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NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey. Class IX: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. 1.1 Introduction Galatians Historical significance: Most commented NT book by the early fathers Protestant reformation M. Luther – as dear as own wife
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NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey Class IX: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 1.1 Introduction Galatians • Historical significance: • Most commented NT book by the early fathers • Protestant reformation • M. Luther – as dear as own wife • Foundational for doctrine and practice • Popular passages • Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 2.1 Historical & Critical Issues • No doubt about authorship • 2:7b-8 as a gloss (?) • Who were the Galatians? (1:2; 3:1) • Ethnic group (north) • Churches in south of the province • North or south Galatian theory • Late date (AD 53-57) • Early date (AD 48)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • North Galatian theory – arguments pro • View of early church fathers and reformers • Luke’s use of Galatia ‘Phrygia & Galatia’ (Acts 16:6; 18:23) • Luke’s use of geog. regions not provinces (13:13, 14, 14:6) • South Galatian theory – arguments pro • Paul knew Galatians personally (1:8; 4:11, 15-19) • Acts 16:6; 18:23 route is south Galatia - not north • No evidence that Paul visited northern Galatia • Barnabas mentioned x3 in Galatians (2:1, 9, 13) – he only accompanied the first missions journey No conclusive evidence
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Circumstances and purpose • Reception of the gospel & of Paul (4:13-16) • Quick turning away (1:6-8) • Judaizers & circumcision (cf. Acts 15:1) • Paul counters the Judaizing threat • Nothing can be added to the gospel of grace
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • The flow of argument in Galatians • Independence/divine origins of gospel (1:6-24; 2:11-14) • Approval of Jerusalem apostles (2:1-10) • Righteous by faith not works of the Law (2:11-21) • HS and promised righteousness by faith (3:1-18) • True purpose of the Law (3:19-4:11) • Call back to the gospel (4:12-5:1) • Warnings about rejecting the gospel (5:2-12) • Freedom & transformation of HS (5:13-25) • Final exhortations (5:26-6:18)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 2.2 Themes in Galatians • Judaizers in Galatia • “upsetting you”; “perverting the gospel”; “court” them; “trip you up” (1:7; 5:20; 4:17; 5:7) • Law as a sign of covenant OR ‘deeper reality’ • Paul is a people pleaser (1:10) • Paul’s apostolic authority & the gospel • Paul’s gospel challenged (1:9-12) • Gospel as divine revelation (1:12) • Connection to Jerusalem church (2:1-10) • Paul rebuked Peter & Barnabas (2:11-14) • Other gospel is no gospel (1:8-9) • Circumcision is useless (5:2-3)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Justification by faith – not works of the Law • Right with God only through faith (2:15-16; 3:10-14) • God’s work in Christ – not works of the Law • If right with God through works of the Law… • Christ died for nothing (2:21) • “fallen away from grace” (5:54); “under curse” (3:10) • Law points out sin and was temporary (3:19-29) • Salvation history – old vs. new • Fullness of time…Christ came… (4:4-5) • “before faith” – under Law as guardian (3:23, 25) • Slavery & yoke (5:1) – freedom, Spirit & faith (5:1, 5) • Children of New covenant vs. old (4:21-31)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Life in the Spirit & transformation • Keeping the Law as path to virtue? (Judaizers) • Paul’s autobiography (1:11-16) • Reception of Spirit by faith (3:1-5) • Spirit and sonship (4:4-7) – compared to • Enslavement to ‘elemental principles’ (4:8-11) • Enslavement to observing days and months (4:10) • Christ formed in you (4:19) • “faith working through love” – whole law (5:6, 14) • Life by the Spirit vs. flesh (5:16-26) • Guided by HS, sow in HS (5:25; 6:8)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 3.1 Introduction to Ephesians • Second to Romans in doctrinal importance • Cosmic dimension of Christ and church • Spiritual warfare passage • Household code
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 3.2 Authenticity of Ephesians • General arguments for authenticity • Paul’s claim for authorship (1:1) • Unanimous testimony of the early church • 1Clem46:6; Ignatius; Polycarp; Irenaeus • Pseudepugrapha in early church (cf. 2 Thess 2:2) • Arguments – Ephesians pseudepigraphal • Different theology from the undisputed letters • Cosmic Christology rather than death of Christ • Universal rather than local church (body metaphor) • realized eschatology (2:6) rather than futuristic • Unique style and vocabulary (e.g. 1:4ff.) • Dependence on Colossians (see p. 330) • General and non-personal letter (cf. Acts 20:31)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Arguments pro Paul • Cosmic Christology: references to Christ’s death (1:7; 2:16; 5:2, 25); other Paul’s texts emphasize exaltation (e.g. 1Cor 15:3-28; Phil 2:5-11) • Cosmic Christology due to cosmic conflict (6:10-18) • Universal church also in Paul (1Cor 1:2; 10:32; 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6) • Body & head metaphor extension of body metaphor • Future redemption in Eph (1:10, 13-14, 21; 4:30); realized eschatology in Paul (Rom 8:29-30) • Unique style and language • Style: doxology and prayer (cf. 1:3-14) • Eph: 41 hapax & 84 ‘non-Pauline’ words • Gal: 35 hapax & 90 ‘non-Pauline’ words • Literary relationship w/ Col – Paul wrote both • General nature of Eph – circular letter • Many early manuscripts lack “to Ephesians” in 1:1
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Date, provenance, purpose • If authentic AD 60s from Roman house arrest • General exposition of Paul’s theology • Need for encouragement in midst of persecution • If pseudepigraphal AD 80s • Need for unity after Paul’s death • Gnostic threat • Written for mainly gentiles readers (2:11-19; 3:1)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • General flow of argument • Opening (1:1-2) • Shared spiritual blessings w/ Christ (1:3-3:21) • Life worthy of the gospel (4:1-6:20) • Final greetings (6:21-24)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 3.3 Themes in Ephesians • The cosmic plan of God • God’s mysterion revealed (1:9; 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19) • Revealed in Christ through the church (3:3-11) • All things united in Christ (1:9-11) • Gentiles as fellow heirs (3:5-6; 2:15) • Christ’s death and exaltation brings “all blessings” • Forgiveness, piece & new life (1:3-14; 2:4, 13, 16-18) • Direct access to God & new humanity (2:17-19, 15) • Christ’s rule demonstrated to ‘rulers & powers’ • Christ ruler over principalities and powers (1:19-22) • Reception of the HS (1:13; 4:30) • Unity of the church – esp. Jew-gentile (4:4-6, 11-16)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Church as God’s universal people of God • No references to ‘local church’ (cf. 1Cor 1:1-2) • Church – all believers everywhere • Christ the head of the church (1:22-23) • Church is the body (1:22-23; 4:12) • Church as household (2:19) • “Christ died for the church” (5:25) • Unity and holiness of the church (5:25-26, 29) • “members of one another” (4:25) • Jews and gentiles (2:11-22) • Church - wisdom of God to rulers & authorities (3:10) • Church, gifts & proper governance (2:20; 3:5; 4:11-13)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Realized eschatology • God’s plan b/f creation of the world (1:4-5) • “holy and blameless” in Christ (1:4; 5:27) • Adoption; redemption; forgiveness (1:4-9) • Wisdom; inheritance; seal of HS (1:9-14) • Seated w/ Christ (2:6) • Prayer for realization (1:16-23; 3:14-21) • Prepared works of Christ (2:10) • Unity in church (4:1-16) • Living “worthy of calling” (4:1-6:9) • In church • In household • “seated w/ Christ” (2:6) • “Walk worthy” (4:1) • “Stand” (6:11, 14)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Spiritual warfare – 6:10-18 • Realized eschatology & ethical imperative • Power language ‘rulers, powers, principalities’ • Christ far above them & others (1:21; 2:2; 3:10; 6:12) • Pre-Christian life “following the ruler of power” (2:2) • Church demonstrates God’s wisdom to powers (3:10) • Spiritual armor & united prayer (6:10-18) • Plural imperatives (6:10-14) • Put on armor of God (6:10-18; cf Is 11:5; 52:7; 57:19) • Wrestling – close up combat (6:12) • Put on new & put off old (4:22-24; cf. 4:26-27) Realized eschatology, ethical conduct, and spiritual warfare linked
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 4.1 Introduction to Philippians • Popular verses in Philippians • “to live is Christ…” 1:21 • “…name of Jesus every knee shall bow…” 2:10-11 • “Don’t be anxious…” 4:6 • “all things through Christ who…” 4:13 • “Rejoice…” 4:4 • Difficulty with piece-meal deal • Misses the general argument & profound theology
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 4.2 History & Critical Issues • Undisputed Pauline authorship • 2:6-11 only debated section • Unusual vocabulary; rhythmic style; presence of “servant theme”; absence of key themes in Paul (redemption etc.) • Is Philippians a composite letter? • “letters to the Philippians” (Polycarp Phil 3:2) • Health status of Epaphroditus (2:25-30; 4:18) • “Finally” in 3:1 and travel plans as a conclusion • 3:1 and 4:4 with an abrupt change of tone • epistolai in Polycarp means sg. & ancient convention • No manuscript evidence for the composite letter • Why bring up man’s health every time mentioned? • “Finally” as transitional; travel plans in 2Cor; 1 Thess
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Date, Provenance, Purpose • Early 50s to early 60s from prison (1:7, 13-14, 17) • Caesarea • Rome • Ephesus • Rome’s provenance supported by • Praetorium (1:13) • Caesar’s household (4:22) • “life or death” nature of Paul’s situation (1:21-22) Non-conclusive evidence • Purpose • To foster unity for the sake of the gospel • Joy in the midst of suffering
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Historical Background of Philippi • City of Philippi • Founded by Philip II Macedon (358-7 BC) • Battle b/w Antony & Octavian vs. Brutus & Cassius (42 BC) • Octavian defeated Antony (31 BC) – Philippi as iusitalicum (“law of Italy”), highest honor in Roman colony • 8 mil from Macedonian sea, along Via Egnatia • Medium sized farming community • Veterans of Roman army retired in Philippi • First church in Europe on 2nd missionary journey (Acts 16:6-10)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 4.3 The Main Themes of Philippians • The Gospel and its implications • “life worthy of the gospel” (1:27; 3:20) • Christian citizenship vs. Roman colony • Joy, peace, humility (4:4, 6; 2:1-11) • Examples of Jesus, Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus (2:5-11; 1:24-6; 1:19-24; 1:25-30) • Person and work of Christ • Christ hymn (2:6-11) • Pre-existence, incarnation, suffering, glory (Is 45:23) • Righteousness of Paul and Christ (3:1-6)
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Christian unity • “partnership in the gospel” (1:5-6; cf. 4:15) • Problems of unity • False teachers (3:2) • Euodia and Syntyche (4:2-3; cf. 1:27) • “look for interest of others” (2:3-4) • “work out salvation…God works in you” (2:12-13) To work for the gospel
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Christian Suffering • Trying circumstances advance the gospel (1:12) • Imprisonment & possible death (1:21-23) • False motives preachers preach the gospel (1:17-18) • Epharoditus almost died (2:27) • Philippians suffer for the gospel by grace (1:27-29) • Paul’s suffering with Christ (3:11) • Paul’s circumstances (4:12-13; cf. Acts 16:16-25)