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Review Questions THRS 106 F2017.docx
Review Questions THRS 106 Fall 2017
1. Discuss why Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. Why would he defend himself before a church he did not found? What three reasons did financial collections from rich churches of Paul serve?
2. Discuss the differences between the judicial and participationist models of salvation. Do you think these models are mutually exclusive? If so, why? If not, how do they work together?
3. What does the term “Pseudepigraphy” mean? Why did ancient people write books in the names of another person? What are these three categories of Paul’s letter and how does this categorization relate to the concept of Pseudepigraphy in antiquity?
4. The Deutero-Pauline letters and Pastoral Epistles claim Paul as the authority for their views. Discuss the relationships between these texts and how you understand their relationship to Paul’s undisputed letters.
5. Discuss how Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus affected his theological views. Which views were confirmed? Which views were adjusted? What were the implications for Paul’s mission?
6. According to 1 Thessalonians, how did Paul spread his gospel? With whom did he speak? In what kind of context? What did he say? What did he try to get people to believe? In other words, discuss Paul’s missionary tactics. How did he meet people, and how did he go about converting them? How were Paul’s conversion tactics similar to those of Greco-Roman philosophers?
7. Discuss the evidence for women’s activity in Paul’s communities in the early Christian Churches? How do you explain the shift in early Christianity from women occupying positions of status and significance to women being restricted to submissive roles? What factors were likely involved?
8. How does Paul’s insistence that Christians live in “love” relate to the social problems in the Corinthian Church? How would Paul’s understanding of love contribute to creating more just and humane communities in our contemporary society?
9. How do the socioeconomic differences in the Corinthian Churches account for some of the problems in their churches? What would modern Christians learn from the Corinthian experience?
10. Discuss the concept of self-definition. What does self-definition involve, and how did early Christians go about defining themselves? What role did conflict play in self-definition? Do you think this process was especially critical in the early years of the Christian church? In your view, do modern Christians continue to engage in self-definition?
11. Why would Paul’s assertion that salvation was available to Gentiles seem counterintuitive to Jews of his day? How did he justify the inclusion of Gentiles in his mission?
12. Why is Paul so angry with the Galatians? Why does Paul think their actions put them under God’s curse? Discuss Paul’s teachings on the relationship between justification and the Law, specifically as it appears in Galatians.
Ch. 11 Acts of the Apostles (1).docx
NT—Ajer
Chapter 11: Luke’s Second Volume: The Book of Acts
What to Expect
· We will explore the second volume of Luke’s two-volume work, the Acts of the Apostles
· Acts offers a history of the early spread of the Christian Gospel by Jesus’ apostles, especially the apostle Paul
· We will apply the thematic method to the speeches in Acts
The Genre of Acts and Its Significance
· Acts is an example of ancient history
· Like many ancient histories, it is a creative composition that includes a range of subgenres
· Acts is told from a particular perspective; limited objectivity is common in ancient histories
· Acts reflects Luke’s understanding of salvation history
The Thematic Approach to Acts
· Approaching texts thematically involves isolating major themes, which help reveal the author’s overarching emphasis
· With Acts, we can trace the development of particular themes that originated in Luke’s Gospel and continue in Acts
From Gospel to Acts: The Opening Transition
· The opening narrative reveals key themes
· The end will be delayed to allow the apostles to evangelize; the Holy Spirit will guide the mission
· Just as the Jews rejected Jesus, Jews will reject the Christian message; it will then be offered to the Gentiles, who do not need to become Jews first
Themes in the Speeches of Acts
· Like most ancient histories, speeches are prominent in Acts
· Speeches addressed to Christians emphasize the continuity with Judaism
· Evangelistic speeches highlight the repentance prompted by Jesus’ death
· Paul’s apologetic speeches emphasize his allegiance to Judaism and innocence before Roman authorities
Conclusion: The Author and His Themes in Context
· Luke’s narrative may have been meant to bolster confidence and courage among readers dealing with hostility
· Luke explains why the anticipated end had not yet come, emphasizing the divine plan and a concern for present social issues
· The connection with Judaism functioned apologetically: Christianity was not novel
Ch. 12 Paul the Man and His Mission.pdf
Ch. 13 1 Thessalonians.pdf
Ch. 14 Corinthians.pdf
NT—Ajer
Chapter 14: Paul and the Crises of His Churches: The Corinthian Correspondence
What to Expect
• Each of Paul’s letters is contingent, addressing specific situations
• We will examine 1 and 2 Corinthians to discover the issues that arose within one of Paul’s communities and how Paul handled such problems
• In spite of the diversity of issues, Paul’s proclamation that Christ is God’s salvation for this sinful world persists
1 Corinthians
• Questionable behavior had developed in the church since Paul’s departure, leading to disunity among the Corinthians
• Socioeconomic diversity within the Corinthian church seems to have contributed to the disunity
• An example: wealthy members were able to arrive early at the communal meal and consume most of the food and drink
• In 1 Corinthians, Paul demands higher ethical standards and emphasizes the importance of unity
• His primary message is “Christ crucified”
• He notes that many of the problems are rooted in the Corinthians’ erroneous belief that they are already exalted
• This will only occur in the future, with Jesus’ return; for now, evil powers reign
2 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians seems to be a compilation of 2 Pauline letters (chaps. 1−9 and 10−13)
• The different letters help us trace Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian community
• After 1 Corinthians, Paul visited Corinth and experienced public humiliation; soon after, other Christian apostles arrived and promoted a view that Paul opposed
• 2 Cor 10−13 reflects Paul’s angry response to the arrival of these “superapostles”
• Paul rejected their view that Christians could experience the full benefits of salvation in the present (rather than in the future, as Paul preached)
• 2 Cor 1−9 is a grateful, conciliatory letter, expressing joy that the Corinthians re-aligned themselves with Paul
Ch. 15 Galatians Philippians Philemon.docx
Ch. 15 Paul and the Crises of His Churches: Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon
What to Expect
· We will consider Paul’s letters to the churches of Galatia and Philippi, as well his personal letter to Philemon
· These further illustrate how Paul dealt with various problems that arose in early Christian communities
· Understanding the occasion and context of each letter will help with its interpretation
Galatians
· Galatians was written to a group of churches in the Roman province of Galatia
· Paul had established churches there while recovering from an illness
· After his departure, other apostles arrived advocating a gospel at odds with Paul’s: they claimed Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Jewish Law to be full covenant members
· Paul’s angry response begins with a defense of his apostolic authority: his Gospel came directly from Christ
· He then argues that salvation comes to the Gentiles by grace; the Law provided guidance prior to Christ, but it is not itself the route to righteousness
· Paul concludes with ethical admonitions; his gospel will not lead to lawlessness
Philippians
· Paul wrote this letter from prison to the church he founded in Philippi; it seems to be a compilation of two or more letters
· Paul thanks the Philippians for their financial support and encourages them to maintain the unity of the congregation, in spite of the threat of schism
· He includes a “Christ hymn” (2:5−11), which may reflect a pre-Pauline tradition
Philemon
· Philemon is the only undisputed Pauline letter addressed to an individual
· The letter concerns a runaway slave, Onesimus, and his owner, Philemon
· Paul encourages Philemon to receive Onesimus kindly, not only as a slave, but also as a brother in Christ
· Paul is not suggesting Philemon manumit Onesimus, though he may have hoped Philemon would offer him to Paul
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss why Paul might have omitted the thanksgiving from his letter to Galatia and how this omission served Paul’s purpose in writing the letter.
2. Discuss how Paul used the Law itself to show that the Law cannot put a person in a right relationship with God.
3. Discuss the issue of slavery as it appears in Philemon. Are you convinced by Ehrman’s suggestion that Paul was asking Philemon to give Onesimus to him as a slave? If not, why? If so, are you surprised that Paul did not condemn slavery? Why might this not have concerned him?
Some Important Questions to Consider
1. What is the occasion of the letter?
2. What problems have arisen that Paul is trying to address in the letter (i.e., what is the context of each letter)?
3. What does Paul say to resolve the problems (i.e., what are the overarching themes of each letter)?
4. What has led to the conflict of Paul with his opponents in Galatia? What is the view of the Jewish law that he maps out for his converts in Galatia?
5. How does Paul’s autobiographical reflection work in Galatians? What purpose does it serve?
6. What suggests that Paul might have contemplated suicide in Philippians? How was suicide typically viewed in the ancient world?
7. What is suggested about Paul’s position on slavery in his letter to Philemon?
Ch. 16 Romans.docx
The Gospel according to Paul: The Letter to the Romans
What to Expect
· Paul’s letter to the Romans is arguably the most important of his letters
· We will consider how Romans is unique among Paul’s letters
The Occasion and Purpose of the Letter
· Romans is unique in that it is written to a church not established by Paul
· Rather than address issues in the Roman church, Paul explains and defends his own gospel message in this letter
· He hopes the Romans will find his gospel acceptable and support his mission westward to Spain
The Theme of the Epistle
· Paul’s gospel proclaims God’s salvation to Jew and Gentile alike
· Paul defends against the charge that God has been unfaithful to his promises and abandoned Israel
· Paul argues that Israel will in fact be saved, but that Scripture has always taught righteousness is based on faith(fulness), not obedience to the Law
Models for Understanding Paul’s Gospel
· Judicial Model
· Sin as human disobedience that brings death
· Jesus’ death as payment for sin
· Appropriation of payment through faith
· Participationist Model
· Sin as a cosmic power that enslaves people
· Jesus’ death defeats the power of sin
· Participation in Christ’s victory through the Spirit, symbolized in baptism
· These models are not mutually exclusive
The Flow of Paul’s Argument
· All people, Jew and Gentile, are equally condemned before God due to sin; the Jewish Law provides knowledge of sin
· Jesus’ death allows for release from this condemnation; salvation is equally available to Jew and Gentile
· Paul’s gospel is consistent with Scripture and fulfills God’s covenant with Abraham
· Paul’s gospel is not lawless but fulfills the Law
Conclusion: Paul and the Romans
· We do not know if Paul ever visited the Roman congregation as he planned
· The author of Acts concludes with Paul under arrest in Rome, but he reveals no knowledge of Paul’s interaction with Christians in Rome
· Later traditions report that Paul was eventually martyred in Rome
Questions for Discussion
1. What are some of the ways Christians understand their relationship to Jews? How should Romans 9–11 influence us in that relationship?
2. Is there support in Romans 13 for blind nationalistic obedience? If so, how do we justify its place in the canon? If not, how have some people understood in that way?
Ch. 17 Deutero-Paulines and Pastorals.pdf
Chapter 17: In the Wake of the Apostle: The Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral Epistles
What to Expect
• Many ancient authors wrote books in the names of notable figures—a phenomenon
known as pseudepigraphy
• Is it possible the New Testament includes forged books?
• Many scholars believe that as many as six of the letters ascribed to Paul were not actually
written by Paul
Pseudonymity in the Ancient World
• Pseudonymous writings were relatively common in the ancient world among pagans,
Jews, and Christians
• Various motivations were involved, but the practice was generally condemned
• The authorship of the Deutero-Pauline letters is hotly debated among scholars; the
Pastoral epistles are almost universally accepted as pseudonymous
The Deutero-Pauline Epistles
• 2 Thessalonians echoes 1 Thessalonians in some ways, but many scholars believe its
eschatology does not sound like Paul
• Colossians responds to a group of false teachers; its writing style and view of the
resurrection seem to differ from Paul’s
• Ephesians is a circular letter that deals with the relationship between Jew and Gentile; its
vocabulary, writing style, and theology are seem different from Paul’s
The Pastoral Epistles
• 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus
• The designation “pastoral” relates to the recipients and purpose of these letters; they are
written to individual church leaders and offer pastoral advice
• The letters warn against false (possibly Gnostic) teachers and give advice about the
internal structure of the Christian community
The Historical Situation and Authorship of the Pastoral Epistles
• The same author wrote all three letters near the end of the first century
• The writing style, vocabulary, general themes, and specific content of all three are very
similar but are very different from the authentic Pauline epistles
• The historical scenario presupposed by the letters reflects a post-Pauline period
Ch. 18 Paul and Women.docx
Chapter 18: From Paul’s Female Colleagues to the Pastor’s Intimidated Women: The Oppression of Women in Early Christianity
What to Expect
· Debates over female leadership in the church have been happening since the beginning of Christianity
· We will consider the roles for women in Jesus’ ministry, Paul’s churches, and Christian communities after Paul
· Ancient ideologies of gender will also inform our study
Women in Paul’s Churches
· Paul’s undisputed letters reveal that women occupied prominent roles in Paul’s mission
· Romans 16 lists a number of prominent women, including Phoebe, a deacon, and Junia, “foremost among the apostles”
· 1 Corinthians and Philippians also suggest the significance of women in Paul’s churches
Women Associated with Jesus
· The earliest Gospel traditions reveal that Jesus associated with many women
· Women traveled with Jesus, provided financial support, were present at the crucifixion, and were the first witnesses to the empty tomb and thus the first to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection
· Jesus’ association with women coincided with his apocalyptic outlook
Paul’s Understanding of Women in the Church
· Although Paul involved women in his mission, his views of women were not entirely egalitarian
· He urged his followers to maintain their socially defined roles in the interim period before Christ’s return
· Equality in Christ was not yet a social reality, according to Paul
Women in the Aftermath of Paul
· Paul’s letters simultaneously promote active female participation in the church and maintain traditional social roles
· Several Christian groups subsequently used Paul to advance their own divergent agendas regarding women in the church
· Some promoted social equality and asceticism
· Others claimed women should marry and occupy a traditional, submissive role
Ancient Ideologies of Gender
· Men and women were considered different in degree, not kind; there was one continuum of humanity
· Men were considered superior to women, who were understood as underdeveloped, imperfect men
· Women were quite literally the weaker sex; their roles in ancient society reflected this perceived weakness
Gender Ideology and the Pauline Churches
· Many early Christian converts were women
· Initially, Christians convened in “house churches” that met in private homes
· In Roman society, women had significant influence and authority in private homes private homes
· When the church became more public and visible, roles for women diminished
· The view that women should maintain their “natural” roles won the day, a perspective reflected in the canonical Pastoral epistles
Discussion Questions
1. Ehrman suggests that 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 might have been inserted into the text by a later author. Discuss this theory. Does the chapter flow better if the verses are removed? If you believe the verses are original to 1 Corinthians, do you think Paul is contradicting himself in this letter?
2. Discuss the reversal of women’s roles from the time Jesus, and then Paul, established their equality to the gradual suppression of women’s voices and removal of women from positions of leadership in the passing centuries. Why would church men want to defy the teachings of Jesus and do things according to their own understanding? When did the phasing out of women’s new status in Christ begin? How did it develop momentum?
Essay Questions
1. Discuss the evidence for women’s activity in Paul’s communities. What do we know about Paul’s view on women?
2. How are women involved in Jesus’ ministry? How might Jesus’ association with women have affected women’s roles in the early Church?
3. Discuss the two opposing positions on women that emerge among early Christians in the wake of Paul. How do both sides rely on Paul? Which traditions are associated with each position? Which side ultimately reflects the predominant, authoritative view?
4. How do you explain the shift in early Christianity from women occupying positions of status and significance to women being restricted to submissive roles? What factors were likely involved?
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