What is the plan (outline) of Ephesians?

-chapters 1-3: indicative (what is already true)

-chapters 4-6: imperative (what will be fulfilled in Christ)

Why was Ephesians written?

he wrote to Colossae on a more specific problem and wanted to send a more generalized letter

highly probable that it wasn't written to Ephesus but to a much larger territory.

What is the main theme of Ephesians?

Cosmic reconciliation/reconciliation of all things to Christ 1:19-21, 2:11-22, 3:10

How is Christ portrayed in Ephesians? What is the OT background to this?

-Jesus is cosmic Lord of the universe

-Psalm 110 “sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”

-Psalm 8 made humanity less than angels, but put all things under their feet

What is the function of Ephesians 6:10-20?

-this is a conclusion not summary, not an addition to Christian life but instead a way of pursuing Christian life

-already- Christ has begun the process of universal reconciliation defeating the evil powers

-not yet- we must defeat the powers of evil and bring about cosmic reconciliation

What is the background for the spiritual armor in this passage (Eph. 6:10-20)?

-Isaiah 59:17 armor!!!!!

-Isaiah 52:7 messengers feet!!!!

What is Clinton Arnold’s view of the purpose of Ephesians?

- (magic) Paul is addressing a situation where people are preoccupied with evil spiritual powers

Why was Philippians written?

What do we know about the city of Philippi?

- Roman colony in Macedonia, Roman veterans lived there to get tax emeption

What is the purpose of the Christ hymn in Philippians 2:5-11?

-Jesus in heaven, Jesus coming down, Jesus being exhaulted (“U” Shape) telling how we should live

Why was Colossians written?

-to warn about false teachings

-members of Qumran community had mystical experience where they joined angels and worhsipped god?? weird!!!

Who were the false teachers that Paul was addressing in Colossians?

What is the main theme of Colossians?

-SUPREMACY OF CHRIST is the way to combat false teaching and a life of obedience to him

In the Christ hymn in COL. 1:15-20, how is Christ portrayed in the two halves of the hymn? What is the OT and Jewish background for how Christ is portrayed?

• Christ is Lord over creation

• Christ is Lord over New Creation

• a Jewish reflection of wisdom, the image of the invisible God

• reference to Psalm 89 soverignty and authority and firstborn of creation

What does it meant to “seek the things above” in COL 3:1-4?

-pursuing a life consistency with Christ

Who was Philemon?

-slave owener who was wealthy

Why was Philemon letter written?

• a letter of recommendation to Onesimus

Why did Onesimus go to Paul? What is the traditional view? What is the alternative that we discussed?

• 1.) Onesimus wronged Philemon and ran away to avoid punishment, runs into Pail and Paul writes on his behalf TRADITIONAL VIEW

• 2.) Onesimus and Philemon got into a fight, under Roman law the slave right to leave and seek out a mediator...Philemon might have sent Onesimus out to frind Paul

• 3.) he didn't do anything but was sent out and the church in Colossae gives a gift to Paul 

What is the main theological message of Philemon?

• message of God's grace and forgiveness

• Christ's grace transcends social expectation

• love knows no boundaries

What does Paul not come right out and condemn slavery?

-he thinks the spreading of the Gospel will undo slavery

-didn't want to threaten the spread of Christianity by condemning slavery

-very different than modern day slavery based on racism or sex

What are the two main issues that Paul addresses in 1 Thessalonians?

• sexual impurirty and second coming of Christ

What does Paul have to address the issue of the return of Christ in 1 Thess. chap. 4? What problem gave rise to Paul’s instructions?

-they weren't taking the second coming seriously

-worried death will make them miss second coming

-only place in the Bible that the rapture is mentioned

doesn't use the word “rapture” but uses term “caught up”

When Paul said that his teaching in 1 Thess Chap. 4 about the return of Christ was a “word from the Lord” what did he mean?

-the language from Matt. 24 & 25 “I have Jesus' own teaching to back this up”

What are the different ways of understanding the “rapture” in 1 Thess. chap. 4?

-PRE,MID,POST TRIBULATION

-Paul says we'll be caught up in the air while the rest of NT talks about Christ

-verb “to meet” might have been referring to a king being greeted by delegation who escort him into the city

Why did Paul need to write 2 Thessalonians? What problem was he addressing?

-they ight have thought Christ was coming too soon, Paul writes to correct their misinterpretation of his last letter

-some people thought they were in the Day of the Lord

What is the main message of 2 Thessalonians?

-no one knows day or hour

-certain criteria has to be met and events must take place

What three things does Paul say must happen before the Day of the Lord can take place?

-rebellion, man of lawlessness, and restrainer must be taken away

What is the difference between the eschatologies of 1 and 2 Thessalonians? How do they complement each other?

• Christ can come back at any time

• Christ could delay for sometime

What is the name usually give to 1-2 Timothy and Titus?

- pastoral epistles (only books/letters written to specific individual)

Why do some people deny that Paul wrote 1 Timothy?

• the language and style is very different

• writes in a psuedoname or Paul's follower

• theological differences between 1 and 2 Timothy

To what church was 1 Timothy addressed?

• Ephesus

Why was 1 Timothy written? What was the “traditional view”? What did we say in class?

-church manual and constitution

-how a church should be run!!

-writing to combat false teaching

How is each chapter in 1 Timothy a response to false teaching?

-ch 1 :emphasizing God's grace

-ch 2: observing church elders

-ch 3: by choosing qualified church leaders

-ch 4: by encouraging proper treatment of various groups

-ch 5: proper treatment of church leaders

Why do some people take the instructions for women not to teach in 1 Timothy 2 as binding? Why do some see it as not binding on us today?

• instructions apply to every situation and age because he seems to root his instructions in creation

• Paul's instruction are culturally irrelevant and since women were primarily effected by false teaching he forbade them to teach, and new Roman women were rebellious to societal conventions

What does Paul instruct the church to choose qualified leaders? What does Paul emphasize about elders and deacons? (1 TIM)

-not a checklist

-best way to combat false teaching

-list is not exhaustive but characteristic

-not a church manual

-its still relevant but is not a job description

Why was 2 Timothy written?

-Paul is facing execution

-this is his last attempt to instruct Timothy

What kind of literature does 2 TIM resemble?

-last will and testament

What is the main theme of 2 Timothy?

-contend for the faith

To where was Titus addressed?

-Island of Crete

What was the main purpose of Titus?

-encouraging Titus in regard to how the church s to live its life out in the pagan environment; live a life style of true virtue

How is Titus a subversive letter?

-subverts all that the Cretan culture stood for 

What are the 5 main themes that we learn from Paul?

-FALSE TEACHING : Gal., Col., 1&2 Tim., Titus

-DIVISION: 1 Cor., Phil., Romans., Eph.,

-EXPOSITION: Romans

-ENCOURAGEMENT: 2 Cor., 1 Thess., Eph.,

-CORRECTION: 2 Thess.,

-WARNING: 2 Cor.,

-PERSONAL APPEAL: Philemon