NTS 501 NT INTRO AND SURVEY Class IX: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians

NTS 501 NT INTRO AND SURVEY

Class IX: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians

1.1 Introduction Galatians• Historical significance:

• Most commented NT book by the early fathers

• Protestant reformation• M. Luther – as dear as own wife

• Foundational for doctrine and practice

• Popular passages• Fruit of the Spirit


2.1 Historical & Critical Issues• No doubt about authorship

• 2:7b-8 as a gloss (?)

• Who were the Galatians? (1:2; 3:1)• Ethnic group (north) • Churches in south

of the province• North or south

Galatian theory• Late date (AD 53-57) • Early date (AD 48)


• North Galatian theory – arguments pro• View of early church fathers and reformers• Luke’s use of Galatia ‘Phrygia & Galatia’ (Acts 16:6; 18:23)

• Luke’s use of geog. regions not provinces (13:13, 14, 14:6)

• South Galatian theory – arguments pro• Paul knew Galatians personally (1:8; 4:11, 15-19)• Acts 16:6; 18:23 route is south Galatia - not north

• No evidence that Paul visited northern Galatia

• Barnabas mentioned x3 in Galatians (2:1, 9, 13) – he only accompanied the first missions journey

No conclusive evidence


• Circumstances and purpose• Reception of the gospel & of Paul (4:13-16)

• Quick turning away (1:6-8)• Judaizers & circumcision (cf. Acts 15:1)

• Paul counters the Judaizing threat • Nothing can be added to the gospel of grace


• The flow of argument in Galatians• Independence/divine origins of gospel (1:6-24; 2:11-14)

• Approval of Jerusalem apostles (2:1-10)

• Righteous by faith not works of the Law (2:11-21) • HS and promised righteousness by faith (3:1-18)• True purpose of the Law (3:19-4:11)• Call back to the gospel (4:12-5:1)• Warnings about rejecting the gospel (5:2-12)• Freedom & transformation of HS (5:13-25)• Final exhortations (5:26-6:18)


2.2 Themes in Galatians• Judaizers in Galatia

• “upsetting you”; “perverting the gospel”; “court” them; “trip you up” (1:7; 5:20; 4:17; 5:7)

• Law as a sign of covenant OR ‘deeper reality’• Paul is a people pleaser (1:10)

• Paul’s apostolic authority & the gospel• Paul’s gospel challenged (1:9-12)

• Gospel as divine revelation (1:12)• Connection to Jerusalem church (2:1-10)

• Paul rebuked Peter & Barnabas (2:11-14)

• Other gospel is no gospel (1:8-9)• Circumcision is useless (5:2-3)


• Justification by faith – not works of the Law• Right with God only through faith (2:15-16; 3:10-14)

• God’s work in Christ – not works of the Law

• If right with God through works of the Law…• Christ died for nothing (2:21)• “fallen away from grace” (5:54); “under curse” (3:10)• Law points out sin and was temporary (3:19-29)

• Salvation history – old vs. new• Fullness of time…Christ came… (4:4-5)

• “before faith” – under Law as guardian (3:23, 25)• Slavery & yoke (5:1) – freedom, Spirit & faith (5:1, 5)• Children of New covenant vs. old (4:21-31)


• Life in the Spirit & transformation• Keeping the Law as path to virtue? (Judaizers)• Paul’s autobiography (1:11-16)• Reception of Spirit by faith (3:1-5)• Spirit and sonship (4:4-7) – compared to

• Enslavement to ‘elemental principles’ (4:8-11)• Enslavement to observing days and months (4:10)• Christ formed in you (4:19)• “faith working through love” – whole law (5:6, 14)• Life by the Spirit vs. flesh (5:16-26)

• Guided by HS, sow in HS (5:25; 6:8)


3.1 Introduction to Ephesians • Second to Romans in doctrinal importance

• Cosmic dimension of Christ and church

• Spiritual warfare passage

• Household code


3.2 Authenticity of Ephesians• General arguments for authenticity

• Paul’s claim for authorship (1:1)• Unanimous testimony of the early church

• 1Clem46:6; Ignatius; Polycarp; Irenaeus

• Pseudepugrapha in early church (cf. 2 Thess 2:2)

• Arguments – Ephesians pseudepigraphal • Different theology from the undisputed letters

• Cosmic Christology rather than death of Christ• Universal rather than local church (body metaphor)• realized eschatology (2:6) rather than futuristic

• Unique style and vocabulary (e.g. 1:4ff.)• Dependence on Colossians (see p. 330)• General and non-personal letter (cf. Acts 20:31)


• Arguments pro Paul• Cosmic Christology: references to Christ’s death (1:7;

2:16; 5:2, 25); other Paul’s texts emphasize exaltation (e.g. 1Cor 15:3-28; Phil 2:5-11)

• Cosmic Christology due to cosmic conflict (6:10-18)• Universal church also in Paul (1Cor 1:2; 10:32; 15:9;

Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6)• Body & head metaphor extension of body metaphor

• Future redemption in Eph (1:10, 13-14, 21; 4:30); realized eschatology in Paul (Rom 8:29-30)

• Unique style and language• Style: doxology and prayer (cf. 1:3-14)• Eph: 41 hapax & 84 ‘non-Pauline’ words• Gal: 35 hapax & 90 ‘non-Pauline’ words

• Literary relationship w/ Col – Paul wrote both• General nature of Eph – circular letter

• Many early manuscripts lack “to Ephesians” in 1:1


• Date, provenance, purpose• If authentic AD 60s from Roman house arrest

• General exposition of Paul’s theology• Need for encouragement in midst of persecution

• If pseudepigraphal AD 80s• Need for unity after Paul’s death• Gnostic threat

• Written for mainly gentiles readers (2:11-19; 3:1)


• General flow of argument• Opening (1:1-2)

• Shared spiritual blessings w/ Christ (1:3-3:21)

• Life worthy of the gospel (4:1-6:20)

• Final greetings (6:21-24)


3.3 Themes in Ephesians• The cosmic plan of God

• God’s mysterion revealed (1:9; 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19)• Revealed in Christ through the church (3:3-11)

• All things united in Christ (1:9-11)• Gentiles as fellow heirs (3:5-6; 2:15)

• Christ’s death and exaltation brings “all blessings”• Forgiveness, piece & new life (1:3-14; 2:4, 13, 16-18)• Direct access to God & new humanity (2:17-19, 15)

• Christ’s rule demonstrated to ‘rulers & powers’• Christ ruler over principalities and powers (1:19-22)• Reception of the HS (1:13; 4:30)• Unity of the church – esp. Jew-gentile (4:4-6, 11-16)


• Church as God’s universal people of God • No references to ‘local church’ (cf. 1Cor 1:1-2)

• Church – all believers everywhere

• Christ the head of the church (1:22-23)• Church is the body (1:22-23; 4:12)• Church as household (2:19)• “Christ died for the church” (5:25)• Unity and holiness of the church (5:25-26, 29)

• “members of one another” (4:25)• Jews and gentiles (2:11-22)

• Church - wisdom of God to rulers & authorities (3:10)• Church, gifts & proper governance (2:20; 3:5; 4:11-

13)


• Realized eschatology• God’s plan b/f creation of the world (1:4-5)

• “holy and blameless” in Christ (1:4; 5:27)• Adoption; redemption; forgiveness (1:4-9)• Wisdom; inheritance; seal of HS (1:9-14)• Seated w/ Christ (2:6)

• Prayer for realization (1:16-23; 3:14-21)• Prepared works of Christ (2:10)• Unity in church (4:1-16)• Living “worthy of calling” (4:1-6:9)

• In church • In household

• “seated w/ Christ” (2:6)• “Walk worthy” (4:1)• “Stand” (6:11, 14)


• Spiritual warfare – 6:10-18• Realized eschatology & ethical imperative• Power language ‘rulers, powers, principalities’

• Christ far above them & others (1:21; 2:2; 3:10; 6:12)• Pre-Christian life “following the ruler of power” (2:2)• Church demonstrates God’s wisdom to powers (3:10)

• Spiritual armor & united prayer (6:10-18)• Plural imperatives (6:10-14)• Put on armor of God (6:10-18; cf Is 11:5; 52:7; 57:19)

• Wrestling – close up combat (6:12)• Put on new & put off old (4:22-24; cf. 4:26-27)

Realized eschatology, ethical conduct, and spiritual warfare linked


4.1 Introduction to Philippians• Popular verses in Philippians

• “to live is Christ…” 1:21• “…name of Jesus every knee shall bow…” 2:10-11 • “Don’t be anxious…” 4:6• “all things through Christ who…” 4:13• “Rejoice…” 4:4

• Difficulty with piece-meal deal• Misses the general argument & profound theology


4.2 History & Critical Issues• Undisputed Pauline authorship

• 2:6-11 only debated section• Unusual vocabulary; rhythmic style; presence of “servant

theme”; absence of key themes in Paul (redemption etc.)

• Is Philippians a composite letter?• “letters to the Philippians” (Polycarp Phil 3:2)• Health status of Epaphroditus (2:25-30; 4:18)• “Finally” in 3:1 and travel plans as a conclusion

• 3:1 and 4:4 with an abrupt change of tone

• epistolai in Polycarp means sg. & ancient convention• No manuscript evidence for the composite letter• Why bring up man’s health every time mentioned?• “Finally” as transitional; travel plans in 2Cor; 1 Thess


• Date, Provenance, Purpose• Early 50s to early 60s from prison (1:7, 13-14, 17)

• Caesarea• Rome• Ephesus

• Rome’s provenance supported by • Praetorium (1:13)• Caesar’s household (4:22)• “life or death” nature of Paul’s situation (1:21-22)

Non-conclusive evidence

• Purpose• To foster unity for the sake of the gospel• Joy in the midst of suffering


• Historical Background of Philippi• City of Philippi

• Founded by Philip II Macedon (358-7 BC)• Battle b/w Antony & Octavian vs. Brutus & Cassius

(42 BC)• Octavian defeated Antony (31 BC) – Philippi as ius

italicum (“law of Italy”), highest honor in Roman colony

• 8 mil from Macedonian sea, along Via Egnatia • Medium sized farming community • Veterans of Roman army retired in Philippi• First church in Europe on 2nd missionary journey

(Acts 16:6-10)


4.3 The Main Themes of Philippians• The Gospel and its implications

• “life worthy of the gospel” (1:27; 3:20)• Christian citizenship vs. Roman colony

• Joy, peace, humility (4:4, 6; 2:1-11)• Examples of Jesus, Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus

(2:5-11; 1:24-6; 1:19-24; 1:25-30)

• Person and work of Christ• Christ hymn (2:6-11)

• Pre-existence, incarnation, suffering, glory (Is 45:23)• Righteousness of Paul and Christ (3:1-6)


• Christian unity• “partnership in the gospel” (1:5-6; cf. 4:15)• Problems of unity

• False teachers (3:2)• Euodia and Syntyche (4:2-3; cf. 1:27)• “look for interest of others” (2:3-4)• “work out salvation…God works in you” (2:12-13)

To work for the gospel


• Christian Suffering• Trying circumstances advance the gospel (1:12)

• Imprisonment & possible death (1:21-23)• False motives preachers preach the gospel (1:17-18)• Epharoditus almost died (2:27)• Philippians suffer for the gospel by grace (1:27-29)• Paul’s suffering with Christ (3:11)• Paul’s circumstances (4:12-13; cf. Acts 16:16-25)

Documents

NTS 501 NT INTRO AND SURVEY Class IX: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians