1:12-13). The B represents the Greek letter beta, the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In the process of this, Paul asks Philemon to charge this to his own account. 3), proper behavior toward the various age groups—towards elders and widows (chap. However, Paul’s authorship of this epistle has been questioned more often than that of 1 Thessalonians, even though it has more support from early church writers. A recap of the events pertinent to this epistle will help give some idea of a probable date for Titus, though the exact time is unknown. The Example of Abraham: He was Justified by Faith, Not by Works (3:6-9), C. Justification Is by Faith, Not by the Law (3:10–4:11), D. The Galatians Received Their Blessings by Faith, Not by Law (4:12-20), E. Law and Grace Are Mutually Exclusive (4:21-31), III. II. They are in Christ (1:1), blessed with every blessing in Christ (1:3), chosen in Him (1:4), adopted through Christ (1:5), in the Beloved (1:6), redeemed in Him (1:7), given an inheritance in Him (1:11), have a hope that is to the praise of His glory in Christ (1:12), sealed with the Spirit through Him as an earnest installment of their inheritance (1:13-14), made alive, raised, and seated with Him in the heavenlies (2:5-6), created in Christ for good works (2:10), partakers of the promise in Christ (3:6), and given access to God through faith in Christ (3:12). Thus, Paul writes about the believer’s wealth, walk, and warfare. However, he simply moved next door to the house of Titius Justus where he continued his ministry (Acts 18:7). 8-9); and (3) he sought to defend his apostolic authority (chaps. Rather, as official delegates of Paul, they were sent to assist churches in establishing their ministries pastorally speaking (cf. Similarly, in Christianity, there are different conceptions. Important issues discussed in the letter include qualifications for elders (1:5-9), instructions to various age groups (2:1-8), relationship to government (3:1-2), the relation of regeneration to human works and to the Spirit (3:5), and the role of grace in promoting good works among God’s people (2:11-3:8). In favor of this dating is the fact that Paul does not mention the decision of the Jerusalem council that bore directly on his Galatian argument concerning the Judaizers, indicating that the council had not yet taken place.50. Nine of the epistles that Paul wrote were written to churches and four of them were written to individuals. Here, He is described as the One who “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (1:10), as the One who rose from the dead (2:8), as the One who gives salvation and eternal glory (2:10), as the One with whom all believers have died, with whom they will live, and from whom they will be rewarded for faithful service (as in the crown of righteousness) and in the privilege of reigning with Him (2:11-13; 4:8). Exhortation Regarding the Philosophy of the False Teachers (2:8), B. 57 The outline used here closely follows that of Ryrie with slight variations, pp. He is the basis for the believer’s hope (1:5, 23, 27), the source of the believer’s power for a new life (1:11, 29), the believer’s Redeemer and Reconciler (1:14, 20-22; 2:11-15), the embodiment of full Deity (1:15, 19; 2:9), the Creator and Sustainer of all things (1:16-17), the Head of the church (1:18), the resurrected God-Man (1:18; 3:1), and the all-sufficient Savior (1:28; 2:3, 20; 3:1-4).60, I. Doctrinal: The Person and Work of Christ (1:1-2:3), 1. 3:1-2, 8-11 with Acts 15:36; 2 Cor. St. Early church fathers support Paul’s authorship beginning as early as A.D. 140 (Marcion). It was likely sent first to Ephesus by Tychicus (Eph. In 1 Thessalonians, the focus was on Christ coming for His Church (4:13-18) where as in 2 Thessalonians, the focus is on Christ coming with His Church in judgment on the unbelieving world (1:5-10; 2:3, 12). It should be pointed out that the two lost letters were lost only because they were not intended by God to be part of the biblical canon. A outline of the of the Pauline epistles. These ancient epistles contain valuable insight into modern-day Christian living, while also providing us a snapshot of the early Christian Church. and ed. Organization, or better, the organic and unified growth of a church, must be based on right teaching, which is based on rightly handling the Word, i.e., God’s objective truth along with the use of those people who are qualified and spiritually right with God. 8–9), B. Titus and His Companions Sent to Corinth (8:16–9:5), III. Chapter 3 then builds on this as root to fruit or cause and effect. Here’s the list of Paul’s epistles to churches: Three of Paul’s letters are addressed to individual pastors. Introduction We now come to the final eight epistles of the New Testament canon, seven of which have often been called the General or Catholic Epistles, though Hebrews has been excluded from this description. 2:2). 1-7), II. 2:14-16; 3:1, 2, 5-6 with Acts 17:1-15). Several things indicate that Ephesians was a circular letter, a doctrinal treatise in the form of a letter, to the churches in Asia Minor. 8-18), III. The Character of a Faithful Servant (2:1-26), C. He Is Single-Minded Like a Soldier (2:3-4), D. He Is Strict Like an Athlete and Enduring Like a Farmer (2:5-13), V. The Caution for a Faithful Servant (3:1-17), B. The major theme is summoned by James K. Lowery in the Bible Knowledge Commentary. That Paul is the author of this epistle is supported by both external and internal evidence. It is possible that Philemon did free Onesimus and send him back to Paul (v. 14). DeLong: Inspired Ministry: Themes from the Letters of Paul Published by Pepperdine Digital Commons, 2004. Philemon’s runaway slave had converted to Christianity, and Paul was sending him back to Philemon. 1:4]). Proposed Order of Paul’s Epistles 16:5-9; Acts 20:31). Whereas most epistles are written to Churches, this one was written to Timothy in particular. For more discussion see Wallace, Exegetical Syntax, 270-78, esp. The theme, then, is the life-changing power of the gospel to reach into the varied social conditions of society and change our relationships from bondage to brotherhood. 1:1; 16:21 and see also 1:12-17; 3:4, 6, 22). 64 For a detailed discussion of the issues of authorship see Donald. Of all Paul’s letters, 2 Corinthians is the most personal and intimate. In this letter Paul had two major purposes in mind. Rather, three clear purposes unfold for the writing of Romans. , 9, 10 ) theme or purpose, a received the title, Pros Corinthians B about... 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