©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Chapter 15 Unity, Freedom, and Christ’s Return: Paul’s Letters to Thessalonica and Corinth

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Key Topics/Themes 1 Thessalonians –Nearness of the eschaton –Warnings against attempting to calculate date of the Parousia 1 Corinthians –Paul’s aims to heal divisions in the church –Specific instructions concerning doctrine, ethics, and church order

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Key Topics (cont’d.) 2 Corinthians –Overcoming apostolic opponents –Paul’s reconciliation with the Corinthian church

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Introduction Paul’s early letters dominated by eschatology Paul battling opponents within and outside his churches

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education First Letter to the Thessalonians

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Basic Information Oldest surviving Christian document Appears to be primarily Gentile church Church must prepare for Parousia by refraining from sexual sin

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Parousia and the Resurrection Concern at Thessalonica over eternal destiny of dead Christians Describes Parousia using typical apocalyptic language Warnings against attempts to calculate the “dates and times” Day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night”

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Role of the Spirit Presence of the Spirit in the church a sign of the impending End Warning not to “stifle inspiration” in the church

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education First Letter to the Corinthians

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Introduction Paul spends a year and a half in Corinth 1 Cor. not Paul’s first letter to Corinth 2 Cor. likely a composite letter Letters reveal two-way correspondence

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The City and Its People Large, prosperous, libertine Aphrodite the patron goddess Church members from various backgrounds Resulting strife in Corinthian church Paul’s challenge: to bring unity

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Topics of Concern Organization: –Chs. 1-6: overcoming factions in the church –Chs. 7-15: answers to specific questions Paul’s eschatological urgency

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Necessity of Christian Unity (Chs. 1-6) Church divided into cliques Avoiding competitiveness and cultivating divine wisdom The limits of Christian freedom Discouragement from lawsuits between Christians

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Answering Letters from the Congregation (Chs. 7-15) Marriage, divorce, and celibacy A problem of conscience Regulating behavior in church –The importance of women in church –The communion meal –Need to regulate gifts of the Spirit to foster unity

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Answering Letters (cont’d.) –The hymn to love (agapē) –Speaking in tongues a less important spiritual gift

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Answering Letters (cont’d.) The eschatological hope: resurrection of the dead The historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection Closing remarks: importance of taking up a collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Second Letter to the Corinthians Chs written before chs. 1-9 The “severe” letter (chs ): Paul’s defense of his apostolic authority The letter of reconciliation (chs. 1-9)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Summary 1 Thessalonians: overcoming misconceptions about the Parousia 1 Corinthians: overcoming church conflict to unite the church 2 Corinthians: God operates through “weak” human vessels Paul and readers standing at the turning point of two ages