ࡱ> GIF  )bjbj~~ *@__!%fffffzzz8<$z$"444F$H$H$H$H$H$H$$o&%)l$fl$ff44$f4f4F$F$"h#ŌHX"#2$$0$"#)) #)f#Ll$l$$)X ,: General Information of the Letter Genre of Christian Foundational Writings (notes from the New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version) Letters are the earliest writings of the Christian Foundational Writings (preceding the Gospel according to Mark); the Letters are also the most common literary form/genre of the CFW The are 21 letters; 13 are from Paul or his associates: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon Hebrews was later attributed to Paulmaking 14 The other letters, some attributed to other apostles, include 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, James and Jude The letters are not arranged chronologically, but by length (roughly); Romans is the longest letter; it appears first; The Greek word epistole or letter originally referred to an oral communication delivered by a letter-carrier or messenger Paul frequently mentions the missionary associates in the greetings of his letters 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, considered pastorals addressed to Pauls key assistantstreating them like youthful bishops of local churches; these letters look to a future when Christians are established in the larger society 1 and 2 Thessalonians both have the theme of the return of Jesus as the end of time; other letters though continue to deal with concrete issues in the churches of the day these letters are considered apostolic letters and are considerably longer than private letters Ephesians is a letter lacking a personal address and any references to personal problems or specific individuals Hebrews and James appear to be tractates or general exhortations; Jude is a sharp apocalyptic warning to Christians in general 1John speaks to concrete problems in church circles, but isnt exactly in letter form; 2 and 3 John are personal letters, but address different problems; 1 Peter uses the letter form as exhortation to suffering Christians in Asia Minor; 2 Peter is probably the latest of the CFW, is presented as the last testament of the apostle Letters were common in antiquityoften connected to the emperor or philosophical letters of figures like Cicero, Pliny or Seneca; hundreds of papyri from Egypt record the letters of common people The common existence of letters didnt necessarily imply literacyfrequently letters were dictated to scribes; and messengers often read the letters on delivery Form of the ancient letter: opening or prescriptidentified the sender(s) and recipient (s) and concluded with a greeting or salutation; epithets, information about geographical location and terms of endearment/friendship might be in the opening; Paul frequently uses Grace and Peace formal statement of the senders wish for the health of the recipients (sometimes this comes at the close of the letter) also common was the senders prayer to the gods or thanksgiving on behalf of the recipients; in many of Pauls letters this opening often develops into a longer thanksgiving or blessing section; this section will often preview some of the other topics of the letter the body of the letter would state the actual business, account of the situation, or request that was the purpose of the letter; sometimes the body of the letter was doctrinalcontaining specific direction for actions of the community; other times the focus is hortatory/exhortationgiving instructions for Christian conduct. Paul often gives travel information or requests information on travel of others. Paul will often give travel plan information near the end of his letters Often greetings are conveyed to others not mentioned in the letter-body encouragement/commands to follow the senders wishes would typically follow the business section of the letter Paul frequently has some type of pious conclusion Pauls pastoral tone was generally attractive as he used personal and affectionate metaphors; he handled the tricky role of leadership well; he frequently used biblical images and metaphors The epistle generally refers to a longer and more literary art formsometimes like a theological treatise scribes or amanuensis might change the tone or mood of letters by their own insertions (similar to the role of compilers) the Letters of the CFW are real letters/they deal with particular periods in the history of early Christian communities Letter of Paul to the Romans likely written late in Pauls missionary life 52-58 CE Roman church probably comprised of both Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Christ Roman church may well have been affected by the expulsion of all Jews from Rome around 49 CE; maybe by the time Paul wrote this letter the Jews could have returned to Rome; Pauls emphasis on the centrality of Israel in Gods plan and the need for Gentile believers to be grateful for adoption into Gods people reflects some of the friction among these two groups Scholars have seen the Letter to the Romans as a distillation of Pauls theological thought; more recently the Letter has been seen as addressed to a specific historical situation/specific situation in Pauls life his upcoming visit to Rome, his need for financial support for missionary work Pastoral purposes: assure the Jewish Christians of their special place in Gods purpose (1:16, Chs. 9-11) ; to exhort non-Jewish believers to recognize their dependence on both Israel and Gods mercy (11: 13-32) Structure: 1:1-7 Letter opening; 1:8-15-- thanksgiving section; Body of the Letter begins at 1:16 and extends through Chs. 11-36; thesis of the letter explained in 1:16-17; Ch. 12:1 15:13: matters of ethics; 15:14-33 Paul discusses plans and desires to visit the churches Ch. 1 format of the letter; key emphasis: For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faiththe one who is righteous will live by faith. Ch. 2 vs. 5: by your hard and impenitent heart; vs. 14: but the doers of the law will be justified; vs. 17-24: if passage; vs. 28-29: real circumcision is a matter of the heart Ch. 3 discussing what it means to be a Jew; vs. 24: justified by his grace as a gift; no reason for boasting except by the law of faith vs. 27; Ch. 4 example of Abraham Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.; vs. 13; vs. 16, 18; Ch. 5 justified by faith, we have peace with God; vs. 8 But God proves his love for us; vs. 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law reality of Genesis; vs. 18-19; Ch. 6 about resurrection and eternal life Ch. 7 spirit and flesh; vs. 15-20; Ch. 8 the Spirit of God; vs. 18-37 powerful quotable quote passages Ch. 9 some history of the Israelites/their chosenness; vs. 13 hate should be read as did not choose Ch. 10 my hearts desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved Ch. 11 continues exploring the chosen people vs others called First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians Important to realize this audience is the community of believers in Christ in the Greek city of Corinth; Major issues: food sacrificed to idols; immorality 6.12-20; 10:1-22; 10:23-11:34; back to Acts 15 on what is required on non-Jews becoming Christian Ch. 1: after general format: vs. 10-17 all are one in Jesus; vs. 18-30 the wisdom that comes from God Ch. 2: continues on Gods not human wisdom; vs. 10: the Spirit searches everything; Ch. 3: built not on Apollos or Cephas or Paul but on Christ in God Ch. 4: stewards of the mysteries of God Ch. 5: on immorality; vs. 7-8 the paschal lamb has been sacrificed Ch. 7: based on the sense in Pauls time that the end of the world was near, advice on married/unmarried/virgins and general morality Ch. 11: opening verses problematic if read in 21 century perspectives; Pauls world was patriarchal; vs. 23 -34 how to celebrate eucharist Ch. 12: the body is one; spiritual gifts all are needed Ch. 13: well-known chapter on love Ch. 15: on resurrection Letter of Paul to the Galatians Likely written between 50-58 CE Paints the picture of a Christ-centered movement with Judaism Unusual in that the opening and closing do not address particular persons; the tone indicates a defensive Paul Body is marked by harsh, antagonistic arguments about rival teachers and teachings; major issue: the place of the Gentiles in the Jesus movement Ch. 4: who is and who is not an heir; discussion of Hagar and Sarah as representing two covenants     PAGE  PAGE 1 "K[u  * L N < E  ! > ~ Q%*3?O*+hB5OJQJhBOJQJh 6OJQJh 5OJQJh OJQJT"KN < ! ~ Q% & F & F$a$O  )d%N":i& :!!"A"""?# & FgdBgdB & FgdB & F+    !#()089=>FGYZ^d38ALVgh$%VWcdlm(NV^_atzhUrOJQJhBhB5>*OJQJ\hBOJQJh OJQJV "34<EKMNbp:@AIfg:;Kghinoptxy  $ % & , - 1 9 \ ] ` k } ~  hy7OJQJhpGuOJQJhUrOJQJ\ !!!"!#!:!@!A!L!V!W!j!m!n!o!w!x!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""""#"+"A"F"G"H"L"W"]"b"f"g"q"r"""""""""""""""""""""""h7(OJQJhy7OJQJ_"""""####"###%#0#<#=#>#?#F#G#R#`#}###############$$$!$-$E$F$G$J$M$e$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$%%%%%%+%,%F%H%I%O%g%h%i%k%v%w%%%%%%%%%hXtOJQJhOJQJh7(5>*OJQJ\h7(OJQJW?####$$%k%%%&&2'o''''''*((-)))) & FgdmD^gdmD & FgdmD & Fgd7(gd7( & Fgd7(%%%%%%%&&&&&&&&&&7&>&?&J&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&''''2':';'J'K'L'^'_'d'o'{'|'''''''''''''''''''''''(*(+(2(=(K(L(c(u(hUOJQJhmD5>*OJQJ\hBhmD5>*OJQJ\hmDOJQJhXtOJQJQu((((((((((()-)M)N)R)S)y))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))h 0JmHnHuh h 0Jjh 0JUhJjhJUhmDhUOJQJhUOJQJ0))))))))))))))) & FgdmD&`#$(/ =!"#$% x666666666vvvvvvvvv666666>6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666hH6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666866666662 0@P`p2( 0@P`p 0@P`p 0@P`p 0@P`p 0@P`p(8HX`~8XV~ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@66666 OJPJQJ_HmH nH sH tH <`< NormalCJ_HmH sH tH DA`D Default Paragraph FontViV 0 Table Normal :V 44 la (k ( 0No List 0>@0 Title$a$54 @4 Footer  !.)@. 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