Hamilton Reformed Hamilton Reformed Church 2010Church 2010

New Testament SurveyNew Testament Survey

Session 4 – Paul’s LettersSession 4 – Paul’s Letters

New Testament SurveyNew Testament Survey

1.1. BackgroundBackground

2.2. The Synoptic Gospels and ActsThe Synoptic Gospels and Acts

3.3. The Writings of JohnThe Writings of John

4.4. Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters

5.5. The Other New Testament LettersThe Other New Testament Letters

Paul’s ministryPaul’s ministry Had both Hebrew (Saul) and Roman / Greek (Paul) Had both Hebrew (Saul) and Roman / Greek (Paul)

namesnames Trained as Pharisee under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)Trained as Pharisee under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) Originally persecuted the church (Acts 8:1,3)Originally persecuted the church (Acts 8:1,3) Converted on the Damascus Road approx 34AD Converted on the Damascus Road approx 34AD

(Acts 9:1-19)(Acts 9:1-19) Spent some time in Tarsus (Acts 9:30) before Spent some time in Tarsus (Acts 9:30) before

going to Antioch with Barnabas (Acts 11:25,26)going to Antioch with Barnabas (Acts 11:25,26) Commissioned for mission work (Acts 13:1-3)Commissioned for mission work (Acts 13:1-3) Undertook 3 missionary journeys between 46 and Undertook 3 missionary journeys between 46 and

57AD57AD May have undertaken a fourthMay have undertaken a fourth Imprisoned in Rome twice before being executedImprisoned in Rome twice before being executed

Paul’s 1Paul’s 1stst Missionary Journey Missionary Journeyc. 46-48AD (Acts 13:4-14:28)c. 46-48AD (Acts 13:4-14:28)

Paul’s 2Paul’s 2ndnd Missionary Missionary JourneyJourney

c. 49-52AD (Acts 15:39-18:22)c. 49-52AD (Acts 15:39-18:22)

Paul’s 3Paul’s 3rdrd Missionary Journey Missionary Journeyc. 53-57AD (Acts 18:23-21:17)c. 53-57AD (Acts 18:23-21:17)

Paul’s lettersPaul’s letters

RomansRomans 1 & 2 Corinthians1 & 2 Corinthians GalatiansGalatians EphesiansEphesians PhilippiansPhilippians ColossiansColossians 1 & 2 Thessalonians1 & 2 Thessalonians

1 & 2 Timothy1 & 2 Timothy TitusTitus PhilemonPhilemon

Hebrews?Hebrews?

Letters to Letters to ChurchesChurches

Letters to Letters to IndividualsIndividuals

Paul’s lettersPaul’s letters

Early Early (49-51AD)(49-51AD) Galatians Galatians (after 1(after 1stst journey) journey)

1 Thes 1 Thes (during 2(during 2nd x nd x Corinth)Corinth)

2 Thes 2 Thes (during 2(during 2nd x nd x Corinth)Corinth)

Major Major (54-55AD)(54-55AD) 1 Cor 1 Cor (during 3(during 3rd x rd x Ephesus)Ephesus)

2 Cor 2 Cor (during 3(during 3rd x rd x Macedonia)Macedonia)

Romans Romans (during 3(during 3rd x rd x Corinth)Corinth)

Prison Epistles Prison Epistles (60-(60-61AD)61AD) Philemon Philemon (1(1stst imp to indv) imp to indv)

Colossians Colossians (1(1stst imp to ch) imp to ch)

Ephesians Ephesians (1(1stst imp imp circular)circular)

Philippians Philippians (1(1stst imp to ch) imp to ch)

Pastoral Epistles Pastoral Epistles (62-65 (62-65 AD)AD)

1 Timothy 1 Timothy (x Macedonia?)(x Macedonia?)

Titus Titus (x Nicopolis?)(x Nicopolis?)

2 Timothy 2 Timothy (2(2ndnd Imp) Imp)

Paul’s lettersPaul’s letters

Not systematic theology (precept on Not systematic theology (precept on precept)precept)

Addressed to real churches with real issuesAddressed to real churches with real issues Written with great pastoral warmthWritten with great pastoral warmth Mostly very personal with a great many co-Mostly very personal with a great many co-

workers (and some who have deserted) workers (and some who have deserted) mentioned by namementioned by name

Some written to churches not established Some written to churches not established by Paul (Romans, Colossians (1:7-8))by Paul (Romans, Colossians (1:7-8))

Galatians written to a collection of churchesGalatians written to a collection of churches

How to read a letter 101How to read a letter 101 GreetingGreeting Doxology (sometimes)Doxology (sometimes) Thanksgiving and prayerThanksgiving and prayer Doctrinal sectionDoctrinal section Practical sectionPractical section Concluding salutations and benedictionConcluding salutations and benediction

Look for variations in pattern!Look for variations in pattern!

Practical exercisesPractical exercises

How does Paul present himself in each of his How does Paul present himself in each of his letters?letters?

Identify various elements in Romans / Identify various elements in Romans / EphesiansEphesians

Identify elements in Philippians / ColossiansIdentify elements in Philippians / Colossians What differences can you note?What differences can you note? What is Paul praying for in each case?What is Paul praying for in each case? What is missing in Galatians?What is missing in Galatians? What about Corinthians?What about Corinthians?