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Get Ready

These two relatively short letters contain a very concise, very practical theology from one of the leaders of the early church. Even though he was writing to encourage believers in difficult times, his practical approach has value for readers at any point in their walk with Jesus [check out the Notes . . . below].

Author

Even though he identifies himself in the opening verse of these letter – as “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” scholars have argued almost from the beginning, that Peter could not have written theses two letters.

The initial argument is that he was “uneducated and ordinary” [Acts 4:13]; therefore he could not have written the literary Greek of these letters. The first weakness is relying on the assessment of Jewish scribes and priests who were questioning Peter in Acts. The second is overlooking the Jewish requirements that all male children study the Torah, which was available in Greek as well as Hebrew. The third error is not realizing that Jews in any trade would know at least some Greek because that was the language of commerce and government. In addition, Peter wrote these letters (probably with the help of a secretary) after more than twenty years of spreading the Gospel in a mostly Greek-speaking culture (see below).

Context

Most authorities believe Peter wrote these letters from Rome (“Babylon” in 5:13), probably after 60 CE. The first letter is addressed to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, towns in what is now Turkey [1 Pet 1:1]. He borrows a phrase normally applied to Jews living outside of Palestine.

The second letter is more generally addressed to those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, [2 Pet 1:1]. Peter does call this the second letter I am writing to you, [2 Pet 3:1], which implies the same audience as the first letter.

Thirty years after Christ’s resurrection the church had spread throughout the Roman empire. However, the initial fervor of evangelism and mission work had given way to established practices and rituals in many areas. The early excitement and anticipation of Christ’s return waned with each year that passed. This led to the rise of heresies that work to explain away the teachings of the Gospel.

The first letter is a call to holy living and faithfulness, even though the author knows believers are being persecuted for their faith – they are outsiders in the pagan culture: Therefore prepare yourselves for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed, [1 Pet 1:13].

In the second letter Peter refutes those who are denying that Christ will return and disparaging the call to moral restraint: Therefore I intend to keep reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you, [2 Pet 1:12]. The second letter carries the urgency of Peter’s expectation that my death will come soon, [2 Pet 1:14].

Structure

Both letters follow a similar pattern, with a greeting, the main body and argument, and a closing with a final exhortation. The differences in subject and focus lead to different styles in the main section of the letters.

1 Peter has four main sections:

• Thanks for our salvation and the nature of living as a Christian – including his description of believers as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, [1 Pet 2:9].
• Christian relationships – including being subject to lawful authority, duties of slaves, relationships within the family.
• The Christian response to suffering – including Christ’s example and his ultimate triumph, and the blessing of suffering for Christ.
• Stewardship of God’s grace – including the need for discipline and maintaining constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins, [1 Pet 4:8].

2 Peter is a more directed argument against false teachers:

• Christians are called by God and equipped with everything they need to live faithfully.
• False teachers will be judged and punished.
• Christ will return and judgment will occur.

Major Themes

Peter’s theme in both letters is the Gospel – God’s promise of salvation through faith in Christ and his crucifixion and resurrection. He assures us the Gospel is true and our salvation is sure. And then he calls us to live as God’s people – separate from the pagan culture that surrounds the church.

The secondary theme is “persevere.” Believers must remain true to their faith, even in times of persecution. Peter tells believers they must also live their faith, because Christ’s promise to return is also true. And his return will bring judgment: Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish, [2 Pet 3:14].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote these letters? Why do some believe someone else must have written them? What evidence points to Peter as the author? How does he describe himself in the letters?

2. When did Peter write these letters? Where was he at the time? Who did he write the letters to? 

3. What was the situation of the church at the time? What forces were hindering the church? How had believers changed from the early years of the church? How does Peter address these issues in the two letters? How are the subjects different in each letter? How are they the same? What is significant about Peter’s personal situation in the second letter?

4. How are the letters organized? What parts are similar in each letter? Why does the main part of each letter differ from the other? What are the main sections of the first letter? How about the second letter? How is the tone different in each letter?

5. What is the primary message of these letters? What is the secondary or “so what” message? Why would this be important to Peter? Why should it be important to the church? To believers? 

Notes . . .

Peter’s theology
Peter was very practical and his letters show a very practical theology:
God: the sovereign Father is holy and trustworthy; his children should copy him.
Christ: the Son is sinless and obedient; he died and rose again, so his followers should likewise die to sin and live in trust of his resurrection.
Holy Spirit: the Spirit is the agent of sanctification, our supporter, and the power behind our ministry.
Scripture: the Word is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit; it is the expression of God’s character, his love and his plan for creation.
The Church: believers are the body of the risen Christ, the manifestation of God’s love and purpose in this world.
Last Days: Christ will return in glory and complete our salvation; we respond by living as his disciples.

Bible Trivia
Peter acknowledges Paul in 2 Peter 3:15

77: Suffering and stewards of God’s grace –1 Peter 3:8 – 4:11

Get Ready

How do you feel when some one criticizes you or questions what you believe or insults you in front of other people? Do you try to walk away and not escalate the situation? Do you respond back with similar emotion? Do you try to explain yourself to the challenger?

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins,
[1 Peter 4:8].

Next Lesson
1 John 3: Living as children of God.

Get Ready

James is the first New Testament letter addressed to the believers generally, rather than a specific church or individual. Most scholars also believe it is one of the earliest New Testament letters to be written, though, ironically, it is one of the last documents to be included in the official canon of the New Testament.

Author

According to most authorities “James” is Jesus’ brother (not James, the brother of John, who was martyred before this letter was written). Even though he was not a disciple while Jesus was alive, he became a believer after Jesus’ ascension [1 Cor 15:7], and was a leader of the Jerusalem church by the time Paul returned from his initial missionary journey and the Council dealt with the question of circumcision for Gentile Christians [Acts 15]. 

Dates for the letter range from as early as A.D. 45-50 to A.D. 62, when James was martyred. Most scholars interpret “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion” as referring to Jewish Christians who left Jerusalem after the stoning of Stephen [Acts 7:54-60], not scattering after 70 when Rome destroyed the temple and the city.

Context

The church had been expanding for the past 15-20 years, and had spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean region. But followers of Christ were constantly under pressure, from Jews and Romans as well as others, to compromise their faith and conform to the pagan culture. 

The author was concerned especially about the way Christians were treating one another and way they were perceived by the very people who needed to see the truth of the Gospel. Believers were looking and behaving just like everyone else – there was no evidence of the effect their faith had on their lives.

Structure

Like Hebrews, this book is not so much a letter as a written sermon. It does have a greeting and closing like the other letters, but its main section is much more like a formal lecture. James focuses on three primary issues:

• Fairness or impartiality – faith leads to honoring all people equally, regardless of their status or wealth, and to meeting the needs of others.
• Wisdom and speech – believers demonstrate their faith by speaking positively, without anger, hypocrisy, malice or judgment.
• Wealth and generosity – trust in God leads to generosity and avoids hoarding money and possessions as well as unfair treatment of those less fortunate.

James concludes with exhortations on patience and prayer.

Major Themes

James puts his purpose statement at the end of his letter: If anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins, [5:19-20]. He wants to build up the church by helping believers help one another.

The major problem, according to James, is compromising or being friends with the world and he puts it in very strong language: Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God, [4:4]. His solution is equally direct: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you, [4:7-8]. He tells his readers to cleanse their hands, purify their hearts, lament and mourn and weep, and humble themselves, and God will exalt them, [4:9-10.

The author also deals with three specific concerns:

• Partiality – evidently many believers were favoring some people over others – people with status were treated better than poor people. James said, if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors, [2:9]. Believers should fulfill the “royal” law and love their neighbor as themselves.
• Wealth – James also called out wealthy people who were hoarding money and possessions and oppressing poor laborers, [5:1-4].
• Works – if Christians look and act just like everyone else in the culture, non-believers cannot see that faith changes lives and brings a new relationship with the living God. Again, James uses blunt language: Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead, [2:26].

James deals with patience and prayer in two mini-sermons that conclude the letter:

• He acknowledges that Christians are suffering, that most of them are struggling economically, socially and spiritually. He encourages them to be patient: As an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed, we call blessed those who showed endurance, [5:10-11].
• He also emphasized the importance of prayer: Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise, [5:13], and the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective, [5:16].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this book? What do we know about this person? What is unusual about his position in the early church? What major issue was he involved in deciding? When was this book probably written? 

2. What was the situation of the church at this time? Who was persecuting Christians? What was the author’s major concern with the conduct of the believers? Why was this important to the writer? To the early church?

3. How is this book organized? How is it similar to the previous book? What issues does the author deal with? Why do you think he writes about these issues and not others?

4. Why did the author write this book? What objective does he hope to accomplish? What is the primary problem facing the church? What solution does he suggest for the Christ-followers? How do you suppose his readers reacted to this direction? How do you respond?

5. What concerns does the writer address? How does he describe them? What does he tell believers to do about each of these concerns? How do these concerns relate to the message of the Gospel?

6. What two issues does the author deal with at the end of this book? Why are they important to Christians? To the church? How do you think the readers responded to this direction?

Note . . .

Paul vs James

Martin Luther called this book a “letter of straw,” but he was not the only scholar to question the apparent theology of the book (in fact it was one of the last books to be included in the New Testament).

The argument is that Christianity teaches that we gain salvation only by God’s grace through our faith in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We cannot “earn” salvation by any action or “work” we do.

James appears to teach that we can be “justified by works,” [2:21]. The critical passage is, You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone, [2:24]. But he is actually saying that our “works” are the evidence for our faith. Try reading that passage above as: You able to see our changed life by our work, not by what we say we believe.

76: Faith and works – James 2:14 – 3:18

Get Ready

When you see a card trick or a magic act, how do you respond? Do you enjoy the entertainment of the trick or the sleight-of-hand itself? Or do you try to figure out how the person accomplished the feat, even though you could not see everything that was happening?

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead, [James 2:26].

Next Lesson
Peter: Living and suffering as believers.

Get Ready

This is the third of Paul’s “pastoral” letter’s (the other two were to Timothy). Like the others, this reflects the Apostle’s concern that his protege provides correct instruction and solid guidance to the young churches left in his care.

Author

There has been no dispute that Paul is the author of this letter. Titus was well known as one of Paul’s associates, and was, in fact, the “model” of a Gentile Christian. Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their second visit to Jerusalem and meeting with the first council [Acts 15:2, Gal 2:1-3]. The church leaders agreed that Titus, a Gentile, did not have to be circumcised to be considered a follower of Jesus.

Titus was especially involved in Paul’s difficult relationship with the Corinthian church [see the Introduction, earlier in this series]. Paul called him his “partner and coworker,”
[2 Cor 8:23], and delegated him to collect the contributions for the believers suffering in Jerusalem.

Context

Like the first letter to Timothy, Paul probably wrote to Titus during his freedom between the first “imprisonment” [Acts 28:16], and his final incarceration prior to his death. Paul had left Titus in Crete to “put in order what remained to be done,” [Titus 1:5]. Paul will continue on to Ephesus, where he leaves Timothy to watch over that church, and then to “Nicopolis” in Asia Minor (there is no other reference to such a town), where he writes this letter.

Structure

This letter is similar to the letters to Timothy. In between a greeting and the closing Paul provides direction in three areas:

• Appointing good leaders and dealing with false teachers in Crete: evidently some believers were being led astray by the Jewish leaders insisting that they must be circumcised. Paul tells Titus to rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth, [Titus 1:13-14].
• Teaching sound doctrine about relationships among the believers: Paul deals with how older men, older women, younger men, and slaves should conduct themselves with one another,
  [2:1-15].
• Maintaining good works and a good reputation: Paul wants Titus to encourage the believers to follow Jesus’s example of “goodness and loving kindness,” and to avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law,” [Titus 3:9].

Paul closes with a familiar blessing: “Grace be with you all,” [Titus 3:15].

Major Themes

This letter is similar to the two letters to Timothy. It was written about the same time, and conveys Paul’s guidance and direction for Titus to continue the work of developing and strengthening the church – to “put in order what remained to be done.”

He states his overall purpose in the salutation, which is longer than most of his other letters: For the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, [Titus 1:1-2].

Paul’s foundation, as it is in all his letters, is the Gospel: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, [Titus 2:11]. He then stresses two aspects of a believer’s life: Renouncing impiety and worldly passions, and living lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, [Titus 2:12].

Paul also focuses on the Holy Spirit, who is the believer’s source of strength to live “godly” lives: This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life, Titus 2:6-7].

As Paul’s active ministry is winding down, he wants to ensure that his associates continue to preach the Gospel, and build up the church so the work will continue into the future. Even though Paul personally believed Christ would return sooner rather than later, these three letters represent his hope that, whenever Christ does return, the church will continue to be his body in this world.

And in fact they have achieved such a goal. The letters to Timothy and Titus have been used from the time they were written as a guideline for identifying and equipping church leaders. Paul’s direction is as relevant today as it was in the first century.

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this letter? Who is the recipient? What is the relationship between them? How does the author refer to the recipient? What tasks does he delegate to him?

2. When was this letter written? What was Paul’s situation at the time? Where was he when he wrote this letter? What church does he assign to Titus? What overall task does he give him? What happens to the other associate?

3. How is this letter organized? What subjects does Paul write about? Why do you suppose he chose these subjects and not others? What makes these topics significant for Paul? Why should they be important to Titus?

4. How does Paul describe his purpose in writing this letter? What is Paul’s basis for the directions in the letter? What does he say about the life a believer should live? How does he describe this type of life? How is a Christian able to live in this way?

5. What do these letters tell us about Paul’s view of the future of the Christian church? What did he personally believe about the future? How does this belief affect his approach to training and guiding Timothy and Titus? How do these letters relate to the church in today’s world?

Bible Trivia:
The church leader checklist:
Paul gives Timothy and Titus a checklist of what he thinks is necessary to be a good church . . . 
__ Above reproach
__ Married only once
__ Temperate
__ Sensible
__ Respectable
__ Hospitable
__ An apt teacher
__ Not a recent convert
__ Children are believers
__ Lover of goodness
__ Prudent
__ Upright
__ Self-controlled
__ Devout
__ Have a firm grasp of the Word
__ Good preacher
__ Able to refute error

73: Teach sound doctrine, maintain good deeds –Titus 2:1-3:11

Get Ready

How did you learn to do your job? Do you have an instruction manual or “How-To-Do-It” guide? Or did you go to a specialized training course or school? Or did you have an on-the-job mentor? What did your preparation cover? Was it adequate to prepare you for the daily work? 

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who ar zealous for good deeds, [Titus 2:14].

Next Lesson
Philemon: Paul’s personal plea for a slave.

Get Ready

Near the end of his ministry (and his life) Paul wrote to two of his closest associates Timothy and Titus, encouraging them to continue spreading the Gospel and providing encouragement and advice about organizing and leading the developing church. 

Author

The church has acknowledged the Apostle Paul as the author of the two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus since they were first circulated.

However, some inconsistencies between these letters and Paul’s other letters, as well as the chronology in Acts, has led some scholars to argue that Paul is not the author. The primary difficulty comes from Paul’s references to being in the eastern Mediterranean region after his imprisonment in Rome [Acts 28]. But Luke describes a very loose arrangement in which Paul continues to preach, so it is very possible that Paul traveled to Crete and Ephesus after the original “imprisonment,” and before the actual trial for his life.

The other objections are based on narrow interpretations of phrases or the absence of linguistic or rhetorical elements that do appear in Paul’s other work.

Context

Timothy (his name means “honoring God”) joined Paul during his second missionary journey. His Jewish mother and grandmother had become believers during or shortly after Pauls first visit to Lystra [Acts 16:1]. His father was Greek. When Timothy joined the missionaries, Paul had him undergo circumcision to forestall any objections from Jewish Christians. Timothy’s responsibilities increased to the point where he, along with Silas, was representing Paul to the churches in Asia Minor and Greece [check 1 Cor 4:17, 16:10-11, Phil 2:19-22 or 1 These3:1-6]. His role grew as the number of churches grew.

Most authorities believe Paul wrote the first letter to Timothy during a period of freedom between his first incarceration in Rome and the final one prior to his death – probably 66 or 67. Paul is evidently visiting some of his Asian and Greek churches.

The second letter comes about a year after the first. Paul clearly is a prisoner in Rome from the references in this letter: he asks Timothy to come to him before winter and to bring a cloak he had left at Troas [2 Tim 4:13].

Structure

Both letters have the same basic structure:

• Paul begins with comments about Timothy and himself and their relationship.
• Then Paul offers guidance and admonitions on a variety of subjects dealing with the church and leadership.

In the first letter this advice includes: prayer, qualifications for bishops and deacons, dealing with false piety and false teachings, and the responsibilities of a church leader.

The second letter deals with characteristics of a good “soldier” of Christ and a “worker approved by God,” as well as some comments about the “last days.” Paul also gives Timothy specific directions as a church leader.

Major Themes

These letters to Timothy, as well as the one to Titus, come at the end of Paul’s missionary work. In 2 Timothy it is especially clear that the Apostle knows his life is close to its end in this world: I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come, 2 Tim 4:6}. 

He actually states his purpose midway through the letter: I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, [1 Tim 3:14-15]. Paul is giving Timothy the rationale behind the choices he has been making in organizing the churches and identifying leaders – because he knows Timothy will now have to assume these responsibilities.

Paul is reinforcing – in writing – what he has been teaching Timothy for the past ten or more years during his missionary travels. He wants to ensure that his protegé has the knowledge and courage to continue to spread the Gospel and build up churches. This also explains why (as some critics complain) the letters do not contain Paul’s usual explanations of Christian theology and arguments refuting false doctrine. Timothy has fully absorbed Paul’s teachings about faith and the Gospel; Paul does not need to repeat himself on these issues.

He does, however, feel the need to encourage Timothy to persevere in the faith. He warns him that people will fall away from their beliefs and be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, . . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [2 Tim 3:2-4]. Paul encourages Timothy to avoid such people and make sure they are not appointed as leaders. He also charges Timothy to always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry, [2 Tim 4:5].

Get into the Word

1. What makes these books different from the other New Testament letters?

2. Who wrote these books? Who supports this belief? Why do some scholars question this conclusion? How do scholars answer this discrepancy? How do you feel about this conclusion?

3. Who is the recipient of these letters? What is his relationship with Paul? How did these two first meet? What is unusual about Timothy’s background? How did his role and responsibilities change during his time with Paul?

4. When did Paul write these two letters? What was his personal situation at this time? Where was he when he wrote the letters? What is different about the context of the second letter? Why is this important?

5. How are the letters organized? What are the primary sections of the letters? What subjects does Paul deal with in each of the letters? Why do you suppose he discussed these issues and not others?

6. What is Paul’s primary purpose in writing these letters? What is significant about the timing of the letters? Why did Paul feel it was necessary to deal with these topics in writing? What is Paul’s ultimate objective with these letters? 

7. Why do these letters not deal with Paul’s theology and beliefs about Jesus and the Gospel (a major criticism of some scholars)? How would Timothy have become well-grounded in these subjects? 

Bible Trivia:

Paul on women . . .
Even though Paul was supported by several generous women, he had some very one-sided ideas about their role in the church: Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor, [1 Tim 2:11-14].

And on Timothy . . .
No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments, [1 Tim 5:22].

72: A good minister, approved by God –
1 Tim 4:6-16; 2 Tim 2:1-26

Get Ready

Do you have a set of the “good dishes” in your family that you use on special occasions? When do you use them? Who determines when? Do they get special storage and special treatment when they are used? Who is responsible for cleaning and putting them away after they are used? 

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
All scripture is inspiredby God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [2 Tim 3:16].

Next Lesson
Titus: Sound doctrine

Well, you had an extra week to think about Colossians when WordPress decided one of my plug-ins was not playing nicely with the other program elements. We apologize for the oops.

Get Ready

The first letter to the Thessalonian church is the other contender – with Galatians – for the earliest writing in the New Testament. It is testimony to the completeness of Paul’s understanding of the Gospel and its application to the life of believers.

Author

The Apostle Paul is the author of both letters to the church in Thessalonica, although he includes Silvanus and Timothy in both greetings.

Some Biblical scholars do suggest a different author for the second letter because of the more formal tone of the letter and the different treatment of Jesus’ second coming (the Greek word is “Parousia”). However, the letters do not contradict each other and also are consistent with the theology and Gospel as expressed in Paul’s other letters. And Paul “signed” the second letter. (The so-called differences are discussed below in “Major Themes.”)

Context

Paul started the Thessalonian church during his second missionary journey (around 50 CE.), following his usual pattern of preaching initially in the Jewish synagogue and then moving to a public forum to reach the Gentiles. But some of the Jews incited a mob to attack the new believers and forced Paul and his companions to leave the city abruptly [details are in Acts 17].

Paul was concerned that the new Christians did not have sufficient instruction and preparation to withstand the inevitable persecution from the Jews. The first letter is most likely Paul’s response to Timothy’s report that the believers were remaining strong but had questions about some of the things Paul had taught them.

Evidently the first letter did not quell all the concerns. The Thessalonians believed Christ was going to return so soon there was little point in continuing to work. In the second letter Paul deals with the misunderstandings regarding Jesus’ return and how believers should conduct themselves.

NOTE: Paul, like most other early church leaders, believed that Christ’s return would happen sooner rather than later – probably during his lifetime.

Structure

Both letters have a similar organization:

• Paul begins with a greeting and thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith.
• He then presents the teaching. In each case the major teaching is about Christ’s return; however, Paul also includes instruction about the Christian life in both letters.
• Each letter includes encouragement for the believers to live out their faith.
• Paul concludes each letter with a prayer and final greeting before a benediction.

In the first letter Paul also explains his preaching style and justifies his actions regarding the Thessalonians, and he tells them what has happened since his abrupt departure.

Major Themes

The Gospel is the central theme of both letters: You turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming, [1 Thes 1:9-10].

Evidently the new believers had problems with the “wait for his Son from heaven,” part. Both letters include major sections dealing with “eschatology,” (the study of the end times). Paul discusses two different aspects of Jesus’ return:

• Suddenness – the Second Coming will be dramatic and all-at-once: For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, [1 Thes 4:16]. Further, The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, [1 Thes 5:2]. Paul also assures the believers that those who have already died will also join with Christ when he returns.
• Timing – Paul’s teaching convinced some Thessalonians that Jesus’ return was going to be so soon there was no need to work or share the Gospel. Paul explains: that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction, [2 These2:3]. Paul links the “lawless one” with Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception, [2 Thes 2:9-10].

Paul also deals with a secondary question about the Christian life in each letter:

• In the first letter he tells the believers to abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, [1 Thes 4:4].
• In the second letter he directs them to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition they received from us, and says Christians should do their work quietly and earn their own living . . . do not be weary in doing what is right, [2 Thes 3:6, 13].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote theses letters? Who else was involved with this church? Why do some believe someone else may have written the second letter? What is the evidence that Paul actually wrote it?

2. When did Paul begin preaching in Thessalonica? Who did he talk with first? Who did he work with next? How did the Jews respond to the new Christians? How did this affect Paul and his co-workers? 

3. How did Paul’s departure affect the new church? What were Paul’ concerns about the new believers? How did he deal with his concerns? How were the Thessalonians actually doing?

4. Did Paul’s efforts solve the problems for the Thessalonians? What was the major problem with their understanding of the Gospel? How did this affect their daily life?

5. How are the letters organized? What are the primary components of each letter? How are the letters different from one another? What does Paul say about his recent experiences?

6. What is Paul’s major theme in these letters? How does he describe the change in the Thessalonians? What elements of the Gospel does he mention?

7. What part of Paul’s teaching did the new Christians not understand? Why do you suppose they had a problem with this doctrine? What does Paul focus on in his response to the Thessalonians’ concerns? What images does he use to convey the correct understanding? 

8. How does Paul deal with the question of when Jesus will return? What will happen before “The day of the Lord?” Who is the “Lawless One” according to Paul?

9. What other issues does Paul cover in these two letters? Why do you suppose he deals with these concerns? What does he advise the Thessalonians about these questions?

NOTE: Eschatology . . .

refers to “the last things” or “the end times.” In addition to Paul’s teachings to the Thessalonians, the New Testament includes Jesus’ teachings [Matt 12:28, Mark 9:1 and 14:25, Luke 17:20] plus the comments of Paul [1 Cor 10:11 and 1 Cor 15: 20 and 45, and Rom 8:11] and other Apostles [1 Peter 1:20, 1 John 2:18, Hebrews 1:2, 12:2].

71: Christ’s return – 1 Thes 4:13-5:11 and
2 Thes 2:1-12

Get Ready

How good are you at waiting for something you expect to happen? Do you just go about your regular activities and not worry about it? Do you get concerned that you might not be ready for it and try to prepare for it? Do you check for signs it might be happening soon?

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [1 Thessalonians 5:9].

Next Lesson
Timothy: A good minister.

Get Ready

Colossians is unique in that Paul did not start the church in this town east of Ephesus, nor did he ever visit it. He wrote this letter in response to news of false teaching that denied Christ’s central role in the salvation and new life of the believer. 

Author

Paul has been accepted as the author of this letter since the beginning of the second century. Some scholars in the nineteenth century argued that the differences in wording and teaching were great enough to deny that Paul wrote it, but their supposed author had to be someone who was very similar to Paul and who probably also wrote Ephesians and Philemon.

Context

Like Philippians, this is another “prison” letter [4:3, 10, 18]. Most authorities agree that Paul wrote it while in Rome, probably around 60 CE.

The church in Colossae was started by one or more of Paul’s associates, probably during the three years he spent in Ephesus. Most scholars believe that Epaphras, who was from the city, was the primary developer of the church. He was also the person who delivered support and news to Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome.

Evidently Epaphras brought news of worrisome teachings that were spreading among the Colossian believers. Although Paul does not explicitly state the nature of this “new philosophy,” his arguments against it in the letter provide a general picture of the heresy:

• Powers, or “angels” in the spirit world appear to be more important than Christ in guiding a Christian’s life.
• Checklists of rituals and earthly actions supposedly demonstrated spiritual discipline.
• Certain teachers possessed a “higher” knowledge or philosophy than Epaphras’ straightforward Gospel.

Paul wrote to combat these false teachings.

Paul also wrote Philemon at the same time so Epaphras could take that letter, along with Onesimus, an escaped slave who Paul converted and was sending back to his owner.

Structure

This letter is similar to several of Pauls other letters – he explains correct doctrine and then he applies that teaching to the life of believers and of the church. The major parts are:

• Greeting and introduction – Paul greets and thanks God for the believers in Colossae, [1:1-14]. 
• Correct doctrine and understanding – especially the role and importance of Christ in God’s plan for salvation and in guiding the believers’ lives, [1:15-2:23].
• Guidance for Christian living – Paul applies his teaching to the Christians’ daily lives, [3:1-4:6].
• Closing greetings – Paul refers to several associates who have worked with the Colossians, [4:7-18].

Major Themes

Paul states his primary purpose for writing in the introduction: That you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worth of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God, [1:9-10].

For Paul, “all spiritual wisdom” means the supremacy of Christ because he is “the image of the invisible God,” [1:15]. In answer to the Colossian philosophers, Paul calls Christ the “firstborn of all creation,” [1:15] – Christ clearly comes before and outranks any other beings in the spiritual world. Christ also brought about the reconciliation with God that the Colossians are now enjoying [1:22].

Because Christ is the Lord as well as the savior, Paul urges the Colossian believers to follow Christ in all aspects of their lives, and to avoid following “philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,” [2:8]. He describes Christ’s saving work making them “alive together with him when he forgave us all our trespasses,” [2:13]. He tells them to avoid false regulations about food and drink and festivals, which have “an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety . . . but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence,” [2.23].

The second major section then describes how to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is,” [3:1]. He then suggests what looks very much like a couple of checklists; but they are each about our attitudes toward Christ and God, as well as toward one another. Paul is talking about our heart, not our action [3:5-9]. In verse 12 he shifts and gives us a list of positive attitudes to guide our relationships with each other. Finally he deals with specific relationships: marital partners, parents and children, slaves and (earthly) masters.

Paul concludes with the direction to pray, including for his ministry, and to “conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time,” [4:5], to spread the Gospel even further among the Gentiles in that region.

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this letter? What led some scholars to believe someone else wrote it? Who did they suggest was the author?

2. What was Paul’s situation when he wrote this letter? When did he write it? What was unique about his relationship to the Colossian church? How did Paul find out about the problem in the church?

3. What type of problem was Paul dealing with in this letter? What were the false teachings he sought to correct? Why would such doctrine be harmful to believers? Why was correct teaching so important to Paul?

4. How did Paul organize this letter? How is this letter similar to other letters of Paul? What are the primary sections of the letter? What do the two main sections cover? How does Paul close his letter?

5. Who delivered this letter to the Colossians? What other task did he carry out on this particular journey?

6. What is Paul’s major purpose in writing this letter? What are the two aspects of his teaching in the letter? What is the foundation of all Paul’s teaching? Why does he believe this central fact about the Gospel? What is the outcome of following Paul’s teaching? How do you think the Colossians responded to Paul’s instruction?

7. What does Paul advise the Colossians to avoid? Why does he suggest this? What is the ultimate value of “false regulations?” How does this advice relate to the apparent “checklists” in the next section of the letter?

8. What is Paul actually talking about in the lists he provides in the letter? Why are these things important for the Colossians? Why are they important for us today? What is Paul’s last instruction to the Colossians?

Bible Trivia:
Paul claims to be an Apostle of Christ in all but three of his New Testament letters (those are 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philippians). An Apostle is a person who was sent (the literal meaning of the Greek word), who had seen Christ after his resurrection, and who had powers to authenticate his claim [1 Cor 15:8].

70: The new life in Christ – Colossians 3:1-4:6

Get Ready

How do you deal with your wardrobe? Do you have different clothes for work and non-work times? Do you have some clothes for special occasions? Do you have special athletic or workout clothes? What type of clothes do you prefer to wear most of the time? 

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him, [Col 3:17].

Next Lesson
1 Thessalonians 2: Paul’s ministry in Thessolonica.

Get Ready

Philippians is one of Paul’s most personal letters. He reveals his own struggles to spread the Gospel among people in the eastern Mediterranean region, and also talks about his relationships with the believers in Philippi and his appreciation for their spiritual as well as financial support.

Author

There is a consensus that the Apostle Paul did write this letter.

However, there is considerable disagreement about when he wrote it and where he was at the time. The majority holds that Paul wrote this letter during his confinement in Rome, which would mean 61 or 62 CE, (largely due to his reference to his “imprisonment,” [1:7]).

But there are two other views:

• Some scholars believe the prison reference points to Paul’s incarceration in Caesarea under the Roman Governor Felix before he was sent to Rome [the details are in Acts 23-24].
• Others suggest Paul wrote from Ephesus. He spent three years in this region, which would account for the visits Paul mentions in the letter [chapter 2]. However, there is no record of any imprisonment in this city.

Context

The church at Philippi was the first in Europe. During his second missionary journey Paul responded to a vision of a man asking him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us,” [Acts 16:9]. He established the church among the Gentiles, including Lydia and her family [Acts 16:14]. He left the city after a miraculous release from the local jail [all the details are in Acts 16].

The Philippian believers were some of Paul’s most consistent and generous supporters, even though the region was not as prosperous as Corinth or Ephesus. But they were like the other churches in developing and having to deal with disagreement. The scholars who support the Roman theory (above) believe Epaphroditus had brought news of the problems along with the contributions toward Paul’s support. This letter is Paul’s response to the situation.

Structure

Some consider this letter a “handbook” for believers. There are four major sections between the introduction and the conclusion. The content – concerns and admonitions – is quite directive; Paul is telling the Philippians how to conduct their lives and share their faith with very little explanation. The sections are:

• Guidance for living the Christian life.
• Concerns about the welfare of the church and its leaders.
• Warning about incorrect beliefs and encouragement toward correct beliefs.
• (More) Guidance for living the Christian life. 

This letter also demonstrates Paul’s close relationship with the Philippians in his extensive blessing at the beginning and his expression of personal appreciation of the conclusion.

Major Themes

Paul states his primary purpose early in the letter: This is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight . . . to produce the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, [1:9-11]. Paul wants the Philippians to live lives that spring from and reflect the Gospel, and the way to do this is to be united in fellowship – to love and support each other as Christ loves and supports all believers.

Paul presents two other concepts to support his message:

• Joy – this is probably Paul’s most “joy-full” letter. He uses the word sixteen times, including joy in his work, in suffering, in unity and fellowship, in support from his friends, and in knowing that others are also sharing Christ’s Gospel. C.S. Lewis said that joy was the complete and real experience of God’s grace and love that we “glimpse” in earthly pleasures; he titled the story of his discovery of Christ, Surprised by Joy.
• Paul’s own spiritual goal – Paul uses his own aspirations, that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death, [1:20]. He further describes his life as, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus, [3:13-14.

While encouraging unity Paul also deals with some practical matters that evidently are causing disagreement in the church:

• He deals once again with the Judaizers’ argument that Gentile believers must be cirucumcised: Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! [3:2], and urges the Philippians to worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh, [3:3].
• And he encourages two women who had worked with him in ministry, Euodia and Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord, [4:2].He does not identify the dispute but asks others to assist them.

Paul closes this letter with a very personal acknowledgement and appreciation for the Philippians’ support over the years.

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this book? What do we know about the circumstances of writing this book? Why is there disagreement about when Paul wrote this letter?

2. Who is the intended recipient of this letter? What kind of church is it? Where is it? What is significant about this church’s location? Why did Paul start a church here? Who was involved in the beginning of this church?

3. How does this church compare with some of the other churches Paul started in this region? How is this group similar to the other churches? How is it different? How does this situation influence Paul’s approach to the letter?

4. How do some people describe this letter? Why is this appropriate? Or not? How is this letter organized? What are the primary sections? What topics does Paul cover in each section? What is unusual about the way Paul begins and ends this letter?

5. What is Paul’s major purpose in this letter? How does he express this theme? Who does Paul use as the model or standard for living as he encourages the Philippian believers to live? Who else does he suggest these people could emulate? How do you think they responded to this idea? How do you?

6. What other matters does Paul deal with in this letter? What is his objective with these admonitions? Why is unity so important to Paul?

Bible Trivia:
Philippians contains one of the best descriptions of Christ in the entire Bible:
Who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, [2:6-11]. 

69: Knowing Christ, pressing toward the goal – Philippians 3:4-4:14

Get Ready

How do you feel about “Who’s Who” listings of a person’s accomplishments? Or how do you feel about putting together a resume of your own work and successes? Do you tend to focus on the “things” you have achieved or the relationships you have had?

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,
[Philippians 4:6-7].
Bonus:
I can do all things throughs him who strengthens me, [Philippians 4:13].

Next Lesson
Colossians 3: The new life in Christ

Get Ready

Galatians is one of Paul’s first writings. His letter to the Ephesian believers is one of his last. His message is both personal and universal in scope. His guidance to individual believers as well as to churches is as relevant today as it was in the first century.

Author

Paul wrote this letter from Rome during his imprisonment (60-61) awaiting trial before Caesar. It was a time of relative peace and quiet after the challenges of his arrest in Jerusalem in the midst of a riot, his trials before the Jewish and Roman leaders in Palestine, and his harrowing voyage – complete with shipwreck – to Rome. (You can read all the details in Acts, chapters 21-28.) He was technically imprisoned; but the Roman justice system moved very slowly, so Paul was confined to a private house with a couple of guards. He was hardly a flight risk since he had wanted to get to Rome for the past several years. Within the house he was free to do pretty much as he chose, so he welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance, [Acts 28:30-31].

Context

Ephesus was the central city of the Asian provinces of the Roman Empire (modern Turkey), on a par with Jerusalem and Alexandria in Egypt. It sat at the crossing of two major trade routes and had good access to the Mediterranean Sea, so it was an economic as well as political hub.

It was also a religious center. The Temple of Artemis (or Diana) attracted visitors and worshippers from all parts of the eastern empire. By the time Paul got there the city’s economy greatly depended on the visitors and their purchases, especially the silver icons of the goddess. Eventually the silversmiths convinced the people that Paul’s preaching was hindering the worship of Artemis (which was hurting the sale of religious symbols). This led to a riot and ultimately Paul’s departure from Ephesus, [the details are in Acts 19:23-41].

But before he was forced to leave the city, Paul developed an extensive and thriving ministry, including the towns around Ephesus. He spent almost three years there – more time than with any other mission church. He started as he usually did, proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogue. And, also as usual, he proclaimed the good news to the Gentiles when the Jews refused to accept his message.

Structure

There are two major sections in this letter:

The first three chapters describe the church and individual believers as the result of God’s plan for his creation from the beginning. We are the result of – and expression of – God’s love and his loving desire for more children like his son, Jesus. Paul lays out the “mystery” of God’s plan for our salvation and our continuing work showing and sharing God’s love with others.

The second part of this letter [chapters 4-6] focuses on the “so what” aspect of our relationship with Christ. Since we are this new creation, since we have been brought into a relationship with the living Lord, what should this mean to our behaviors and actions? What should this mean to our relationships with other believers and with people who are not yet part of our fellowship with Christ? 

Interestingly, Paul provided a preview of the major points of his letter when he met with the leaders of the Ephesian church on his way back to Jerusalem at the conclusion of this missionary journey, [check Acts 20:16-38].

Major Themes

This is the only letter in which Paul does not deal with a problem (or problems) in the church. Evidently the churches around Ephesus were functioning relatively well and were not experiencing significant division or other problems (as with the Corinthian church: check the earlier posts 65 and 66).

This gives Paul, at the end of this ministry, an opportunity to reflect on and present his understanding of God’s ultimate plan for his creation – especially the humans he created “according to our likeness,” [Gen 1:26]. 

The first section focuses on the blessings God gives humans who believe in Christ, including the knowledge of God’s power and the new life that we have as believers (not the sinful dead experience we had as non-believers). Paul also talks about reconciliation, not just between us and Christ, but among each other – especially between Jewish and Gentile believers. 

In the second section Paul discusses the effect of God’s work on the lives of believers and on the church. He deals with building up the “body” of Christ, the contrast between a holy life and an unrighteous one, and relationships among husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants. In each case Paul points to Christ as the standard and model.

Paul concludes with his description of strength for believers and value of “the whole armor of God,” [Eph 6:11].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this letter? When did he write it? Where did he write it? What was his situation? What had he experienced prior to writing this letter?

2. Who is the intended audience for this letter? Where did they live? What kind of city was it? What was the situation for these believers? What the primary competitor to Christianity? What happened when Paul began his ministry in the city?

3. How did Paul conduct his ministry in Ephesus? Who did he talk with first? How did they respond? What did Paul do next? Who did he talk with? How did they respond to his message?

4. How is this letter organized? What are the major sections of the letter? What does the first section deal with? What does the second part of the letter cover? Why do you suppose Paul chose these subjects for the letter? How do you think his readers responded? 

5. What is unique about the content of this letter? Why was the timing appropriate to writing this letter? How do you suppose Paul felt about being able to write this type of letter rather than his other letters? 

6. What are the major ideas in this letter? How do the two major themes relate to one another? Why is it important that believers understand both ideas? How does Paul end his letter? Why do you think he chose this concept for his closing? How does it relate to the rest of the letter? How does it relate to believers today?

Bible Trivia:
Paul wrote his letter to the Christians in Rome while he was in Ephesus – and he wrote this letter to Christians in Ephesus while he was in Rome.
The Apostle John also wrote from Ephesus – his Gospel and his letters – after his release from exile (on the island of Patmos).
In Ephesus Paul started the practice – still used today – of using a school for a start-up church; when he left the synagogue (because the Jews refused to accept the Gospel) he rented a lecture hall from Tyrannous [Acts 19:9].

68: Not dead, but alive and one in Christ – Ephesians – 2:1-22

Get Ready

What is the most surprising gift you have received from another person? Was it a special occasion? What the gift extraordinary or more “regular”? Was it expensive or not? Was it just for you or something that you could share? What made this gift so surprising for you?

The Word

Notes . . .

Memory Verse
For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [Ephesians 2:8].

Next Lesson
Phillipians 3: Knowing Christ.