Foundations (Year Two)



“Encountering the New Testament”

   Session #4. Encountering
    GALATIANS, ROMANS &
        CORINTHIANS
Written earlier:
    The NT Writings             Letter of James (40’s/50’s)


Letters of Paul:                Written later:
Galatians (48/49 CE)           Letters of Peter (64-66)
1 & 2 Thessalonians (51-52)    Mark (68-70 )
1 & 2 Corinthians (53-57)      Matthew (70-80)
Romans (56-57)                 Luke-Acts (70-80)
Prison letters (61-62):
                                Hebrews (50’s/60’s?)
 (Colossians, Ephesians,
 Philemon & Philippians)        Letter of Jude (50’s ?)
Pastoral letters (64-66):      Writings of John:
       (1, 2 Timothy & Titus)
                                 Gospel, Letters &
                                 Revelation (90-96)
Paul
(by El Greco
    c. 1587-
     92)
Conversion
& early journeys
    of Saul
 (Acts 9,11,12/
    Gal. 1)

“I was blind but
   now I see”
Paul: The missionary (Acts 13                   )

       Paul’s three (post-conversion) convictions:

1.   His whole previous way of life lay under the rebuke
     of God (Phil. 3:4-11)
2.   The Jesus whom he had been persecuting was the
     Son of God, truly alive and in ultimate control (1
     Cor. 15; Col. 1:15-20)
3.   He (Paul) had been called to take this message to
     the world (Gal. 1:1, 13-17)
Paul’s Gospel

A New LORD – Jesus, the Christ (Phil. 2:5-11)

A New Message – Forgiveness/ Eternal Life as gift

 (Acts 5:20; Gal. 1:6-9)
A New People – Church (Jew/ Gentile) incorporates

 & replaces Israel (Acts 13:47; 14:27; Gal. 3:28)
A New Life-Principle - “Life by the Spirit”
 (Rom. 8; Gal. 5)
The first missionary journey
Paul & Barnabas         GALATIA 47-49 CE
The Gospel (or Christian Message)


Galatians: the importance/ foundation of
 the Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9; 2:16)
Romans: the content/ structure of
 the Gospel (Rom. 1:1-4, 15-17)
Corinthians: the application/ outworking
 of the Gospel (1 Cor. 1:18-25; 15:1-5 &
                    11 Cor. 4:3-4; 5:17;11:4)
Galatians
“There is no document in the NT more indisputably
 Paul’s than the letter to the Galatians” FF Bruce

“The magna carta of Christian freedom”
“The Christian declaration of independence”
“The battle cry of the Reformation”

“The letter to the Galatians is my letter -
 To it I am, as it were, in wedlock.     Galatians is
 my Katherine!” (Martin Luther)
Paul writes to the Galatian churches?
The first Christian heresy

 Jewish legalism     What this teaches us:
   Christ +……
                       Resolving conflicts
                         in the church
The Church Council
 at Jerusalem             Lessons from
                           Acts 15:1-35
      49 CE
The difficulty (vv.1-5)

A disagreement…or something more?

Is doctrine important?

Primary & secondary doctrines?

What’s going on up in Galatia?
Heresy = any belief or theory that is strongly
   at variance with established doctrine
The discussion (vv. 6-21)

Setting the scene (vv.1-5)

The testimony of Peter
The testimony of Paul (& Barnabas)
The verdict of James
The consent of the (whole) church
The decision (vv. 22-35)


The letter (make it clear for all)

The couriers (Judas & Silas)

The requests (not absolutes!)
What’s all this got to do with us?

1.   Diversity in non-essentials unity in essentials

2.   Knowing where & when to draw the line

3.   Acknowledge dependence on the larger Church
     (orthodox = right thinking)

4.   Celebrate what God is doing
     Don’t let the fundamentals become incidental –
      or the incidentals will be come fundamental
The Message of Galatians

Introduction   A defence of the Christian

                 messenger (1:11-2:21)
PERSONAL
                A defence of the Christian
DOCTRINAL
                 message (3:1-4:31)
PRACTICAL
                A defence of the Christian’s
Conclusion      liberty (5:1-6:10)
Paul’s introduction

Of himself:          Of the gospel:

Sent by God         To alter with it is to
Supported by the     desert God
  church leaders     There is only one
Paul’s signature     gospel
                     To tamper with it is
(“Grace & peace…”)
                      to risk damnation
                     Test the messenger
Paul’s credentials

“Called by God, Saved by God & Given the
 Gospel by God” (1:11-24)

“Accepted by the Church” (2:1-10)


“Took his stand – no matter who opposed
 him” (2:11-21)
Two key texts
“Know that a person is not     “I have been crucified
  justified by observing the     with Christ and I no
  law, but by faith in Jesus     longer live, but Christ
  Christ.
                                 lives in me.
So we, too, have put our
  faith in Christ Jesus that   The life I now live in the
  we may be justified by         body, I live by faith in
  faith in Christ and not by     the Son of God, who
  observing the law,             loved me and gave
  because by observing the       himself for me.” (2:20)
  law no one will be
  justified.” (2:16)

    I live by faith             Christ lives in me
Defence of the Gospel #1. (Ch.3)

“You foolish Galatians” (A promised gift)
On what basis did you receive it?
On what basis did Abraham receive it?
What’s the (real) alternative?


An illustration:    A covenant
                     A promise
                     A law (to lead us to faith)
Defence of the Gospel #2. (Ch.4)

“You are all sons of God through faith” (Adoption)

God redeemed us as slaves
God adopted us as sons
God treats us as heirs


An illustration:     Two sons
                      Two women
                      Two cities
Living out the Gospel (5-6)
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”
 Stand firm in your freedom
 Don’t give in to legalism (in any form)
 Keep running the good race
 Serve one another in love”

“Live by the Spirit”
Watch yourself/ Carry one another's burdens
“Sow to the Spirit”
Watch yourself/ Don’t get caught up in pride
The second missionary journey
Paul & Silas     EUROPE 49-52 CE
The second missionary journey
Conflict between Paul & Barnabas
 Barnabas & Mark go to Cyprus/ Paul & Silas to Asia
Timothy joins the mission team
“The man of Macedonia” - Go West young man!
Philippians conversions:    Lydia, Slave girl & Jailor
Thessalonica (The persecutors)
Berea (The disciples)
Athens (The philosophers)
Corinth (18 months of fruitful ministry)
Ephesus - Antioch
Paul writes his first two letters
“To the Thessalonians” (from Corinth)
The third missionary journey
Paul     GREECE & ASIA 53-58 CE
The third missionary journey
Asia Minor
Ephesus (three levels of spiritual warfare)
 …but three years of fruitful ministry
Macedonia – Greece (3 months) - Macedonia
Miracle at Troas (Eutychus)
Farewell to the Ephesian elders
Tyre – Caesarea – Jerusalem
Report to James & the bishops

     “When they heard this, they praised God”
Paul writes “To the Corinthians” 56-57 CE




Letter #1   From the Corinthians
Letter #2   1 Corinthians (56)
Letter #3   A severe letter
Letter #4   2 Corinthians (57)
Paul writes “To the Romans” 57-58 CE
The Letters to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians             2 Corinthians
A severe letter (2 7:8)   An encouraging letter
Warning: Repent & sort    Thanksgiving: Gratitude
 out the problems           for response
Issues:    Social         Ministry: Comfort
            Moral                      Reconciliation
            Practical                  Generousity
            Spiritual                  Warfare
            Doctrinal                  Suffering

NT Session 4 Major Letters of Paul

  • 1.
    Foundations (Year Two) “Encounteringthe New Testament” Session #4. Encountering GALATIANS, ROMANS & CORINTHIANS
  • 2.
    Written earlier: The NT Writings Letter of James (40’s/50’s) Letters of Paul: Written later: Galatians (48/49 CE) Letters of Peter (64-66) 1 & 2 Thessalonians (51-52) Mark (68-70 ) 1 & 2 Corinthians (53-57) Matthew (70-80) Romans (56-57) Luke-Acts (70-80) Prison letters (61-62): Hebrews (50’s/60’s?) (Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon & Philippians) Letter of Jude (50’s ?) Pastoral letters (64-66): Writings of John: (1, 2 Timothy & Titus) Gospel, Letters & Revelation (90-96)
  • 3.
    Paul (by El Greco c. 1587- 92)
  • 4.
    Conversion & early journeys of Saul (Acts 9,11,12/ Gal. 1) “I was blind but now I see”
  • 5.
    Paul: The missionary(Acts 13 ) Paul’s three (post-conversion) convictions: 1. His whole previous way of life lay under the rebuke of God (Phil. 3:4-11) 2. The Jesus whom he had been persecuting was the Son of God, truly alive and in ultimate control (1 Cor. 15; Col. 1:15-20) 3. He (Paul) had been called to take this message to the world (Gal. 1:1, 13-17)
  • 6.
    Paul’s Gospel A NewLORD – Jesus, the Christ (Phil. 2:5-11) A New Message – Forgiveness/ Eternal Life as gift (Acts 5:20; Gal. 1:6-9) A New People – Church (Jew/ Gentile) incorporates & replaces Israel (Acts 13:47; 14:27; Gal. 3:28) A New Life-Principle - “Life by the Spirit” (Rom. 8; Gal. 5)
  • 7.
    The first missionaryjourney Paul & Barnabas GALATIA 47-49 CE
  • 8.
    The Gospel (orChristian Message) Galatians: the importance/ foundation of the Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9; 2:16) Romans: the content/ structure of the Gospel (Rom. 1:1-4, 15-17) Corinthians: the application/ outworking of the Gospel (1 Cor. 1:18-25; 15:1-5 & 11 Cor. 4:3-4; 5:17;11:4)
  • 9.
    Galatians “There is nodocument in the NT more indisputably Paul’s than the letter to the Galatians” FF Bruce “The magna carta of Christian freedom” “The Christian declaration of independence” “The battle cry of the Reformation” “The letter to the Galatians is my letter - To it I am, as it were, in wedlock. Galatians is my Katherine!” (Martin Luther)
  • 10.
    Paul writes tothe Galatian churches?
  • 11.
    The first Christianheresy Jewish legalism What this teaches us: Christ +…… Resolving conflicts in the church The Church Council at Jerusalem Lessons from Acts 15:1-35 49 CE
  • 12.
    The difficulty (vv.1-5) Adisagreement…or something more? Is doctrine important? Primary & secondary doctrines? What’s going on up in Galatia? Heresy = any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established doctrine
  • 13.
    The discussion (vv.6-21) Setting the scene (vv.1-5) The testimony of Peter The testimony of Paul (& Barnabas) The verdict of James The consent of the (whole) church
  • 14.
    The decision (vv.22-35) The letter (make it clear for all) The couriers (Judas & Silas) The requests (not absolutes!)
  • 15.
    What’s all thisgot to do with us? 1. Diversity in non-essentials unity in essentials 2. Knowing where & when to draw the line 3. Acknowledge dependence on the larger Church (orthodox = right thinking) 4. Celebrate what God is doing Don’t let the fundamentals become incidental – or the incidentals will be come fundamental
  • 16.
    The Message ofGalatians Introduction A defence of the Christian messenger (1:11-2:21) PERSONAL A defence of the Christian DOCTRINAL message (3:1-4:31) PRACTICAL A defence of the Christian’s Conclusion liberty (5:1-6:10)
  • 17.
    Paul’s introduction Of himself: Of the gospel: Sent by God To alter with it is to Supported by the desert God church leaders There is only one Paul’s signature gospel To tamper with it is (“Grace & peace…”) to risk damnation Test the messenger
  • 18.
    Paul’s credentials “Called byGod, Saved by God & Given the Gospel by God” (1:11-24) “Accepted by the Church” (2:1-10) “Took his stand – no matter who opposed him” (2:11-21)
  • 19.
    Two key texts “Knowthat a person is not “I have been crucified justified by observing the with Christ and I no law, but by faith in Jesus longer live, but Christ Christ. lives in me. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that The life I now live in the we may be justified by body, I live by faith in faith in Christ and not by the Son of God, who observing the law, loved me and gave because by observing the himself for me.” (2:20) law no one will be justified.” (2:16) I live by faith Christ lives in me
  • 20.
    Defence of theGospel #1. (Ch.3) “You foolish Galatians” (A promised gift) On what basis did you receive it? On what basis did Abraham receive it? What’s the (real) alternative? An illustration: A covenant A promise A law (to lead us to faith)
  • 21.
    Defence of theGospel #2. (Ch.4) “You are all sons of God through faith” (Adoption) God redeemed us as slaves God adopted us as sons God treats us as heirs An illustration: Two sons Two women Two cities
  • 22.
    Living out theGospel (5-6) “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”  Stand firm in your freedom  Don’t give in to legalism (in any form)  Keep running the good race  Serve one another in love” “Live by the Spirit” Watch yourself/ Carry one another's burdens “Sow to the Spirit” Watch yourself/ Don’t get caught up in pride
  • 23.
    The second missionaryjourney Paul & Silas EUROPE 49-52 CE
  • 24.
    The second missionaryjourney Conflict between Paul & Barnabas Barnabas & Mark go to Cyprus/ Paul & Silas to Asia Timothy joins the mission team “The man of Macedonia” - Go West young man! Philippians conversions: Lydia, Slave girl & Jailor Thessalonica (The persecutors) Berea (The disciples) Athens (The philosophers) Corinth (18 months of fruitful ministry) Ephesus - Antioch
  • 25.
    Paul writes hisfirst two letters “To the Thessalonians” (from Corinth)
  • 26.
    The third missionaryjourney Paul GREECE & ASIA 53-58 CE
  • 27.
    The third missionaryjourney Asia Minor Ephesus (three levels of spiritual warfare) …but three years of fruitful ministry Macedonia – Greece (3 months) - Macedonia Miracle at Troas (Eutychus) Farewell to the Ephesian elders Tyre – Caesarea – Jerusalem Report to James & the bishops “When they heard this, they praised God”
  • 28.
    Paul writes “Tothe Corinthians” 56-57 CE Letter #1 From the Corinthians Letter #2 1 Corinthians (56) Letter #3 A severe letter Letter #4 2 Corinthians (57)
  • 29.
    Paul writes “Tothe Romans” 57-58 CE
  • 30.
    The Letters tothe Corinthians 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians A severe letter (2 7:8) An encouraging letter Warning: Repent & sort Thanksgiving: Gratitude out the problems for response Issues: Social Ministry: Comfort Moral Reconciliation Practical Generousity Spiritual Warfare Doctrinal Suffering