NEW TESTAMENT FOUNDATIONS

 NT 102

The Beginnings of the Gentile Church

GALATIANS IntroductionTheme: What does it mean to be Christian? Nature of the gospel & basis of our relationship to God How should believers relate to each other (Jews & Gentiles) as one people of God?

Background and OccasionA. Addressees1. Major question: who were the Galatians (1:2; 3:1)?

The “North Galatian” theory versus the “South Galatian” theory

a. Traditional view: territory (= North Galatia) therefore ethnic Galatians (3:1) b. Contemporary view: province (= South Galatia) southern territories (designated as Galatia by Roman government)

Two issues: date & the relationship of Gal 2 to the Jerusalem council (Acts 15)

a. If provincial (“South Galatian” theory), then could be before Jerusalem Council (AD 48-49)

b. If geographical (“North Galatian” theory), then

not until after (AD 53-55) i.e. a late date for Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

Complex issues

2. Characteristics of Galatian Christians:1. Gentiles (not Jews), former pagan worshippers (4:8)

2. Paul’s converts (4:13-15)

3. Attracted to the agitators’ teaching (see 3:1-5; 4:21; 5:1-4, 6-8)

B. Agitators1. Characteristics & teachings of agitators:

a. Outsiders arrive and are disturbed at what they find

b. Jewish Christians (issues largely

Jewish/OT)

c. Raise behavioral/ethical issues (5:13ff)

d. Question Paul’s law-free gospel (wrong/inadequate) & its implications for Jew-Gentile relationship (2:17) (central issue in letter)

How can Gentile Christians be justified before God?

Who belongs to Israel now that the Messiah has come and on what terms?

Is Gen. 17 (“covenant of circumcision”) still valid?

How should Jews relate to Gentiles?

e. Stress on circumcision & Torah obediencei Urge circumcision (5:2-3, 6-8; 6:12-15)

Gen. 17:10-14 says: “Every male among you shall be

circumcised ... so shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

ii. Encourage the observance of (other aspects of) the law

(4:10)

2. No reason to doubt their sincerity:a. seem to have agreed with Paul on the importance of faith in Christ (see 2:15-16)

b. feel Paul is endangering the Galatians’ spiritual existence (by promoting “law-free” grace)

c. claim that Paul’s no “Torah-observance” stance is making Christ a minister of sin (2:17)!

d. question Paul’s ethics e. But Paul’s perspective: opponents/agitators were not

genuine Christians

3. Criticisms of Paul’s character(1) a man-pleaser

(2) duplicitous

(3) lacks proper credentials

C. Main Issue The inclusion of Gentile believers as a people of God What does it mean to be heirs of Abraham?

The IssueA. What it is not

1. Anti-Nomianism or Legalisma. Paul cites OT Scripture; “whole Law is fulfilled” (5:14)b. fulfills “the Law of Christ” (6:2)

2. How one gets saved per se; i.e. saved vs. unsaved B. What it isThe inclusion of Gentile believers as a people of God

For the “Agitators”:Christ is the fulfillment of Torah like Abraham you have trusted (in Christ the fulfillment of Torah) AND since trusting Abraham received Torah (circumcision) so also you.

But Paul (having had a Damascus Road experience):Christ is the fulfillment of Torah like Abraham you have trusted or have faith BUT temporary Torah pointed to the coming of Christ.

D. Paul’s response Purpose: refute the Judaizers’ “gospel”

Key passage: “… know that a man is not justified by observing 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 observing the law, because by observing the law no-one will be justified” (Gal. 2:16)

To achieve that Paul had to do 3 things: 1. Defend his apostleship against the agitators (chapters 1-2) 2. Defend the essence of the gospel (chapter 3-4). 3. Defend the Christian’s freedom in Christ (chapters

5-6).

A. Defense of his apostleship (1:1–2:14)1. The absence of thanksgiving (1:8)

2. His apostleship & gospel come from God (1:1-24)

3. Although independent, not different (2:1-14)

Faith, not Law, as the basis of the justification = participation in God’s new creational promises (2:15-21)

1. Living in relationship with God: “righteously” (vv.15-16)

a. NOT by law = observing Torah

b. By “faith in/of Jesus Christ”

2 significant expressions:A.“Righteousized” (= justified)

Some argued Paul’s understanding of justification has 3 aspects:

a. Past, i.e. death & resurrection of Christ

b. Present, i.e. each believer by faith is made righteousness

c. Future, i.e. wherein “we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope” (5:5)

Debatea.Forensic term only: simply declared “not guilty”b.Some ethical element: transformational “not guilty” (ethical renewal or uprightness)

Observations:(1) positional: right standing before God (2) relational: right standing with God, ethical implications

B. “Faith in” OR “faithfulness of” Christ Jesus (is the genitive objective—Christ is the one believed in – or subjective – the one who is faithful)i. Considerable debate due to ambiguity of the genitive

“Christou” ii. Something of both? i.e. having faith in the faithfulness of

Christ 2. Going back to Torah not an option (vv.17-21)

B. Defense of the gospel (3:1–4:21) In 3:1-18, Paul defends justification by faith.

The basic gist of his argument are 3-fold: 1. The Spirit was received by faith, not by works of the law

(3:1-5) 2. The example of Abraham (3:6-14) 3. The permanence of God’s promise of blessing through faith (3:15-18) Paul’s gospel, based on faith, is not new and has its Scriptural roots in antiquity

Abraham’s example (3:6-18): great covenant chapters of Gen 15 & Deut 27-28 as background:

a. Priority of trusting God’s saving intervention (Gen 15)

i. trust/faith, not circumcision (before Gen 17!)

ii. before the Law was given (vv.15-18)

b. true children/race/nation of Abraham are those who walk in his exemplary trust (Gen 12:3)

c. On the other hand, the curse of the Law (vv.10-14)

Paul & the curse of the LawA. Traditionally: the general problem of the individual’s

sin & God’s basic solution B. Christ was cursed by the Law (Deut. 27:6 in v.13)

but the resurrection proved the Law wrong C. A hopeless mess characteristic of Pauline inconsistency

D. Jesus’ curse and later vindication means that formerly cursed Gentiles can now join the people of God

E. The promise to Abraham of a new human family were

entrusted to Israel but Torah brought exilic curse. Jesus bore that curse, brought Israel out of exile, and so the promises can now go the Gentiles.

F. The Law, though good and God’s gift, became a curse

at both the national & individual level (Deut. 27:26: the covenant with Israel)

The Law brings a curse because …(1) Disobedience results in a curse both nationally &

individually. (2) The Law focuses on doing (Lev 18:5) when Scripture says the just will live by faith (Hab 2:4; cf. 1:4).

(3) Christ underwent the “curse” to deliver “us” from this “curse” …

(4) … so that Abraham’s blessing might come to the

NATIONS, in order that WE might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

The promise given to Abraham’s “seed” (vv.15-18)(1) made to “one seed” only (2) Torah which came later which cannot annul the earlier promises

- but it created 2 families: Jews & Gentiles- whereas Abraham was promised one family — namely

(corporately) CHRIST (cf. Gal 3:26-29) (2) and thus the promise is to be given to that one family/race who live by faith IN HIM

So why then the Law?

Purpose & significance of the Law (3:19—4:7)a. It was added—to lock us up—“because of transgressions” and “until the Seed had come” (v.19;

3:19-22) b. SO… what about the Law & promise?

Picks up imagery of slave & son (3:23-4:3)(1) the law served as guardian until the coming

of the life-giving promise

(2) no difference between sons & slaves when under the guardian

(3) when the promise comes, the guardian is no

longer needed

c. The Spirit in us testifies God as ABBA, father, and thus full heirs (4:4-7)(1) Promise has come.

(2) We are true sons, and full heirs of all that

God has.

Given this reality we face a choice between freedom and bondage: Don’t go back to observing Torah (4:8-5:12)

a. Personal appeal as a loving father (4:8-20)

b. Analogy of Hagar & Sarah (4:21-31)i. returns to “the true children of Abraham” again

ii. differentiates the 2 sons: one representing human effort, the other depending on God’s promise

iii. compares child of law (Ishmael) versus children of Spirit/promise (Isaac)

c. Warning of being alienated from Christ (5:1-12)

III. Implication of the gospel for Christian living (5:1—6:10)

Righteousness completed by the Spirit:a. Spirit-freedom means not license but love (5:13-15) b. Love command = the fulfillment of Torah

c. Life in the Spirit (5:16-26)1. Imperative of the Christian life: live by the Spirit

2. Spirit vs. “flesh”

3. Crucified with Christ, yet alive in the Spirit

Doing the good which the Spirit brings (6:1-10)1. Hallmarks 2. Growth in godliness 3. Sowing & reaping

Concluding remarks (6:11-18)1. Only Christ and him crucified2. Only the new creation counts

What is the Gospel?A. “Torah-observance” free & is relational B. Christian ethics life in the Spirit

Therefore, we are…1. justified by faith2. living the life of God’s children3. through the Spirit.

C. Torah as tutor D. Christ & the Spirit are crucial to the Pauline enterprise.

Current Debate A. Date & Provenance B. Paul & the Law (“The New Perspective”)

1 & 2 THESSALONIANS

Introduction

1 THESSALONIANS

I. Background & OccasionA. Features of Thessalonica

1. about 350 years old (founded 297 BC)2. important deep water seaport3. commercial centre (Via Egnatia)4. a “free city”5. city established a cult to honor the “goddess Rome

and the Roman benefactors/Caesars”6. full of idols (cf. I Thess. 1:8-9).

B. Events surrounding church founding (Acts 17:1-9)1. Paul, Silas, and Timothy arrive from Philippi (Acts

16:1-4, 14; I Thess 1:1; 2:2)

Via Egnatia

2. Large numbers are converted: some Jews and many Gentiles/God fearers (Acts 17:4; I Thess. 1:9-10) 3. A riot is provoked by jealous Jews. C. Events occasioning the letter

(Reconstruction of the Agora)

II. Purpose & Content A. Purpose1. Their situation

a. Continued persecutioni. prompted by Jewish hostility (1:6; 2:14)ii. aggravated by Paul’s sudden departure &

failure to returnb. Standing firm in the faith

2. Paul’s concerns

3. Their concern & Paul’s responsea. Accusations evoked by Paul’s sudden departure

(i) setting: change & itinerant “trouble-makers”

(ii) charge: Paul is a charlatan & trouble-maker (2:3-5; 2:17 - 3:5)

b. Reminders & Reasons

B. Thanksgiving & Encouragement (1-3)1. Revisiting the past (1:4 - 2:16)

a. Their conversion (1:5-10) & eschatological hope (1:10)

b. His conduct (2:1-12): no questionable

motives

c. Their suffering (2:13-16)

2. Explaining the intervening time (2:17-3:5) from his departure to the arrival of Timothy

3. Expressing his genuine present relief (3:6-10)

a. Their faith & steadfast enduranceb. Admonition to strengthen their faith (v.10)

4. Concluding with prayer (3:11-13)

C. Exhortation and Strengthening (1 Thess. 4-5) Matters of sexual purity (4:3 -8); brotherly love (4:9-10) & earning one’s living (4:11-12) The problem with the parousia of the Lord

1. Sexual conduct (4:1-8)

Sexual immorality in city

Agora, bath & brothel

a. holiness b. passionate lust abuses the other & is predicated on

not knowing God (v. 5) c. antidote? The Holy Spirit (v. 8)

2. Nature of “brotherly love” (4:9-12) a. how people relate to each otherb. the dissolution of the patron-client relationshipc. no longer as “busybody”d. but to work with own hands so as to win respect (for the gospel), and be independent of patrons.

3. Death of Believers (4:13-18)a. in contrast to “as you know” etc. (4:1, 2, 9; 5:1)

b. the problem?

i. some died (persecution?)ii. a surprise

c. response: encouragement

4. Christ’s return (5:1-11)a. not immediate, but unexpected & suddenb. image of the thiefc. not anxious but watchful

How to be prepared for Christ’s return?

Excursus: The Parousia of Christ “And as this goodwill to Vespasian was universal, those that enjoyed any remarkable dignities could not have patience enough to stay in Rome, but hurried to meet him at a very great distance from it; nay, indeed, none of the rest could endure the delay of seeing him, but did all pour out of the city in such crowds, and were so universally possessed with the opinion that it was easier and better for them to go out than to stay there, that this was the very first time that the city joyfully perceived itself almost empty of its citizens; for those that stayed within were fewer than those that went out. But as

soon as the news as come that he was close by, and those that had met him at first related with what good humor he received everyone that came to him, then it was that the whole multitude that had remained in the city, with their wives and children, came into the road, and waited for him there; and for those whom he passed by, they made all sorts of acclamations, on account of the joy they had to see him, and the pleasantness of his countenance, and styled him their benefactor and savior, and the only person who was worthy to be ruler of the city of Rome. And now the city was like a temple, full of garlands and sweet odors (Josephus, War 7.4.1 [68-72])

5. Final concerns (5:12-24)a. leadership (5:12-13)b. words for the idle, timid, weak (5:14-15)c. Christian conduct (5:16-18)d. charismatic manifestations (5:19-22)e. final prayer & greetings (5:23-28)

II THESSALONIANS

I. Background & Occasion

A. Written soon after I Thess.

B. Addresses 2 issues1. the “Day of the Lord” has already come (2:1-2)2. the “unruly idle” (3:6-13)

II. Purpose & ContentA. Thanksgiving & Prayer (1:3-12)

1. Perseverance and faith (vv. 3-4)

2. Encouragement to persevere (vv. 5-10)

3. Prayer (vv. 11-12)a. count worthy of his callingb. his power to support and fulfillc. Christ glorified in you and you in himd. through God’s grace

B. The Day of the Lord (2:1-17: very difficult passage) “Day of the Lord” = God’s judgment on the godless/enemies & blessings/salvation of his people.1. Timing

a. emphatically NOT happenedb. he has already so instructed them (v. 5)c. certain events must come first (3 signs: apostasy; “man of lawlessness”; work of the restrainer; see 2:3-13)

2. Man of Lawlessness (2:3-12)a. seeks to replace God

1. the rebellion2. sets himself up in the Temple3. counterfeit miracles, wonders, evil deception

b. being held back “until the proper time”

c. will be destroyed at Christ’s coming

3. Encouragementa. God has chosen you…

1. to be saved2. through the sanctifying work of the Spirit3. through belief in the truth

b. You will not be deceived

c. Stand firm (v. 15)

4. Request for prayer (3:1-5) C. The Unruly Idle (3:6-15)

1. The problema. Over-realized eschatology?

b. Client-patron problem?

2. Paul’s responsea. To the unruly idle themselves

1. Consider Paul’s own example (vv. 7-9)

2. If you will not work, you will not eat (v. 10)

3. Get to work and live quietly and at peace, maintaining good public testimony (v. 12)

b. To the church:1. Disassociate from those who do not respond (vv. 6, 14-15)2. Treat not as an enemy, but warn as a brother

D. Final Greetings (3:16-18)