Paul’s Letters and Third Missionary Journey

1. Paul’s Letters and Third Missionary Journey Intergenerational Seminary New Testament Session #2

2. Review and recap

3. 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

4. Chronology of Paul’s letters 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians Philippians Philemon 1 & 2 Corinthians Romans Ephesians Mark Matthew/Luke-Acts John 50 60 70 80 90 100 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Galatians Colossians

5. 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)

6. Life of Paul

7. Paul’s Earlier Missionary Journeys

8. 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

9. Paul’s First Journey

10. 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?

11. 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)

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

18. Why this route? The Via Egnatia

19. Via Egnatia in Philippi

20. 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)

21. Paul’s Six Arguments about the Law • The Galatians originally received the Holy Spirit without observing the Law • God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed (Gen. 12:3) • A ratified will cannot be annulled (i.e., the Law came 430 years after Abraham) • The Galatians were freed from slavery; why seek to be slaves again? • The Galatians treated Paul well; how could he have become their enemy? • Hagar doesn’t represent the Gentiles; she represents the enslaving Law given on Mt. Sinai.

22. Remainder of Paul’s Letters Philippians Philemon 1 & 2 Corinthians Romans

24. 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)

25. 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)?

26. 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

27. 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)

28. Corinth

29. Corinthian Canal

30. 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

31. 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)

32. 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

33. To Read for Next Week • Review • Christological hymn of Philippians 2:5-11 • Romans