Pauline Epistles: Key Themes and Controversies

Prison Epistles: Letters Written While in Prison

• Philippians
• Ephesians
• Colossians
• Philemon

Two Types of Local Church Leaders

• Deacons
• Elders

High Christology of Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus is Lord; God created Jesus; every knee shall bow. Jesus is the supreme model and chose not to use all powers given.

Basic Pauline Letter Structure

• Opening: Salutation, wealth wish, prayer/thanksgiving
• Body: Ethical institutions, requests, commands
• Closing: Health wish, greetings

Discontinuity View of Paul in Relation to Jesus

Secular views often believe Paul created Christianity, positing that Jesus was just a really good rabbi, not the Son of God (SOG), and that Paul came along and turned him into the SOG.

Most Debated Group of Pauline Letters

• Colossians
• Ephesians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 & 2 Timothy
• Titus

Nature of the False Teachings in Colossians

Syncretic (a blend of beliefs), promoted an ascetic lifestyle to get closer to God, emphasized intermediaries, and split between physical and spiritual.

"Dead" and "Raised" with Christ in Colossians 2

Going under the water symbolizes death to our sinful nature and death on the cross. Being raised with Christ (out of the water) symbolizes renewal.

Saul-Paul's Motivation for Persecuting Christians

Levitical law mandated stoning the blasphemer and putting no other god before me. He was commanded by religious belief to kill those calling Jesus the Son of God.

Paul's Mission Visit to Philippi

Lydia's conversion occurred. Paul was in prison; there was an earthquake, the chains broke, and Paul said, "We are all still here."

Main Theological Topic of the Thessalonian Letters

Teachings on eschatology.

Circular Letter

Ephesians: Some manuscripts do not have "to the church in Ephesus."

Corporate or Class Predestination

All believers are predestined to be like Jesus. Those in Christ are predestined for eternal life, adoption, etc. All are destined from the beginning of belief.

Meaning of "Flesh" (Sarx) in Paul

The part of being that rebels; body + sinful nature.

Paul's Evangelistic Approach at Mars Hill (Acts 17)

Commitment to identify with various groups of people, adopting the distinctive vocabulary and symbols of the audience or culture.

Paul's "Son"

Timothy. They were together since Timothy was in his early teens. He was a "son in the faith." Paul never mentions anyone more highly.

Reasons for Doubting Pauline Authorship

Different writing styles and contradictory ideas/teachings.

Meaning of Agape Love in Paul

Unearned love for humanity.

"Jesus is Lord" as More Than a Religious Confession

Jesus is the Messiah and God. He took the form of a slave; someone who became a humble servant is highly exalted.

In Paul's "Firstfruits" Theology, What Follows the Future Resurrection of Humans (Romans 8)?

Redemption of the body and of the spirit; restoration of God's heavenly kingdom, the "age to come."