biblical literature lecture 10: the epistles, pauline and general

7/23/2019 Biblical Literature Lecture 10: The Epistles, Pauline and General

1/13

Claflin University

Dr. David Battle


2/13

Pauline Epistles:

Modern Critical Consensus

Commonly Accepted

Romans

1 & 2 Corinthians

Galatians

Philippians

1 Thessalonians

Philemon

Commonly Rejected

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Debated

Ephesians

Colossians

2 Thessalonians


3/13

The Early Church and the Church Fathers onlyquestion whether Hebrews was written by Paul.

The content of Hebrews is conceptually similar to Paulin both message and theme.

The book gives no claim to authorship.

The writer of the books seems to be associated with

Paul.

Pauline Epistles:

Ancient Consensus


4/13

The Early Church and Pseudonymity

The test of apostolicity caused many books to be

rejected. Pseudonymous works were rejected.

Turtullian reports of a Bishop who was removed formoffice because he wroteActs of Paul and Thecla.

Serapion (A.D. 180), the Bishop of Antioch, rejected TheGospel of Peterbecause it was written pseudonymously.

Pauline Epistles


5/13

The Psudopigrapha are known as a collection of

rejected works.

Many works of great Church Fathers were also keptfrom the canon.

Clement (c. A.D. 110)

Ignatius (c. A.D. 117) Polycarp (d. A.D. 155)

Pauline Epistles:


6/13

Grouped according to addressee:

Ecclesiastical letters are addressed to churches.

Romans through Thessalonians.

Pastoral letters are addressed to individuals.

1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Grouping of Pauls Epistles


7/13

Grouped according to the ministry of Paul.

Pauls Missionary Journeys in Acts (Acts 13-23)

First Missionary Journey: Galatians (Acts 13-14) Second Missionary Journey: 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Acts

15:36-18:22)

Third Missionary Journey: 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans(Acts 18:23-21:16)

During Pauls First Imprisonment: Colossians, Philemon,Ephesians, and Philippians (Acts 21:17-28:31)

Around Pauls Second Imprisonment: 1 & 2 Timothy andTitus



8/13

Grouped around theological themes

Soteriological: Galatians, and RomansChristological: Colossians, Ephesians,

Philippians, and perhaps Philemon

Ecclesiological: 1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus

Church Discipline: 1 & 2 Corinthians

Eschatological: 1 & 2 Thessalonians



9/13

Hebrews

James 1 & 2 Peter

1, 2, & 3 John Jude

Survey: General Epistles


10/13

Epistolary literature is occasional.

They were written in response to a specific situation.

Paul wrote Romans in preparation for a planed trip tothe city (Rom. 15:23-29).

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address various conflicts

in the Corinthian congregation (1 Cor. 1:10-12).

Epistolary Literature


11/13

Epistolary literature follows a basic from.

Opening

Sender, Recipient, Salutations, and Prayer

Body

Longest part

Closing

Travel plans, Greetings, Benediction, Autograph

Epistolary Form

Picture by Alma Flor Ada and Leslie

Tryon (illustrator);


12/13

Epistolary literature follows a basic from.

Opening

Sender, Recipient, Salutations, and Prayer

Body

Longest part

Closing

Travel plans, Greetings, Benediction, Autograph

Epistolary Form

Picture by Alma Flor Ada and Leslie

Tryon (illustrator);


13/13

When reading Epistles

Look for clues to the situation that is being addressed.

Look for major themes that pull together the varioustopics.

Think in terms of paragraphs not single verses.

Epistolary Literature

biblical literature lecture 10: the epistles, pauline and general

Documents