Five Key Themes

1. Five Key Themes The Pauline Epistles

2. 1. The Passion • All of the epistles of St Paul comment on and interpret the Passion Narrative in the Gospels • St Paul shows “Christ for us” • Later will be “Christ in us” and “Christ through us” • The emphasis is on the wisdom of the cross (1 Cor 1) • Foolishness to the Greeks/Gentiles • Offensive to the Jews • Cursed is everyone who hangs from a tree • Wisdom to Christians

3. The Passion • The emphasis is on the necessity of the resurrection (1 Cor 15) • The resurrection urges us to look beyond this life (1 Cor 15.3) • We are initiated into the Passion by baptism (Romans 6.1-11) • The Eucharist helps us participation in the Passion; in doing that one proclaims the Passion (1 Cor 11.20-26)

4. The Passion • The passion teaches the obedience, humility and willingness of Jesus (Philip 2.5-11) • Shows that Jesus is primarily a servant (Mt 20) • Imitate godly humility, obedience, willingness • The Passion is THE tradition (traditio) (1 Cor 11.25-26)

5. 2. The Tension • “The Tension” is between Jewish covenant and the inclusion of the Gentiles (Rom 11) • Tension between Judaizers and Gentile Christians (Galatians) • Judiazer: to be Christian one must follow Old Testament laws in order to be saved

6. The Tension • Paul’s argument: The gap is bridged by recognizing: • The original plan • Abrahamic covenant was a seed planted to produce a tree which would shelter, protect and serve all nations • Hebrews were to be a light to all nations • The transformation of the law in Christ • Circumcision transformed into baptism, etc. (Rom 6) • The grafting of the broken branches (Gentiles) to the tree (Christ in the Jewish covenant)

7. The Tension • Righteousness received by faith (imitation of Abraham), not by works of the law (Rom 3-5) • Three promises that Abraham believed; believed God’s word • Messiah would come from Abraham (many descendants) • Land • Great nation • Righteousness is given in Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Law • Key location: Romans

8. 3. Justification/Salvation • Definition of Justification: • The righteousness of Christ given to us in the Church and received by faith and lived in love • How you live shows what you believe; how you love shows what you love. • Synonyms: Righteousness, redemption, reconciliation • Righteousness: God’s justice; the righting of wrongs • Redemption: God buying us back with the price of His Son’s blood • Reconciliation: being at peace with God by the sacrifice of His Son

9. Justification/Salvation • Three-fold understanding of salvation/save • Rescued from disaster, death (present; baptism) • In the process of being safely delivered (progressive present; other sacraments) • Arriving at a safe location (future; last rites) • Salvation (Christ) for us leads to salvation (Christ) in us • Salvation for us – Christ dying and rising for the life of the world • Salvation in us – is Holy Spirit giving us the benefits and victory of Christ’s death and resurrection (using the sacraments)

10. Justification/Salvation • Begins with trusting in the Jesus who can save, bring you back to life • God brings us back to life in/through Jesus, we must then live in Him, and then we have real life • Assumes understanding of grace and mercy • Grace: undeserved, unmerited gift • Mercy: God’s unfairness • Mercy always overrules justice for those who seek mercy

11. Justification/Salvation • We cannot begin salvation on our own • Jesus not only showed us His love by dying. He also gave us something – His Spirit. • We cannot raise ourselves from the dead; we cannot make ourselves better; we cannot begin to love. • We always need help. And the first help that we need is the help to begin—to begin living, to begin doing right, to begin loving. • Faith in Christ begins the process of our life and love • This faith is given by the Spirit (usually in Baptism) and sealed by the Spirit (usually in confirmation)

12. Justification/Salvation • What role do we play in salvation? • We strive to keep and strengthen the faith we have been given • New Adam – New Creation • The one who was perfectly obedient and completely willing gives us what is truly His own • We share in the victory of Christ

13. Justification/Salvation • You cannot begin your life (God the Father), but you can end it. • You cannot start to love (God the Son), but you can end it. • You cannot begin faith (God the Holy Spirit), but you can end it. • How do you end your faith? • By not eating (Eucharist). By not exercising (prayers). By not caring. (not doing good works)

14. 4. Personal Holiness (Sanctification) • Sanctification means “personal holiness” • Philippians – Christ’s mind in you • Not a “just me and God” relationship • Emphasis: Christ in us and through us • Holiness is living the righteousness which is received by faith • Putting faith into action; living what we say • Lived in love • Transformation of mind which leads to transformation of behavior (Philip 2; Rom 12)

15. Personal Holiness • Keys are Self-control & Self-discipline • You have the freedom to do whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you • Discipline our bodies so that we don’t lose our salvation we have received, nor belittle the mercy of God • Metaphor: the athlete • Key: Following the discipline of the law • This is “the obedience of faith” • Abstaining from sin (Rom 6.12ff) • Doing works of the law not to earn God’s favor, but to attain the fullness of salvation

16. Personal Holiness • Transformation of mind which leads to transformation of behavior (Philip 2; Rom 12) • For Sanctification, St Paul describes • “Christ in us and through us” • in him we live and move and have our being • our life is hidden with Christ in God • transformation of all you are • putting your faith into action; living what you believe

17. Personal Holiness • Goal: Striving, struggling, straining for the kingdom of heaven • Striving to attain the kingdom of heaven • Working out salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2.12)

18. 5. The Church (Metaphors) • Nation of Israel (Romans 3-10) • Synonyms: children of Israel; children of Abraham; sons of Abraham • The Nation of Israel begins with Abraham • The Gentiles were part of the original plan (see above) • With Abraham God planted a seed • Tree of Abraham to produce faith & love (good works) • Tree failed due to reject of faith and love • The Gentiles are grafted into the Nation of Israel to form a renewed Nation of Israel (aka the church)

19. The Church • Body of Christ (1 Cor 10-12; Rom 12) • The Body of Christ feeds on the Body of Christ • The body of Christ metaphor is from the Eucharist • The body of Christ feasts on the body of Christ, which was born of the Virgin, died and rose from the dead (1 Cor 10-11) • The bond between Christ, the saints and the faithful is given in baptism by mercy and attained (received) by faith; and is nourished by the Eucharist (1 Cor 10-11) • The one body is not “we are the church” but “Christ is the Church and we are his members” (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12)

20. The Church • Bride of Christ (Eph 5; Col 3) • Emphasizes love between Christ and His members • Emphasizes sacrifice • All men are women

21. The Church • The Church is an Hierarchy (1&2 Tim, Titus) • The unity is knit by the Spirit through the bishops/presbyters, and is seen or manifest by the communion of the bishops with laity (pastoral epistles)