06 deacons & apostles, mission & ministry p

DEACONS & APOSTLES, MISSION & MINISTRY

Class 6

Outline

§ Christian Community : Vision & Division

§ Early Church Ministries

§ An Orientation to Paul

§ Gentiles & Jews: The New Perspectiveú Theological Reflection: Ethnic Diversity

§ Introduction to Ancient Letters

§ Rhetorical Criticismú The methodú An example: The Letter to the Galatians

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: VISION & DIVISION

A Vision of Christian CommunityActs 2:43-47

43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

A Vision of Christian CommunityActs 4:32-35

32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Evidence of Divisions

§ James, the brother of Jesusú Acts says he led the Jerusalem community after Jesus’ deathú But the gospel authors don’t mention him favorably

§ Beloved disciple vs Peter in the Gospel of John

§ Paul vs Peter and James (the brother of Jesus)

§ Hellenistic Jews vs Palestinian Jews (Acts 6)

§ Divisions in Corinth

Hellenistic Jews vs Palestinian JewsActs 6:1-7

1 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.”

Divisions of Loyalty1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? … 17 Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

EARLY CHURCH MINISTRIES

Early Church Ministries

25–28 CE Jesus has male and female disciples (“followers, students”)

Jerusalem Church: Twelve, Hellenist leaders, James (Jesus’ brother), elders

Diaspora: Paul, Barnabas, Apollos; Prisca & Aquila (co-workers), Junia (apostle), Phoebe (deacon), prophet1 Cor 12:28: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers,

those who help others, leaders, speakers in tongues

28–62? CE

Gospels emphasize “the Twelve,” John adds the ”beloved disciple”; James Jesus’ brother not mentioned favorably

Pastoral Epistles speak of presbyters (“elders”) and bishops (episkopoi or “overseers”), as well as apostolic delegates

Acts and the Pastorals indicate that the widows are a church office

65–100 CE

AN ORIENTATION TO PAUL

Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles tell us where Jesus’11 disciples preached after his death

Peter AndrewPhilip ThomasJohn son of ZebedeeJames bro of Jesus and James son of Zebedee (Jerusalem) Bartholomew/Nathanael and Jude/Thaddeus and Simon the ZealotMatthew (Egypt or Persia), James son of Alphaeus/the Less, and early preaching of Simon the Zealot

The Canonical Acts of the Apostles focuses almost entirely on Paul

Sites to and from which Paul wrote the letters we will read

Thessaloniki

Ephesus

Tarsus

Galatia

Corinth

Philippi

Paul

Fourth-century fresco in the Catacomb of St. Thecla

in Rome

A composite sketch of Paulby the Landeskriminalarm,

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Fifth-century fresco in the Cave of Sts. Paul and Thecla

in Ephesus

PaulBrief Bio

§ Born in 5–10 CE in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, on the southern coast of Asia Minor (Turkey)

§ A zealous Pharisee and Roman citizen

§ Converts to Christianity around 36 CE (after Jesus’ death)ú 40–44 back in Cilicia

ú 44–45 at Antioch

§ Takes his message on the road to Asia Minor and Greeceú 46–49 first journey

ú 50–52 second journey

ú 54-58 third journey

SourcesPaul’s Letters

(esp. Gal 2:1-10; Phil 3:4-6)Acts 9:1-30; 11:1-28:31

49 Jerusalem conference

Paul’s First Journey (Acts 13:1–14:28)

Paul’s Second Journey (Acts 15:36–18:23)

Paul’s Third Journey (Acts 18:23–21:16)

PaulBrief Bio

§ Writes letters to communities he visited if he hears of problems or questions (51–62 CE)


(esp. Gal 2:1-10; Phil 3:4-6)Acts 9:1-30; 11:1-28:31

Acts 18:12-13

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia,the Jews rose uptogether against Paul and brought him to the tribunal, saying, “This man is inducing people to worship God contrary to the law.”

Gallio inscription: Emperor Claudius mentions Gallio’s consulship in Corinth and dates it to 52 CE

PaulBrief Bio

§ Writes letters to communities he visited if he hears of problems or questions (51–62 CE)


(esp. Gal 2:1-10; Phil 3:4-6)Acts 9:1-30; 11:1-28:31

§ Arrested in Jerusalem c.58 CE

§ Imprisoned in Caesarea 58–60 CE

§ Sent to Rome, long sea journey 60–61 CE

§ Prisoner in Rome 61–63 CE

§ Dies in Rome after summer 64 CE, during a persecution by Nero

PaulImpact on the New Testament

Jesusc.6 BCE–28 CE

Paulc.50–66 CE

Romans

The Eschaton

Titus Jude Revelation110

John

GOSPELS/HISTORY EPISTLES or LETTERS APOCALYPSE

-Acts

50 CE .

70 ..

1-2 CorinthiansPhilemon

PhilippiansGalatians

1 Thessalonians

1–2 TimothyEphesians

2 ThessaloniansColossians

1-2-3 John1-2 Peter

JamesHebrews

Luke

Mark

Deutero-Paulineletters

Catholicepistles

& Hebrews

Matthew

Q

GENTILES & JEWS:THE NEW PERSPECTIVE

What Was the “Old Perspective” on Paul?

§ It came out of the Protestant Reformation

§ It viewed Paul’s teaching as pitting faith against worksú Nothing that you can do “earns” salvation

ú Salvation is by faith in Christ (sola fide)

ú Putting faith in works or justification in the law is therefore sterile

ú In Protestant eyes, Judaism and Catholicism were guilty of this sterility and legalism

We see this debate about faith vs works in the New Testament

Matthew“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:17-19

PaulFor we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircum–cised through faith. Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting the law.

Romans 3:28-31

The “New Perspective”E. P. Sanders, KristerStendahl, James D. G. Dunn, N. T. Wright

§ What if Paul wasn’t abandoning the law/ethics?ú After all, he only abandons certain observances, like

circumcision, dietary laws and sabbath laws — not all of Jewish ethics

ú These observances were boundary markers, separating Jews from non-Jews

§ And what if breaking boundaries was not about leaving Judaism, but about bringing Gentiles in?

§ This would mean seeing Paul as a Jew

The “New Perspective”

§ And it would mean seeing Paul’s mission not as Jew vs. Gentile, but as Jews + subjected nations vs. the empireof Rome

§ We can’t understand Paul’s “mission to the nations” without understanding how Rome viewed ”the nations”

ú in Greek, τα εθνη = ta ethnē = the peoples or nations; in Latin, the term is gentes, from which we get “Gentiles”

ú Rome offered its view of ”the nations” in architecture and art

The following material depends on Davina C. Lopez, Apostle to the Conquered: Reimagining Paul’s Mission

(Paul in Critical Contexts; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008).

The Great Cameo of ParisRome, 25–50 CE

Deified members of, the imperial dynasty, including Augustus

Emperor Tiberius, hismother Livia, with his heir Germanicus, his wife,and Nero in front, and Claudius and his wifebehind

Captive nations

The Sebasteion at AphrodisiasBuilt 20–60 CE to honor Aphrodite and the Julio-Claudian Emperors

The Sebasteion at AphrodisiasThe North Building depicted “The Nations”

The Sebasteion at AphrodisiasBuilt 20–60 CE to honor Aphrodite and the Julio-Claudian Emperors

The Sebasteion at Aphrodisias

Just as the next dynasty would depict its conquest of Judaea

in 70 CE

Nero subduing Armenia Claudius subduing Britannia

Paul’s Call to the Nations(Not Paul’s conversion to Christianity)

Galatians 1:13-14

You have heard of my manner of living then in Jewishness/ Judaenaism, that I was excessively persecuting the assembly of God, even annihilating her. I was ahead in Jewishness/Judaenism, above many contemporaries in my race, as I was more abundantly being a zealot for the traditions of my fathers.

Paul’s Call to the Nations(Not Paul’s conversion to Christianity)

Galatians 1:15-16

…when God, the one who set me apart while in my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his son in me so that I might proclaim him among the nations.

Paul’s Emasculation

Galatians 2:19

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ…

2 Corinthians 11:23, 27

I am a better [minister]: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death. …in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked.

Paul’s Invitation to Weakness

Galatians 4:12-14

Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

The New CreationSolidarity across ethnē, status and gender

Galatians 6:14-17

May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircum-cision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

The New CreationSolidarity across ethnē, status and gender

Galatians 3:26-28

…in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Theological Reflection: Ethnic Diversity

INTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT LETTERS

Epistolary Literature

§ Typesú formal v. informal (“epistle” v. “letter”)

§ Purposeú political, commercial and military letters direct recipientsú expresses the “friendly relationship” between the partiesú serves as the “presence” of the sender (in his absence)ú continues the dialogue or exhortation

§ Stereotypical Phrasing

Epistolary Literature

§ Formatú address (“Greetings”)ú body

ú conclusion

• Can address issues on a case-by-case basis (1 Cor) or it can be more systematic• Teachings (doctrinal or indicative section)• Applications to community

• imperative = you must do x, or • paraenetical / hortatory = you should do x

– personal greetings and instructions

How Paulchanges it up

“Grace and peace…”

a benediction, ratherthan a farewell

Addition of “thanksgiving”

RHETORICAL CRITICISM

Rhetorical Criticism

§ Rhetoric = the art of persuasion

§ Rhetorical criticism is the study of that artú the critic tries to discern the author’s perspective by

• analyzing the argument

• assessing how it impacts its audience

• discerning the problem to which the argument is responding

• identifying the species of rhetoric

• analyzing the arrangement of the argument

• determining the type of appeal

• accounting for the rhetorical techniques (features of style)

Rhetorical CriticismSpecies of Rhetoric

§ Judicial

§ Deliberative

§ Epideictic

From the law courts; oriented towards defense or accusation of the client for past actions

1 Cor 1:13-17

Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.


§ Judicial

§ Deliberative

§ Epideictic


1 Cor 12:4-7

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

From the legislature; oriented towards debate over matters of future public policy


§ Judicial

§ Deliberative

§ Epideictic


Matthew 23:13-15

[Jesus speaking] “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

From the legislature; oriented towards debate over matters of future public policy

From ceremonial occasions like funerals or public celebrations; oriented towards praise or blame, and heavy on style (epideictic = “fit for display”)

Rhetorical CriticismTypes of Persuasive Appeal

§ Logos

§ Pathos

§ Ethos

An appeal to reason 1 Cor 11:7-10

For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.


§ Logos

§ Pathos

§ Ethos

An appeal to reason

Galatians 4:12-16

Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

An appeal to emotion


§ Logos

§ Pathos

§ Ethos

An appeal to reason

1 Corinthians 4:9-13

For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.

An appeal to emotion

An appeal to the speaker’s own character as grounds for trust

Rhetorical CriticismCanons of Rhetoric

§ invention

§ arrangement

§ style

§ memory

§ delivery

finding something to say; the thesis, or common topics

how to order the piece (either the whole epistle or an argument within it)

techniques that in the best rhetoric embody or help others embody or recall the argument

techniques to facilitate memorizing

hypokrisis, or acting: the force of the oral performance; letter writers have tocompensate for the lost ability to performtheir speech

GALATIANS

GalatiansBackground

§ Date WHEN

§ Place WHERE

§ Author WHO

§ Audience FORWHOM

54/55 CE

Written from Ephesusin Asia Minor

Paul, “apostle to the Gentiles”

Christians in central Turkey (Galatia), Jewish and Gentile

GalatiansRhetorical Structure

§ Salutation 1:1-5

§ Proem 1:6-10• Thesis of argument: there is no other gospel

§ Proof 1:11–5:1

§ Exhortation 5:2–6:10

§ Epilogue 6:11-18

• Credibility of gospel Paul preached (1:11–2:21)

correctio

• Gospel is true based on experience of Galatians (3:1–4:11)• Personal appeal to Galatians (4:12-20)

scriptural proofs,incl. enthymeme

3:6-9) and allegory (4:21–5:1)

Galatians 1P46

Galatians 3:1-4Identify the Species

§ Judicial

§ Deliberative

§ Epideictic

1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing.

Galatians 3:10-14Identify the Species

§ Judicial

§ Deliberative

§ Epideictic

10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” 12But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, “Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:21-22Identify the Type of Appeal

§ Logos

§ Pathos

§ Ethos

21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. 22 But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.


§ Logos

§ Pathos

§ Ethos

11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12 for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.


§ Logos

§ Pathos

§ Ethos

19 My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Arrangement of the Argument

In the following passage,

1. Identify the central point: what does Paul want the Galatians to do?

2. What supporting arguments does he make to persuade them?

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. 17 But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Galatians 2:15-21

GalatiansPastoral Issue: Jewish Ethics & Solidarity with

the Oppressed

§ Reflection questions

1. Does freedom from the law mean freedom from all ethics?

2. What binds Judaism to the nations, in Paul’s view?

3. Why might other subjugated Jews have resistedPaul’s embrace of the nations?

4. (How) Does Paul resist Rome?

MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE FOR GALATIANS

GalatiansManuscript Evidence

There are 14 manuscripts that include Galatians; all date to the first 600 years of Christian history

Century Manuscript Extent

c.200 P46 parts of 9 Pauline letters, including Gal

c.400 P51 Gal 1P99 A Greco-Latin glossary with a chapter of 4 letters, incl. Gal

300s 01 oldest complete copy of all Paul’s letters02 missing just a few leaves of 2 Corinthians03 breaks off after Hebrews 9:1404 partially extant for all but 2 Thess

062 Gal 4–5

D. C. Parker, An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and Their Texts (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008) 256-61.

016 parts of all letters but Romans, though fire-damaged

0174 Gal 20176 Gal 30254 Gal 50261 Gal 1, 4

400s 06 parts of fourteen epistles

Galatians 1P46

06 deacons & apostles, mission & ministry p

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