1 / 25

NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey

NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey. Class IX: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. 1.1 Introduction Galatians Historical significance: Most commented NT book by the early fathers Protestant reformation M. Luther – as dear as own wife

thalia
Download Presentation

NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. NTS 501 NT Intro and Survey Class IX: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians

  2. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 1.1 Introduction Galatians • Historical significance: • Most commented NT book by the early fathers • Protestant reformation • M. Luther – as dear as own wife • Foundational for doctrine and practice • Popular passages • Fruit of the Spirit

  3. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 2.1 Historical & Critical Issues • No doubt about authorship • 2:7b-8 as a gloss (?) • Who were the Galatians? (1:2; 3:1) • Ethnic group (north) • Churches in south of the province • North or south Galatian theory • Late date (AD 53-57) • Early date (AD 48)

  4. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • North Galatian theory – arguments pro • View of early church fathers and reformers • Luke’s use of Galatia ‘Phrygia & Galatia’ (Acts 16:6; 18:23) • Luke’s use of geog. regions not provinces (13:13, 14, 14:6) • South Galatian theory – arguments pro • Paul knew Galatians personally (1:8; 4:11, 15-19) • Acts 16:6; 18:23 route is south Galatia - not north • No evidence that Paul visited northern Galatia • Barnabas mentioned x3 in Galatians (2:1, 9, 13) – he only accompanied the first missions journey  No conclusive evidence

  5. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Circumstances and purpose • Reception of the gospel & of Paul (4:13-16) • Quick turning away (1:6-8) • Judaizers & circumcision (cf. Acts 15:1) • Paul counters the Judaizing threat • Nothing can be added to the gospel of grace

  6. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • The flow of argument in Galatians • Independence/divine origins of gospel (1:6-24; 2:11-14) • Approval of Jerusalem apostles (2:1-10) • Righteous by faith not works of the Law (2:11-21) • HS and promised righteousness by faith (3:1-18) • True purpose of the Law (3:19-4:11) • Call back to the gospel (4:12-5:1) • Warnings about rejecting the gospel (5:2-12) • Freedom & transformation of HS (5:13-25) • Final exhortations (5:26-6:18)

  7. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 2.2 Themes in Galatians • Judaizers in Galatia • “upsetting you”; “perverting the gospel”; “court” them; “trip you up” (1:7; 5:20; 4:17; 5:7) • Law as a sign of covenant OR ‘deeper reality’ • Paul is a people pleaser (1:10) • Paul’s apostolic authority & the gospel • Paul’s gospel challenged (1:9-12) • Gospel as divine revelation (1:12) • Connection to Jerusalem church (2:1-10) • Paul rebuked Peter & Barnabas (2:11-14) • Other gospel is no gospel (1:8-9) • Circumcision is useless (5:2-3)

  8. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Justification by faith – not works of the Law • Right with God only through faith (2:15-16; 3:10-14) • God’s work in Christ – not works of the Law • If right with God through works of the Law… • Christ died for nothing (2:21) • “fallen away from grace” (5:54); “under curse” (3:10) • Law points out sin and was temporary (3:19-29) • Salvation history – old vs. new • Fullness of time…Christ came… (4:4-5) • “before faith” – under Law as guardian (3:23, 25) • Slavery & yoke (5:1) – freedom, Spirit & faith (5:1, 5) • Children of New covenant vs. old (4:21-31)

  9. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Life in the Spirit & transformation • Keeping the Law as path to virtue? (Judaizers) • Paul’s autobiography (1:11-16) • Reception of Spirit by faith (3:1-5) • Spirit and sonship (4:4-7) – compared to • Enslavement to ‘elemental principles’ (4:8-11) • Enslavement to observing days and months (4:10) • Christ formed in you (4:19) • “faith working through love” – whole law (5:6, 14) • Life by the Spirit vs. flesh (5:16-26) • Guided by HS, sow in HS (5:25; 6:8)

  10. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 3.1 Introduction to Ephesians • Second to Romans in doctrinal importance • Cosmic dimension of Christ and church • Spiritual warfare passage • Household code

  11. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 3.2 Authenticity of Ephesians • General arguments for authenticity • Paul’s claim for authorship (1:1) • Unanimous testimony of the early church • 1Clem46:6; Ignatius; Polycarp; Irenaeus • Pseudepugrapha in early church (cf. 2 Thess 2:2) • Arguments – Ephesians pseudepigraphal • Different theology from the undisputed letters • Cosmic Christology rather than death of Christ • Universal rather than local church (body metaphor) • realized eschatology (2:6) rather than futuristic • Unique style and vocabulary (e.g. 1:4ff.) • Dependence on Colossians (see p. 330) • General and non-personal letter (cf. Acts 20:31)

  12. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Arguments pro Paul • Cosmic Christology: references to Christ’s death (1:7; 2:16; 5:2, 25); other Paul’s texts emphasize exaltation (e.g. 1Cor 15:3-28; Phil 2:5-11) • Cosmic Christology due to cosmic conflict (6:10-18) • Universal church also in Paul (1Cor 1:2; 10:32; 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6) • Body & head metaphor extension of body metaphor • Future redemption in Eph (1:10, 13-14, 21; 4:30); realized eschatology in Paul (Rom 8:29-30) • Unique style and language • Style: doxology and prayer (cf. 1:3-14) • Eph: 41 hapax & 84 ‘non-Pauline’ words • Gal: 35 hapax & 90 ‘non-Pauline’ words • Literary relationship w/ Col – Paul wrote both • General nature of Eph – circular letter • Many early manuscripts lack “to Ephesians” in 1:1

  13. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Date, provenance, purpose • If authentic AD 60s from Roman house arrest • General exposition of Paul’s theology • Need for encouragement in midst of persecution • If pseudepigraphal AD 80s • Need for unity after Paul’s death • Gnostic threat • Written for mainly gentiles readers (2:11-19; 3:1)

  14. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • General flow of argument • Opening (1:1-2) • Shared spiritual blessings w/ Christ (1:3-3:21) • Life worthy of the gospel (4:1-6:20) • Final greetings (6:21-24)

  15. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 3.3 Themes in Ephesians • The cosmic plan of God • God’s mysterion revealed (1:9; 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19) • Revealed in Christ through the church (3:3-11) • All things united in Christ (1:9-11) • Gentiles as fellow heirs (3:5-6; 2:15) • Christ’s death and exaltation brings “all blessings” • Forgiveness, piece & new life (1:3-14; 2:4, 13, 16-18) • Direct access to God & new humanity (2:17-19, 15) • Christ’s rule demonstrated to ‘rulers & powers’ • Christ ruler over principalities and powers (1:19-22) • Reception of the HS (1:13; 4:30) • Unity of the church – esp. Jew-gentile (4:4-6, 11-16)

  16. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Church as God’s universal people of God • No references to ‘local church’ (cf. 1Cor 1:1-2) • Church – all believers everywhere • Christ the head of the church (1:22-23) • Church is the body (1:22-23; 4:12) • Church as household (2:19) • “Christ died for the church” (5:25) • Unity and holiness of the church (5:25-26, 29) • “members of one another” (4:25) • Jews and gentiles (2:11-22) • Church - wisdom of God to rulers & authorities (3:10) • Church, gifts & proper governance (2:20; 3:5; 4:11-13)

  17. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Realized eschatology • God’s plan b/f creation of the world (1:4-5) • “holy and blameless” in Christ (1:4; 5:27) • Adoption; redemption; forgiveness (1:4-9) • Wisdom; inheritance; seal of HS (1:9-14) • Seated w/ Christ (2:6) • Prayer for realization (1:16-23; 3:14-21) • Prepared works of Christ (2:10) • Unity in church (4:1-16) • Living “worthy of calling” (4:1-6:9) • In church • In household • “seated w/ Christ” (2:6) • “Walk worthy” (4:1) • “Stand” (6:11, 14)

  18. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Spiritual warfare – 6:10-18 • Realized eschatology & ethical imperative • Power language ‘rulers, powers, principalities’ • Christ far above them & others (1:21; 2:2; 3:10; 6:12) • Pre-Christian life “following the ruler of power” (2:2) • Church demonstrates God’s wisdom to powers (3:10) • Spiritual armor & united prayer (6:10-18) • Plural imperatives (6:10-14) • Put on armor of God (6:10-18; cf Is 11:5; 52:7; 57:19) • Wrestling – close up combat (6:12) • Put on new & put off old (4:22-24; cf. 4:26-27)  Realized eschatology, ethical conduct, and spiritual warfare linked

  19. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 4.1 Introduction to Philippians • Popular verses in Philippians • “to live is Christ…” 1:21 • “…name of Jesus every knee shall bow…” 2:10-11 • “Don’t be anxious…” 4:6 • “all things through Christ who…” 4:13 • “Rejoice…” 4:4 • Difficulty with piece-meal deal • Misses the general argument & profound theology

  20. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 4.2 History & Critical Issues • Undisputed Pauline authorship • 2:6-11 only debated section • Unusual vocabulary; rhythmic style; presence of “servant theme”; absence of key themes in Paul (redemption etc.) • Is Philippians a composite letter? • “letters to the Philippians” (Polycarp Phil 3:2) • Health status of Epaphroditus (2:25-30; 4:18) • “Finally” in 3:1 and travel plans as a conclusion • 3:1 and 4:4 with an abrupt change of tone • epistolai in Polycarp means sg. & ancient convention • No manuscript evidence for the composite letter • Why bring up man’s health every time mentioned? • “Finally” as transitional; travel plans in 2Cor; 1 Thess

  21. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Date, Provenance, Purpose • Early 50s to early 60s from prison (1:7, 13-14, 17) • Caesarea • Rome • Ephesus • Rome’s provenance supported by • Praetorium (1:13) • Caesar’s household (4:22) • “life or death” nature of Paul’s situation (1:21-22)  Non-conclusive evidence • Purpose • To foster unity for the sake of the gospel • Joy in the midst of suffering

  22. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Historical Background of Philippi • City of Philippi • Founded by Philip II Macedon (358-7 BC) • Battle b/w Antony & Octavian vs. Brutus & Cassius (42 BC) • Octavian defeated Antony (31 BC) – Philippi as iusitalicum (“law of Italy”), highest honor in Roman colony • 8 mil from Macedonian sea, along Via Egnatia • Medium sized farming community • Veterans of Roman army retired in Philippi • First church in Europe on 2nd missionary journey (Acts 16:6-10)

  23. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians 4.3 The Main Themes of Philippians • The Gospel and its implications • “life worthy of the gospel” (1:27; 3:20) • Christian citizenship vs. Roman colony • Joy, peace, humility (4:4, 6; 2:1-11) • Examples of Jesus, Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus (2:5-11; 1:24-6; 1:19-24; 1:25-30) • Person and work of Christ • Christ hymn (2:6-11) • Pre-existence, incarnation, suffering, glory (Is 45:23) • Righteousness of Paul and Christ (3:1-6)

  24. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Christian unity • “partnership in the gospel” (1:5-6; cf. 4:15) • Problems of unity • False teachers (3:2) • Euodia and Syntyche (4:2-3; cf. 1:27) • “look for interest of others” (2:3-4) • “work out salvation…God works in you” (2:12-13)  To work for the gospel

  25. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians • Christian Suffering • Trying circumstances advance the gospel (1:12) • Imprisonment & possible death (1:21-23) • False motives preachers preach the gospel (1:17-18) • Epharoditus almost died (2:27) • Philippians suffer for the gospel by grace (1:27-29) • Paul’s suffering with Christ (3:11) • Paul’s circumstances (4:12-13; cf. Acts 16:16-25)

More Related