what are the four parts of a pauline letter

Regardless, external and internal evidence support Paul as the author. 9:22). [10] Accordingly, Paul devoted considerable portions of his letter to dealing with problems in Corinth such as factions (see 1 Corinthians 1:104:21); moral misbehavior, including problems of sex and property (see 5:16:20); problems regarding marriage and celibacy (see 7:140); Christian freedom and its abuse (see 8:111:1); correct and incorrect Christian worship, including the veiling of women (see 11:216); abuses of the Lords Supper (see 11:1734); misunderstanding and misusing spiritual gifts (see 12:114:40); and doctrinal correction regarding the nature of the Resurrection and its application to Christians (see 15:158). Out of this, two great purposes emerge in the epistle. This section of the letter is often considerably extended in Christian letters, particularly the letters of Paul, where it includes expressions of gratitude to the one true God, doxologies or expressions of praise, and even extended prayers. Corinth was a large metropolis (approximately 700,000; about two-thirds of whom were slaves) located on a narrow isthmus between the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea that connected the Peloponnesus with Northern Greece. 1:13) along with the possibility of death (vv. And, of course, the letters themselves claim to have been written by Paul.65, The Greek titles for 1 and 2 Timothy are Pros Timotheon A and Pros Timotheon B, First to Timothy and Second to Timothy. Timothys name means, honoring God.. James, although it begins as a letter, continues as a homily based on scriptural references and the teachings of Jesus, employing the diatribe style. [14] Early in the postapostolic period and in the centuries since, many Christians have seen the necessity of accepting Jesus Christ and the failure of Israel to do so as a sign that the Christian Church, as New Israel, had superseded, or taken the place, of ethnic Israel. Important issues discussed in the letter include qualifications for elders (1:5-9), instructions to various age groups (2:1-8), relationship to government (3:1-2), the relation of regeneration to human works and to the Spirit (3:5), and the role of grace in promoting good works among Gods people (2:11-3:8). 1 Cor. A key word in concept is correction as Paul sought to correct the problems in Corinth, but wisdom, contrasting Gods wisdom with mans, is also a key word of the book. [24], The involvement of a secretary or scribe in the actual writing of an ancient letter is more important than modern readers might suspect. To compensate for his failure to carry out his original plans, he was anxious to find something of real merit that he might do, which he believed he found in the need for suppressing a new religious movement that he regarded as both dangerous and heretical Christianity. If the coherence of Pauls gospel is forgotten, the letters become iso- WebLaodicea.11 However, in view of several points of contact of this letter with the Letter to Philemon, which is genuinely Pauline, it is possible that Paul wrote to the Colossians from his Roman imprisonment (around the years 61-63).12 In this letter the Church is described as a new creation the vocabulary used throughout the letter By this, we see much of what believers have through their position in the Savior. The Present Walk of the New Life (4:20-32), 4. Romans, which has been called his greatest work or his magnum opus, gets its title from the fact it was written to the church in Rome (1:7, 15). Evidently at a young age, he went to Jerusalem, and according to his testimony, studied under the well know Gamaliel I, a noted teacher in the School of Hillel (Acts 22:3). The A or alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, was undoubtedly a latter addition to distinguish it from Second Corinthians which shortly followed this epistle. Undoubtedly, because of their religious and immoral background, aberrant beliefs and practices of an extraordinary variety characterized this church. I. Of Pauls thirteen letters, these were the very last books he wrote. It should be pointed out that the two lost letters were lost only because they were not intended by God to be part of the biblical canon. Vocabulary used to describe church organization, for instance, would be expected to be different from that used to teach the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. While there he lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla who were of the same trade, tent-makers (Acts 18:3). Although an occasion, or reason for writing, can be identified for all of the letters of the Pauline corpus, the occasional nature is particularly apparent in some of the earliest of the Apostles letters, each of which is a response to specific situations in the early branches of the Church. A secondary purpose is to teach the practicality of Christian love as we seek to express the life-changing effects of Christs life in ours as it transforms our relationships with others whether in the home or in the master/slave or employer/employee relationships. He became familiar not only with the Law itself but with the explanations and commentaries made by the leading rabbis of the Jewish faith. Pauls letter to Philemon and his family, for instance, reads very much like a personal letter about a particular subject of concern to the sender and recipientnamely how Philemon should treat his slave, Onesimus, who is also Pauls convert. [28] Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 11013; Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 419; Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 17175. Pauls epistles may be divided into four groups: 1 and 2 Thes. The Epistles are generally divided into the Pauline Epistles and the Non-Pauline (General) Epistles. A number of basic Christian doctrines are discussed: natural revelation (Rom 1:19-20), universality of sin (Rom 3:9-20), justification (Rom 3:24), propitiation (Rom 3:25), faith (Rom 4:1), original sin (Rom 5:12), union with Christ (Rom 6:1), the election and rejection of Israel (Rom 9-11), spiritual gifts (Rom 12:3-8), and respect for government (Rom 13:1-7).41. (8:1-13), VI. II. This singularly christological book is centered on the cosmic Christthe head of all principality and power (2:10), the Lord of creation (1:16-17), the Author of reconciliation (1:20-22; 2:13-15). Nevertheless, real letters and apparent letters continue as basic categories, especially if the latter are considered to include circular letters, treatises, homilies, and other kinds of writing that only contain superficial epistolary features (see Jerome Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer: His World, His Options, His Skills [Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995], 4245). 9. To order How to Write Letters for All Occasions, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby Letter Booklet, P.O. Then, rather than refer to his earthly family or household as a typical letter writer would have done (e.g., Paul, son of X, of Tarsus . It seems clear by comparing Acts with the epistles that 1 Timothy and Titus belong to the period after Pauls first release and acquittal in Rome. Pauls Prayer for the Colossians Growth (1:9-14), 3. 15-16). [24] Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 2024, reviews carefully both 1 Corinthians and considerable commentary on said letter to try to discern what contributions Sosthenes indeed made to the letter. The Format of the Pauline Letters | Saint Mary's Press In this one and some others he writes a greeting toward the end in his own distinctive handwriting, to give a warm personal touch and also to prevent forgery.. As a result, he is less strident and more diplomatic about some of the same principles. The three modes of argumentation were forensic or judicial, often meant to defend a position; deliberative or hortatory, intended to persuade an audience to make practical decisions; and demonstrative or epideictic, which sought to inspire, praise, affirm common beliefs, and gain support. 63-64. The Prize of the Christian Life: Having the Knowledge of Christ (3:1-21), A. 16 as part of an epistle sent to Ephesus. 17), B. Thanksgiving for Divine Comfort in Affliction (1:3-11), C. The Integrity of Pauls Motives and Conduct (1:122:4), D. Forgiving the Offender at Corinth (2:5-11), E. Gods Direction in the Ministry (2:12-17), F. The Corinthian Believersa Letter From Christ (3:1-11), G. Seeing the Glory of God With Unveiled Faces (3:124:6), I. [17] While being familiar with the circumstances that faced Christianity in the first century is still important for understanding the general epistles, as a whole these letters tend to address more than one congregation or were even directed to the entire Church, much like a First Presidency message or letter is today. Pauls other early letterssuch as 12 Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians,[15] 12 Corinthians, and Romanswere written to individuals or congregations, but, like Greek philosophical letters, they were considerably longer than an average ancient letter and were meant to teach and exhort. It is thought that there are differences in the vocabulary (ten words not used elsewhere), in the style (it is said to be unexpectedly formal) and in the eschatology (the doctrine of the man of lawlessness is not taught elsewhere). Positive: Aspirations for the Heavenly Life (3:1-4), III. But the point is simply this: regardless of the type of church government, within certain limits, of course, if Gods Word is being consistently and accurately proclaimed with prayerful dependence on the Lord, and if the people take it to heart, a church will be alive, in vital touch with Christ, and effective for the Lord. In 1 Cor.6:12+ Pauls reasons against having sex with prostitutes by citing Christian doctrine. Finally, (5) he wrote to warn against the evils of materialism (chap. Instead, the composition process was a more lengthy procedure that involved others at every step. The city was filled with shrines and temples with the most prominent being the temple of Aphrodite that sat on top of an 1800-foot promontory called the Acrocorinthus. A popular theory claims that chaps. Instructions Concerning Prayer (2:1-7), B. Thus, we must seriously take the exhortation to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (6:10). This means he wrote it in A.D. 60-61 (see the discussion on the date of Ephesians and Philippians). 6, 8388; Sanders, Paul,4464; Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 46877. It is a cosmic book, presenting the cosmic Christ: the Creator/Sustainer and Redeemer/Reconciler of man and all the universe. .), he identified himself with a new, spiritual household and identified his position to emphasize his authority (e.g., Paul, a servant or apostle of Jesus Christ as in 12 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 12 Timothy, and Titus). Third, focus on Ryrie summarizes this and writes: At the time of the writing of this letter the term Galatia was used both in a geographical and in a political sense. To grasp the theme and purpose, a little background is necessary. In summary, then, these books were designed by God to aid us in our pastoral responsibilities and in organic development and guidance for the life of local churches. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 2 Cor. The Conduct of the Apostle and His Fellow Workers (2:1-12), C. The Conduct of the Thessalonians (2:13-16), 1. The frequent personal greetings often appended to the end of Pauls letterssuch as the list of twenty-six individuals and five groups in Romans 16:316remind us that these were actual letters written to real people in the first century AD. The apostle was not only ready to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome (1:15), but he wanted them to have a clear understanding of its meaning and ramifications in all of lifepast (justification), present (sanctification), and future (glorification). . When we turn to 2 Timothy we find a very different atmosphere. [4] E. Randolph Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter-Writing: Secretaries,Composition, and Collection (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004), 16364. Yet as Greeks they prided themselves on their intellectualism, although in their case it had degenerated into a crude and shallow type (1:17; 2:1-5) 43. [18] 12 Peter, 23 John, and Jude do not divide the body of the letter into the two usual sections of instruction and admonition. Again, as is so consistent with the teaching of Paul, we see how good works or the conduct of the Christian is so connected with the person and work of Christ, past, present, and future. Then he went back to his home territory and for a period of eight to ten years little is known of his activities.37, Before the overview of each of Pauls epistles, it would be well to note in a nutshell the distinctive emphasis and contributions of each of Pauls epistles.38. I. 3), proper behavior toward the various age groupstowards elders and widows (chap. Again as indicated in the opening salutation, Paul is the author of this letter. The impact must have necessitated great psychological and intellectual readjustments. [36] A short example from what is perhaps Pauls earliest extant letter illustrates the thanksgiving section of one of his letters: We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God (1 Thessalonians 1:24). The beneficiaries of thorough gospel instruction, upon Pauls departure the Corinthian Saints developed internal divisions arising from factionalism, pride over special knowledge and gifts, and moral misbehavior arising from doctrinal speculation. Directions Regarding Gods Grace (2:11-15), V. Final Instructions and Greetings (3:12-15). He is the source of our calling, strength, faith, and love so needed for ministry (1:12-14), the one who came to save sinners (1:15), the one Mediator between God and men (2:5), God manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory (3:16), and the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe (4:10). [33] Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 202. [30] Therefore, regardless of the role of a coauthor or scribe in the composition of a letter, the final product was reviewed and accepted by Paul, who thereby attributed to it apostolic authority. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. 1:7; Col. 4:10; Philemon 9). We should carefully study these issues and seek biblical answers so we might come to conclusions based on our study of the facts of Scripture. When He comes, He will deliver us from wrath (undoubtedly a reference to the Tribulation) (1:10; 5:4-11), give rewards (2:19), perfect us (3:13), resurrect us (4:13-18), and sanctify (set apart) all those who have trusted in Him (5:23). [15] Although Philippians, as one of the imprisonment epistles, has been traditionally associated with Pauls (first) Roman imprisonment, c. AD 6163, this is based largely upon the texts later subscription (see below) as well as to references to the palace (Greek praitorion, Philippians 1:13) and Saints of Caesars household (Greek hoi ek te-s kaisaros oikias, 4:22), both of which terms were not, in fact, limited to Rome itself. with the leaders there, he took Titus (a Gentile) with him (Gal. The Charge to Preach the Word (4:1-5), VII. Thus 2 Timothy, dated approximately A.D. 67, represents the last Pauline Epistle.66. The traditional title is Pros Ephesious, To the Ephesians. Many ancient manuscripts, however omit en Epheso and for this and other reasons, many scholars believe this was an encyclical letter (intended for circulation among several churches). 4. The Pauline Epistles | Bible.org ( A.D. 50, 51) 1 and 2 Cor., Gal., Rom. Exhortation to Progress in the Life of Faith (2:6-7), 3. WebThe occasional nature of the Pauline letters b. Paul's dominance in the canon c. The Pauline traditions in Acts d. The Pauline pseudepigrapha. 1:14). Pauls missionary journeys occupied approximately the years A.D. 48-56. The phrase our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ is one of the christologically significant texts affected by the Granville Sharp rule. . In the Home and Household Life (3:18-4:1), IV. This would include such things as: qualification for elders and deacons (chap. As to Ones Self and the Church (5:19-21), D. The Believers Walk in Warfare (6:10-20), 2. A careful study of Acts and the Epistles reveals the following summary of Pauls involvement with the Corinthian church: (1) there was the first visit to Corinth followed by, (2) the first letter to Corinth (now lost). See Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, 5079, for similar arguments that have been made about the dating of Philemon. In place of a simple expression of affection and the occasional wish for strength and health for the recipient, the letters of Paul, for instance, frequently include a final blessing, greetings to various individuals in the community receiving the letter, sometimes the instructions to greet with a holy kiss, and a final peace wish. With few exceptions, these letters were written in response to conditions that existed in the particular churches with which Paul was associated. The heart of much Catholic and especially Reformation theology, the Pauline epistles frequently prove to be unfamiliar and difficult territory for many Latter-day Saints. WebThese things are visible in the epistles not by sharp distinction, but by the gradual shift of emphasis. At least five clear purposes can be seen in 1 Timothy. And further, he must be the Son of God. Thus, the Epistles answer these questions, give the interpretation of the person and work of Christ, and apply the truth of the gospel to believers. Miller understands the value of an education and the importance for students to graduate. The supremacy of love over gifts (13:1-13), 4. In Romans he was addressing a church founded by others and one in which Jewish Christians had been significant but were no longer dominant. 2:14-16; 3:1, 2, 5-6 with Acts 17:1-15). 11, 18), is motivated by Pauls love to intercede on his behalf (vv. A TikToker who makes Pauls succeeding arguments, especially in Galatians 5:212, have suggested that these false teachers had convinced some of the Galatians of the necessity of adopting certain aspects of the Mosaic lawnotably circumcisionleading many modern scholars to refer to them as Judaizers.[9] This context and Pauls efforts to counter this false teaching are necessary to understand properly one of his central points in the letter: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified (2:16; emphasis added). Undoubtedly, chapter 2 is key because of its emphasis on relationships in the church (2:1-10) and how a proper understanding and focus on both Christs first and second coming (the blessed hope) should impact the life of the church. The term, pastoral, is an 18th century designation that has stuck down through the years,63 and though not entirely accurate, it is a somewhat appropriate description of these three letters. The frequent personal greetings often appended to the end of Pauls letterssuch as the list of twenty-six individuals and five groups in Romans [2] This is partly because the letters of Paul, by and large, are not treatises of systematic theology, a fact that undercuts the efforts of some to establish extensive theological positions based largely upon the Apostles writings alone. The regulations for the use of gifts (14:26-40), VII. from your Reading List will also remove any Salutation. In these two chapters Paul demonstrated convincingly that his apostleship and his message came by revelation from the risen Christ. Both 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written from Corinth during the apostles eighteen-month stay in that city (cf. These epistles deal with church polity, policies, and practice, all of which are concerns vital to the pastoral health of the church. Chapters 89 are really one unit and comprise the most complete revelation of Gods plan for giving found anywhere in the Scriptures. Pauline 8-9), the writing of Romans must follow that of 1 and 2 Corinthians which is dated about A.D. 55. Although the differences in the types of writing found in the gospels, the book of Acts, the book of Revelation, and the various epistles or letters in the New Testament are fairly obvious, distinctions in genre also exist among the various letters themselves. 64 For a detailed discussion of the issues of authorship see Donald. Hebrews, which has been closely associated with Paul in both ancient tradition and Restoration teaching despite being significantly different in style and theme from the secure Pauline letters, has been identified as a work that begins like a treatise, proceeds like a sermon, and closes like an epistle.[19] Nevertheless, it is not simply a theological treatise but rather has an apologetic purpose, defending the superiority of Christ and preventing the readers from lapsing back to the Mosaic system. This new religious movement was promulgated by a group of people who claimed to be followers of Jesus, a man who had been crucified but who, they now believed, had risen from the dead, ascended to heaven, and would return to earth in power and great glory. Some, however, would immediately claim such a doctrine leads to license, so the apostle demonstrates that Christian liberty does not mean license. 48 This outline was taken from The Expositor's Bible Commentary, New Testament, Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1976-1992, electronic media. The problems included divisions in the church (1:11), trust in mans wisdom or that of the world rather than Gods (1:21-30), immorality (chap. The Doctrine of the Resurrection (15:1-58), A. Biblical literature - The Pauline Letters | Britannica 39 Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, New Testament, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1976-1992, electronic media. 1. [37] Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 6061. 1:1, Tit. Rhetoric and Argumentation in the Letters of WebThe letter proceeds from a greeting to a warning against false teachers who mishandle the law. 2:13) and receive news about conditions in Corinth. Familiar with both Jewish customs and scripture on the one hand and Greek philosophy and lifestyle in Corinth on the other, he may have been particularly sensitive to the problems facing the congregation there. Approximately one third of the New Testament consists of letters, or epistles, written by the apostle Paul and addressed to the Christian churches of his day. 2:2). The writer calls himself Paul in several places (cf. [8] While this part of Pauls teaching is best preserved in 1 Thessalonians 4:1318, this same passage also makes clear that it caused some confusion among the Thessalonians that Pauls letter sought to resolve: because the Thessalonians, and possibly Paul himself, expected the Lord to return soon, they were concerned when the Parousia did not happen immediately and, furthermore, when members of the congregation began to die before Jesus return. Where to Watch. At the heart of all ministry and our ability to endure in ministry is the doctrine of the person and work of Christ. Instead, Paul enumerates character qualities demonstrating that true leadership emanates from our walk with God rather than from achievements or vocational success.67. (See Colossians 4:16. [22] The involvement of Silvanus and Timothy in the Thessalonian correspondence makes particular sense because they had been involved with Paul in the initial evangelizing of Thessalonica, and Timothy was often Pauls messenger to the congregation there, as he was in the case of other letters where he is listed as coauthor. In the upcoming Letter from the Producer LIVE, well be covering information on whats to come in Patch 6.4! Final Instructions to Timothy (6:11-21), C. Exhortations to Remain Faithful (6:20-21). For more discussion see Wallace, Exegetical Syntax, 270-78, esp. It was not until the 19th century that certain questions were raised about the authorship of this epistle. Letter The Beauty of Unity. Provo, UT 84602 In this book we see the deity (2:13) and redemptive work of the Savior (2:12). The centrality of Christ as the essence, source, and means of the Christian life is stated in 1:30, of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom of God: both righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (my translation). Afterwards, he visited Troas (2 Tim. [27] Murphy-OConnor, Paul the Letter-Writer, 816, 3435; Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 5993. First Timothy was probably written in A.D. 63 right after his first release. Several things indicate that Ephesians was a circular letter, a doctrinal treatise in the form of a letter, to the churches in Asia Minor. Miller understands value of education | News, Sports, Jobs [28] Such postscripts that are actual parts of the preserved text differ from the postbiblical subscriptions that copyists began to add in the fourth century to note assumed facts about a letter but which are often wrong. 38 This material is taken from J. Sidlow Baxter's Explore the Book, pp. From Macedonia (northern Greece), he wrote 1 Timothy (1 Tim. In fact several fathers mentioned Paul as the author of this epistle in their writings. Personal: The Gospel of Grace, Justification by Faith Defended (1:1-2:21), B. In addition, these Judaizers not only proclaimed a false gospel, but sought to discredit Pauls apostleship. Still later, they came to be regarded as inspired writings comparable to the sacred Scriptures of Judaism. 1 Tim. The Description of Righteousness (3:21-31), B. Miller understands the value of an education and the importance for students to graduate. Ancient letters began with an opening formula, identifying the sender (which we saw above could include coauthors) and the recipient (which could be a local congregation, specific members of a branch, or an individual). Second, assess and advocate for the science-based measures needed to resume in-person schooling safely because of the vital importance of in-person schooling.

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