Highlights of the Teachings of Paul

" Five “highlights” of Paul’s teachings

 What Paul had to say to the churches in the 1st Century

 What Paul has to say to the Church in the 21st Century

 Gather information from the text and experience transformation as a result

Goals for This Session

"Biblical Interpretation

 Determine “what the text (teaching) says”

 Expose “what the text means”

" Select a specific text for study  Broaden the study to include the literary context

(verse, chapter, book, whole counsel of God)

 Determine the historical context (date, author, audience, place, purpose, principles)

 Interpret scripture with scripture

Biblical Interpretation

" 1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

5. The Second Coming

"Thessalonica and Paul’s Letter

 Written 51 – 52 A. D.

 Planted the church and left hastily

  Sent Timothy to encourage and bring a report

 Wrote in response to his report

" Gave thanks for their “work of faith and labor of

love”

 Commended their turning from idols to serve the living and true God

 Followed with a series of admonitions based on Timothy’s report

 Urged them to abstain from sexual immorality

The Broader Context of the Letter

" Degenerated into excited and irresponsible

enthusiasm

 Resulted in the neglect of duties of daily life

 Spread rumors that the Lord had already returned

 Confused as to the fate of those who die before the Lord’s return

Expectation of Jesus’ Return

"Instructions to the Church

  Assured them the Lord will return

  “Like a thief in the night”

  “Keep awake and sober”

  “Put on the breatplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation”

  “Admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted”

"

   13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Further Instructions

" What was Paul saying to the Church at Thessalonica?

 What is he saying to us today in regards to the expectation of the Lord’s return?

 How then are we to live in terms of this hope?

Application of Paul’s Teaching

" Believed Christ’s return was imminent  Focus of his theological vision

 Framework for his apostolic activity and moral outlook

Impact of this Expectation on Paul’s Life and Teaching

"

Belief in Christ’s Imminent Return

  Fired his sense of urgency in reaching Spain

 Compelled Paul to reach the greatest number of converts before return

 Undergirded his “stay as you are” rule of thumb (slave, circumcised, married, widow)

"  1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge

puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God. 4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

   7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

   9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

4. Hot-Potato Issue: “Meat Offered to Idols”

"Corinth and Paul’s Letters

  Written 56 or 57 A. D.

  Two – four lost letters

  Wrote like a father to his wayward child

  Focus was on problems, pressures, and struggles of house/shop churches living in a pagan society

  “To live like a Corinthian”

" Expressed concern for factions in the Church as

reported by Chole’s people

 Condemned reported case of immorality – “of a kind that is not found even among pagans”

 Addressed numerous “hot-potato” issues – lawsuits, conjugal rights, hairstyles, tongues

 Provided earliest account of Jesus’ resurrection

The Larger Context of the Letter

" Meat sacrificed to the gods during festivals in Corinth

was sold in the market

 Meals were shared in temples and halls with leftover meat

 Meat in the diet was limited to such occasions especially for the poor

 New Christians were perplexed as to whether participation and the eating of meat constituted idol worship and compromise

“Food Sacrificed to Idols”

"Instructions to the Church

  “All of us possess knowledge” – one God

  “Not everyone…has this knowledge”

  “Their conscience, being weak, is defiled”

  “Take care that this liberty of yours does not…become a stumbling block to the weak”

"  “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”

  “There is no God but one”

  “Food will not bring us close to God”

  “Weak believers for whom Christ died”

  “Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall”

Timeless Principles

"   23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I

have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.  25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[a]

   27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

   31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:23 - 33

Further Instructions

"  “All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial”

  “For why should my liberty be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience”

  “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”

  “Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the Church of God. Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved”

Application of Paul’s Teaching

"  May sound distantly irrelevant after two-thousand years

  What contemporary intra-Christian disputes will seem just as dated and irrelevant to subsequent Christian generations?

  How Paul sought to resolve this issue may speak time and again today and in the future

  “Strong” must not despise the weak, and the “weak” must not judge the strong

  Rather “welcome one another just as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7)

  Stand and labor side by side

Hot-potato?

"  27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of

you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[b]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

  1 Corinthians 12:27 - 31

3. The Nature of the Church

"

Broader Context of Paul’s Teaching

 Wrote to Corinth 56-57 A. D.

 Wrote to Rome in 57

 Wrote to Ephesians in 60-63 A. D.

 To all, Paul wrote of unity, spiritual gifts, and places of service

"Two-fold Teaching

  “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” – 1 Cor. 12:27

  “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one, so it is with Christ” – 1 Cor. 12:12

" The Church is “the body of Christ”

 The Church is like the human body

 Like the body, the church is made up of many members

 Each member has her or his function/ministry and contributes to the health of the entire body

 The Church is at its best when the body functions harmoniously as one body which is God’s design

Instructions to the Church

"   15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the

body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

   21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

  1 Corinthians 12:15 - 26

Further Instructions

" 4 For just as each of us has one body with many

members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:4-8

"   1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life

worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  7 But to each one of us grace has been given…11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:1-13

" Embrace the unity given by Christ

 Know that all members have been given gifts and all members and gifts are necessary

 Discover the gifts given for the common good

 Employ all gifts in Christ-like service and in a variety of places

  Source of the gifts eliminates arrogance and confusion

Applications of Paul’s Teaching

"  15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a

person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

   17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

   19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Galatians 2:15 - 21

2. Salvation by Grace through Faith

" Written sometime between 53-56 A. D.

 Addressed to the churches he planted either during the first journey or revisited on the second journey as well as visits to new communities of faith in Galatia

 Recurrent theme to all the churches where Judaizers sought to turn the faith of Gentile converts (Romans and Ephesians)

Circular Letter

" Defended his apostolic authority in the face of

questions and criticism by “false teachers”

 Defended the truth of the gospel of grace against the false gospel of works

 Explained the gospel of grace

 Applied the gospel of grace

The Broader Context of Galatians

"Instructions to the Gentiles

  “A person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Christ”

  “I died to the law, so that I might live to God”

  “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me”

"  Salvation is the work of God on behalf of His people out

of His sheer grace

 Believers lay hold of the offered salvation through faith

  God’s mighty act in Jesus has freed the believer from license (sin) and legalism, to liberty

 The believer is called to stand firm in this liberty and not return to the bondage of the gospel of works

Applications

" “Works without faith” was the issue

being addressed

 “Faith with works” is never the issue

 Remember, the “indicative-imperative” pattern

Clear What Was at Stake

"

  A “highlight” of Paul’s teachings for you?

1. In Your Own Words

"  New perspective called for regarding 1st Century Judaism

  Judaism then was not legalistic but held to the belief that forgiveness was the gift of a merciful God

  Rules of Judaism was for the sake of preserving identity (circumcision, sabbath, dietary laws)

  Therefore, new perspective called for regarding Paul and certain teachings

  Yet many 1st Century Jews were legalistic and excessively moralistic and many of these dogged Paul throughout his ministry

  Indisputable fact is that salvation by grace through faith and not works is the core truth of Christianity

New Perspective?

"  In 2006, Vatican archaeologists unearthed a sarcophagus

believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul

 Buried beneath the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

 Carbon-dating tests on the bone fragments point to a time in the 1st or 2nd Century

 While reverence is called for, what we need are more “Pauls” or at least a rediscovery of the life and teachings of Paul in today’s Church

More Bones or More “Pauls?”