1. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter 14 Paul: Apostle to the Nations

2. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Key Topics/Themes Paul second only to Jesus as contributor to early Christianity Paul motivated by experience of a revelation of Jesus Christ Creator and disseminator of influential view of Jesus’ cosmic significance

3. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Key Topics (continued) His thesis: Jesus’ saving power replaces Torah obedience as means of being reconciled to God

4. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Introduction Paul’s letters as Christianity’s first attempt to interpret Christ Theology of redemption became central for Christian doctrine Some scholars: early Christianity influenced more by Paul than by Jesus Almost one-third of New Testament

5. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Seeking the Historical Paul Most reliable source: Paul’s letters A former Pharisee who was redirected toward Christianity

6. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Historical Reliability of Acts Difficulties in reconciling Acts and Paul’s letters Where differences, prefer Paul over Acts Biographical details in Acts but absent in Paul Details in Acts that seem to contradict Paul

7. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Paul’s Experience of the Risen Jesus The dividing point of Paul’s life A revelation (apokalypsis) of Jesus Christ Paul’s headstrong personality Difficulties Paul experienced in working with other believers

8. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Dating Paul’s Career Chronological information in Galatians Other important chronological data  King Aretas  Gallio  Claudius’s expulsion of Jews from Rome

9. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Paul’s Letters

10. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Genuine Letters Majority of scholars: seven genuine letters Many doubt authenticity of 2 Thessalonians, Colossians Majority doubt authenticity of Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus

11. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Order of Composition 1 Thessalonians came first Includes four letters from prison  Colossians  Philemon  Philippians  Ephesians Place of Paul’s imprisonment uncertain

12. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Paul’s Use of the Letter Form Letters as substitutes for his presence Impressive pieces of literary rhetoric Imitated by writers of later New Testament “letters”

13. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Hellenistic Letters Paul’s use of typical Hellenistic letter-writing style  Address  Greeting  Wish for good fortune/prayer  Body of letter  Closing greetings Paul’s modifications to this style

14. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Paul’s Letter Writing Often dictated letters according to custom of the day Usually wrote to address church crises Paul’s concern always pastoral

15. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Paul’s Major Assumptions and Concerns Mysticism and eschatology The centrality and preeminence of Jesus Christ and humanity The faithful as Christ’s body Christ as liberator from sin, Torah, and death

16. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Concerns (continued) Christ’s universal sufficiency Justification by faith

17. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Summary Letters to be considered in probable order of composition Need to be aware of Paul’s eschatological orientation