Importance of Christian Scripture• Figure of Jesus is historically one of the

most well known to man.

• The faith expression for Christians is manifested in scriptures.– Could the Christian tradition exist without the

letters of St. Paul?

Chronology of N.T. Writings:1. 4 B.C. Birth of Jesus2. 27 A.D. Public Ministry of Jesus3. 30 A.D. The Death of Jesus

i. 33 – 36 A.D. The Conversion of Paul (Saul)1. Acts 9:3-192. Acts 22:6-163. Acts 26: 12-18

ii. 51 I & I I Thessalonians iii. 54-57 Galatians, I & I I Corinthians iv. 58 Romans v. 56-57, 61-63 Philippians vi. 61-63 Philemon, Colossians, & Ephesians vii. 61-63 Paul’s house arrest in Rome viii. 64 I Peter (?)

4. 65 A.D. Mark i. 65 A.D. I Timothy ii. 62 or 80 A.D. James iii. 66-67 A.D. I I Timothy

5. Death of Paul in Rome, by beheading6. 60 – 80’s A.D. Hebrews7. 70 – 90 A.D. Matthew

a. Lukeb. Acts of the Apostlesc. Jude

8. 90’s Johna. Apocalypse (Revelation)b. I Johnc. I I Johnd. I I I John

i. Clement of Rome9. 9. 100 – 125 A.D. I I Peter

a. Ignatius of Antiochb. Polycarpc. Barnabasd. Shepherd of Hermase. Didachef. 111-113 A.D. Earliest references in non-Christian Gentile

writings to Christians and their beliefs.

Chronology

Geographical Distance: Important

• Earliest Christian community - Jewish in origin & membership

• 49 A.D. - Admit Gentiles to Christian community w/o circumcision (Acts 15).

• Gentile world: St. Paul.

Chronological Distance: An Issue

• Eyewitnesses of Jesus - would have been the source of much info. to the community.

• Becomes necessary to keep the teachings of Jesus for generations to come.– Why?

Criteria for saving writings:

• 1. Apostolic connection - connection to a particular apostle...

• 2. Most of the N.T. writings were addressed to particular communities

• 3. Conformity with beliefs of faith• 4. The use of writings in worship services

probably contributed to their acceptance as inspired.

What then is taught/preached?

• Philippians / Galatians (St. Paul)

• This is where we learn what was taught and what was preached to the people in the community at that time…

Paul’s PreachingPaul’s Preaching

• Paul’s letters = all addressed to readers who are already Christian;

– deal with theological and ethical problems (ie: related to conduct)

– However, there is some indication of what Paul preached in common with other Christian missionaries (ie: Thomas / Peter)

Jesus’ character through Paul’s preaching…

• In I Cor. 15:1ff, Paul states in explicit terms his preaching at Corinth:

That Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures that he was buried and, in accordance with the scriptures rose on the third day, that he was seen by Cephas…

He adds emphatically:

In any case, whether it be I or they [the apostles], this is what we preach and this is what you believed

(I Cor, 15:11)

Christ’s resurrection is closely tied to his Lordship: If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and

believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom. 10:9).

Associated with his Lordship is Christ’s role as Judge: The lives of all of us are to be revealed before the

tribunal of Christ so that each one may receive his recompense, good or bad, according to his life in the body (2 Cor. 5:10).

But Christ is not only Judge, he is also Savior:• …you turned to God from idols, to serve him who is the living

and true God and to await from heaven the Son he raised from the dead – Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come (I Thess. 1:9-10).

• Therefore, for Paul, salvation and judgment is an effect, a consequence of the Lordship of Christ, which he attained through death and resurrection. Indeed, the focus of the early preaching was not so much on the day-to-day ministry of Jesus as it was on the saving mysteries revealed in his passion, death, and resurrection.

• We may ask when Paul received the tradition of the death and resurrection of Christ. His first visit to Jerusalem was two or three years after his conversion, very close in time to the crucifixion. Paul spent two weeks with Peter at this time.

Paul’s Involvement in Church Affairs

Continued

After that he had no direct contact with the primitive church for fourteen years. It is difficult to see how he could have had any opportunity during this period for further instruction in the apostolic traditions. His preaching represents a special stream of Christian tradition which was derived from the mainstream at a point very near its source (Gal. 1:1-2:5).

A review of all of Paul’s writings & the Gospels enables us to put together an outline of his preaching:

The prophecies are fulfilled, and the new world is inaugurated by the coming of Christ.

He was born of the seed of David. He died according to the scriptures, to deliver us out of the

present evil world. He was buried. He rose on the third day according to the scriptures. He is glorified at the right had of God, as the Son of God

and Lord of the living and the dead.

• He will come again (in glory) as judge and savior of men (the living & the dead)

Act’s of the Apostles

• The Acts of the Apostles is a work which records the life of the early church and its growth outward from Jerusalem to the Gentile community.

• Although the Acts of the Apostles records the preaching of the early church, it is certainly written toward the end of the first century.