Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and the Deutero-Pauline Epistles Intergenerational Seminary New Testament Session #3

Christological Hymn of Philippians 2 Christology –Bottom-up, or –Top-down? How do we view Christ?

Romans

Background Longest letter in the New Testament More reflective than any other Pauline letter –Also most liturgical (language of Jewish worship: 3:25, 12:1, 15:16) –Paul’s last letter More reasoned than Galatians –Compare Romans 3:1-2 and Galatians 5:2 Spurred debates that led to the split in Western Christianity –First textbook of Protestant systematic theology (Melanchthon’s Loci communes, 1521) organized according to the structure of Romans

Context Written in the winter of 57/58 from Corinth –On the eve of Paul’s trip to Jerusalem Apprehensive: 15:30-31 Tension with James (Acts 21:17-25) Romans not as bold re: Judaism as was Galatians –Planning a major move toward the Written to the church in Rome (a city Paul had yet to visit) –Had to speak more gingerly than to the churches which he founded, such as at Corinth

Outline 1:1-15 – Address and greeting 1:16 – 11:36: Doctrinal section –Part I (1:16 – 4:25): Uprightness of God revealed through the gospel –Part II (5:1-8:39): God’s salvation & justification by faith –Part III (9:1-11:36): God’s promises to Israel 12:1 – 15:13: Hortatory section –Part I (12:1 – 13:14): Advice for Christian living –Part II (14:1 – 15:13): The strong owe love to the weak 15:14-33: Paul’s travel plans and blessing 16: Recommendations for Phoebe and greetings to Romans, concluding doxology

Paul and the Law Positive –He upholds it (3:31) –The Law is holy (7:20) and fulfilled (8:4) –He insists on the commandments (13:8-10) Negative –No one is justified by it (3:20) –The Law brings wrath (4:15) –The law increases sin (5:20) Solution: Paul upholds the ethical commands, but not the cultic ones

The law and grace Natural law (1:18-24) –Everyone is guilty/responsible –The law is available to all (2:12-16) –“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (3:23) Faith is the key –Uses Abraham as an example Bottom line –Even Gentiles are held to the Law –Even Jews are justified by faith

The Righteousness of God  –Divine virtue: the righteous God who punishes sinners Haunted Martin Luther –Active attribute of God: the God who justifies –Source/origin: righteousness as a gift from God (Philippians 3:9)

Justification Justification through Christ takes the place of justification through the Law –Christ died for sinners (5:8) –Christ was “raised for our justification” (4:25) Not a new theme, but one that Paul expanded –Justification by grace through faith (3:24-25) Forensic (declared upright) or causative (made upright)?

The Deutero-Pauline Epistles Colossians 2 Thessalonians Ephesians Pastoral Epistles –1 and 2 Timothy –Titus

MarkMatthew/Luke-ActsJohn Chronology of Paul’s letters Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians Philippians Philemon 1 & 2 Corinthians Romans Galatians Colossians Ephesians 1 & 2 Timothy Titus

Colossians How do we know Paul didn’t write it? –Colossians says believers share Christ’s resurrection (2:12-13; 3:1), but Paul says that believers died with Christ but have not been raised –Colossians says that Christ is the head of the church, His body (contra Romans 12:4-5) –Colossians says that in Christ there is “forgiveness of sins,” whereas Paul speaks of “freedom from sin” –Colossians (and Ephesians) are full of long, complex sentences

Important elements in Colossians Likely written from Ephesus ~80 CE Christ hymn of 1:15 – 20 –Similarities to John’s prologue –Personification of Wisdom Proverbs 3:19, 8:22 Wisdom 7:26 First of 5 household codes (3:18 – 4:1) –Others are Ephesians 5:21 – 6:9; Titus 2:1 – 10; 1 Timothy 2:8 – 15 & 5:1 – 2 & 6:1 – 2; and 1 Peter 2:13 – 3:7

2 Thessalonians Likely written late in the 1 st century Whereas 1 Thessalonians spoke of the Second Coming as imminent (4:13 – 5:11), 2 Thessalonians says it’s not (2:1 – 2) and many things need to happen first (2:1 - 12)

Ephesians Called the “crown of Paulinism” (Dodd) –Likely written in the 90s Emphasis on the church universal –2:11 – 22, relationship to Romans –Baptismal covenant: 4:4 – 6 Household code (5:21 – 6:9) –Longer than the one in Colossians –Begins with a call to “be subject to one another” (5:21) –Obligation of husbands to love is more detailed than obligation of wives to be subject

To Read for Next Week James –Luther’s “epistle of straw”