Are you persuaded by these arguments?

What are the What are the distinguishing distinguishing

differences differences between the between the

Pauline Epistles Pauline Epistles versus the versus the

General Epistles?General Epistles?

Salvation & the Salvation & the Christian LifeChristian Life

Romans, Corinthians, Galatians

Prison EpistlesPrison EpistlesEphesians, Philippians,

Colossians

Eschatological Eschatological EpistlesEpistles

Thessalonians

Pastoral Pastoral EpistlesEpistles

Timothy, Titus, Philemon

SalvationSalvation Hebrews

Faith and WorksFaith and Works James

Eschatological Eschatological EpistlesEpistles

2nd Peter

The Christian The Christian LifeLife

John and Jude

SufferingSuffering 1st Peter

Largely Largely Gentile Gentile

AudienceAudience

Largely Largely Jewish Jewish

AudienceAudience

Gentile Gentile ThinkingThinking

Jewish Jewish ThinkingThinking

Gentile Gentile ThinkingThinking

• Concrete

• Rational

• Linear

• Moves from point to point in a carefully organized manner

Jewish Jewish ThinkingThinking

• Symbolic

• Visual

• Holistic

• Moves in a journey through a series of thoughts

Greeks search after wisdom

Jews want a sign

Gentile Gentile ThinkingThinking

Then a champion came out from the Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. and a span. 55 He had He had a bronze helmet a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with on his head, and he was clothed with

scale-armor which weighed five scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. (1 Samuel thousand shekels of bronze. (1 Samuel

17:4-5).17:4-5).

Jewish Jewish ThinkingThinking

Gentile Gentile ThinkingThinking

He He also also had had bronze greaves on his legs bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin and a bronze javelin slung slung between his between his shoulders. shoulders. 77 The shaft of his spear was The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear his spear weighed weighed six hundred shekels six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked of iron; his shield-carrier also walked

before him. (1 Samuel 17:6-7).before him. (1 Samuel 17:6-7).

Jewish Jewish ThinkingThinking

Hebrew Hebrew ScripturesScriptures

Greek Greek SeptuagintSeptuagint

What were some of the What were some of the ethnic/racial issues ethnic/racial issues faced by the early faced by the early

church?church?

God of wine God of wine & festivity& festivity

God of God of healinghealing

God of God of sea & sea & stormsstorms

Jewish PersecutionsJewish Persecutions• Reasons for Jewish PersecutionReasons for Jewish Persecution

– Perceived charge of blasphemyPerceived charge of blasphemy– The stumbling block of the crossThe stumbling block of the cross– Jealousy for popularity of the peopleJealousy for popularity of the people– Gamaliel’s reasoned defenseGamaliel’s reasoned defense

• Initially limited to Judea and the Initially limited to Judea and the surrounding regionssurrounding regions

And on that day a great persecution began against the

church in Jerusalem, and

they were all scattered

throughout the regions of Judea

and Samaria, except the

apostles. (Acts 8:1b).

Jewish PersecutionsJewish Persecutions• Reasons for Jewish PersecutionReasons for Jewish Persecution

– Perceived charge of blasphemyPerceived charge of blasphemy– The stumbling block of the crossThe stumbling block of the cross– Jealousy for popularity of the peopleJealousy for popularity of the people– Gamaliel’s reasoned defenseGamaliel’s reasoned defense

• Initially limited to Judea and the Initially limited to Judea and the surrounding regionssurrounding regions

• Capital punishment was initially Capital punishment was initially unauthorized by Romeunauthorized by Rome

Jewish PersecutionsJewish Persecutions• Curse on the “Nazareans” was added to Curse on the “Nazareans” was added to

the official Jewish prayers of the late the official Jewish prayers of the late first century.first century.

Jewish PersecutionsJewish Persecutions• Curse on the “Nazareans” was added to Curse on the “Nazareans” was added to

the official Jewish prayers of the late the official Jewish prayers of the late first century.first century.

• Christians left Judea Christians left Judea and moved to Pella and moved to Pella prior to the fall of prior to the fall of JerusalemJerusalem

Christianity versus RomeChristianity versus RomeA Conflict of CultureA Conflict of Culture

• Roman schools taught pagan religion.

• Roman cemeteries offered up prayers to false idols.

Christianity versus RomeChristianity versus RomeA Conflict of CultureA Conflict of Culture

• Roman schools taught pagan religion.Roman schools taught pagan religion.

• Roman cemeteries offered up prayers to Roman cemeteries offered up prayers to false idols.false idols.

• Roman marketplaces sold food that had Roman marketplaces sold food that had been offered to Roman gods.been offered to Roman gods.

• The Roman military personnel were The Roman military personnel were required to swear oaths to the emperor, required to swear oaths to the emperor, worshiping him.worshiping him.

Christianity versus RomeChristianity versus RomeA Conflict of CultureA Conflict of Culture

Roman Religious Tolerance

Christianity’s Exclusive

Claims

In what ways does Christianity In what ways does Christianity conflict with today’s culture?conflict with today’s culture?