Paul’s Letters and Third Missionary Journey

Intergenerational SeminaryNew Testament

Session #2

Review and recap

Evolution of the New Testament

• First form was letters (fit with eschatology): Pauline– I Thessalonians, Galatians, Philemon,

Philippians, I & II Corinthians, Romans• By the mid-60s the first generation had

mostly died, so letters took on a more enduring tone (Deutero-Pauline)– II Thessalonians: don’t focus too much on the

Second Coming– Colossians/Ephesians: talks about “the

Church”– I & II Timothy, Titus discuss bishops, priests, &

deacons

Mark Matthew/Luke-ActsJohn

Chronology of Paul’s letters

50 60 70 80 90 100

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

Philippians

Philemon

1 & 2 Corinthians

RomansGalatians

Colossians

Ephesians

1 & 2 Timothy

Titus

Luke-Acts

• Originally one book– Luke: addressed to Theophilus (1:1-4)– Acts: “In the first book, Theophilus, I

wrote about al that Jesus did and taught.” (1:1)

• Two main characters– Peter (chapters 1-12)– Paul (chapters 13-28)

Life of PaulYear Event

36 Conversion to Christ

39 Visit to Jerusalem after Damascus

40-45 In Cilicia & Antioch

46-49 1st Missionary Journey

49 Jerusalem Conference

50-52 2nd Missionary Journey: I Thess

54-583rd Missionary Journey: Gal, Phil, Phlm, I/II Cor, Romans

58-60 Arrested; imprisoned in Caesarea

60-61 Journey to Rome

61-63 Prisoner in Rome

64 Death in Rome

Paul’s Earlier Missionary Journeys

Paul’s First Missionary Journey (46-49)

• Antioch• Cyprus

– Confrontation with magician

• Pisidian Antioch (Asia Minor)– Many converted; proclamation of Gentile

mission

• Galatia (Iconium, Lystra & Derbe)– Unbelieving Jews in Iconium try to stone Paul– People in Lystra & Derbe think he’s a Greek god– Jews from Iconium show up and do stone him

• Antioch

Paul’s First

Journey

Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15)

• Issue of Gentile Christians addressed in Acts 11– Then it was a few Gentiles joining a large number

of Jews– Now the question of big, mostly Gentile churches

• Peter and James agree to accept uncircumcised Gentiles– What argument is missing?– Some rules: abstain from food sacrificed to idols,

from blood, and from what is strangled; and from incestuous relationships

• But what of Galatians 2?

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey (50-52)

• Philippi: dear to Paul’s heart, 1st church in Europe– Conversion of Lydia, Paul and Silas freed from prison

• Thessalonica– Many converts, but Jews chased him out of town

• Athens, speaking on Mars Hill (Areopagus)– Acknowledges the people’s thirst for God– Quotes secular poets (Epimenides, Aratus)– Tells them Jesus is who they’ve always been looking for– Sends Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on

converts• Corinth

– Origin of “tentmaker”– Came to focus exclusively on the Gentiles– Stayed there for 18 months (wrote 1 Thessalonians

after receiving Timothy’s report)

1 Thessalonians• Background

– Indisputably Pauline– First NT book written (~51 CE)

• Style– Warm and welcoming (1:9-10)

• “Brothers” used 14 times

– Affirming and encouraging (4:9-12)– Written to a Greek, Gentile community

• Only one reference to Judaism (2:14-16)• No Old Testament reference

1 Thessalonians (cont’d)

• Content– Paul does not anticipate dying (4:15-18)

• Contrast Philippians 1:20-23• Influence on modern apocalyptic literature

– Apocalyptic predictions (5:1-11)

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (54-58) (Acts 18:23-21:26)

• Galatia/Phrygia– Education of Apollos, who followed John

• Ephesus (western Turkey)– Spoke for 3 months in the synagogue– Spoke for 2 years in lecture hall of Tyrannus– Power to cast out demons– Riot by idolatrous artisans– Wrote Galatians, Philemon, Philippians, 1

Corinthians

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-21:26)

• Through Macedonia (northern Greece)– Encourages believers along the way– Wrote 2 Corinthians

• To Corinth (stayed 3 months [winter])– Intended to go on to Jerusalem– Jewish plot forces him north and overland through

• Turkey (Asia Minor)– Resurrects Eutychus– Speech to Ephesian elders (only Christian

audience)

• Jerusalem, where he is arrested in the Temple

Why this route? The Via Egnatia

Via Egnatia in Philippi

Galatians• “Most Pauline of Paul’s writings”

– Basic message: 2:15-21– “Law” used 32 times, “freedom” 11 times– Anger caused Paul to say what he really thought?

• 1:6-9; 3:1-5; 4:8-11• Galatians 2 vs. Acts 15

– Martin Luther’s “pet” epistle

• Written during his 3 year stay in Ephesus on his 3rd (final) journey

• Context– After Paul left Galatia, Jewish preachers came

from Jerusalem and told the people that they had to abide by the Law (i.e., be circumcised and observe Jewish feasts)

Paul’s Six Arguments about the Law

1. The Galatians originally received the Holy Spirit without observing the Law

2. God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed (Gen. 12:3)

3. A ratified will cannot be annulled (i.e., the Law came 430 years after Abraham)

4. The Galatians were freed from slavery; why seek to be slaves again?

5. The Galatians treated Paul well; how could he have become their enemy?

6. Hagar doesn’t represent the Gentiles; she represents the enslaving Law given on Mt. Sinai.

Remainder of Paul’s Letters

PhilippiansPhilemon

1 & 2 CorinthiansRomans

Philippians

• Written from prison in Ephesus ~56 CE– Much reflection on suffering– More wonderings about death than 1 Thess– Extremely self-revelatory

• Reprimands 3 distinct attitudes– Dissension secondary to pride (chapter 2)– External opposition from non-Christians

(1:28-29)– Workers of evil who demand circumcision

(3:2-11)

Christological Hymn (Philippians 2:5-11)

• Most like a pre-Pauline hymn• Two sections

– Lowliness/abasement (vv. 6-8)– Exaltation (vv. 9-11)

• Christological dispute (vv. 6-7)– “In the form of God”

• Equivalent to God (as in John 1:1); or• In the image of God (as in Genesis 1:27)?

– Divine figure, or second Adam who chose the right course?

– Is the movement downward (begin as God, then emptying) or upward (begin in God’s image, then exalted)?

Philemon

• Shortest Pauline letter (335 words)• Written about Philemon’s escaped slave,

Onesimus• Paul’s request

– Take Onesimus back without punishment– Free him– “Receive him as you would receive me.” (v. 17)

• Christianity and slavery– Positive: Paul asked a great deal of Philemon, and

with Christ expected imminently, certain social structures can remain

– Negative: Slavery as an institution not criticized

Corinth

• Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months, around 52 CE– Worked as a tentmaker– Wrote 1 Thessalonians

• Harbor city, known for its sexual immorality

• Written– I: from Ephesus (~56 CE)– II: from Macedonia (~57 CE)

Corinth

Corinthian Canal

Outline of 1 Corinthians

• 1:1 – 9 : Address and greetings• 1:10 – 4:21 : The factions• 5:1 – 11:34 : Problems of behavior• 12:1 – 14:40 : Problems and charisms• 15: Resurrection of Christ and

Christians• 16: Conclusion

Important Parts of 1 Corinthians

• Church unity (1:10-17; 3:1-23; 12:12-31)

• Instructions regarding marriage (7)• Gift of love (13)• Resurrection (15)

Outline of 2 Corinthians

• 1:1-11 : Introduction and greetings• 1:12 – 7:16 : Paul’s relationship to Christians at

Corinth– 1:12 – 2:13 : Paul’s deferred visit and the “tearful”

letter (which we have no record of)– 2:14 – 7:16 : Paul’s ministry

• 8:1 – 9:15 : Collection for the church in Jerusalem

• 10:1 – 13:10 : Paul’s response to challenges to his apostolic authority

• 13:11-13 : Conclusion and blessings

To Read for Next Week• Review

– Christological hymn of Philippians 2:5-11

• Romans