Invitation to the New Testament 9: Paul's Problem-Solving Epistles

PAUL’S PROBLEM-SOLVING EPISTLES: 

PAUL’S PROBLEM-SOLVING EPISTLES ROMANS 1 -2 CORINTHIANS GALATIANS 1 – 2 THESSALONIANS

1 and 2 THESSALONIANS: 

1 and 2 THESSALONIANS

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Thessalonica

Background: 

Background 1 and 2 Thessalonians are two of the earliest of Paul's epistles, written around 50/51 A.D. Paul wrote these two letters from Corinth during his second missionary journey. ~ When Paul, Timothy, and Silas left Philippi in Macedonia, Luke stayed behind. Paul and his two young associates then travelled to Thessalonica (staying 3 – 4 weeks [Acts 17:1-10]) and Berea. Because of an uproar in Berea, Paul was forced to leave Macedonia, but Timothy and Silas stayed behind. Eventually, they rejoined Paul in Corinth and informed him of what was happening in Thessalonica. Paul then wrote these two letters as a result of their report (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 3:6; Acts 17:14; 18:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:8, 9).

Background: 

Background C. The basic purpose of both letters is eschatological, which means they deal with end-time events. D. The Thessalonian Christians had a misunderstanding about the rapture, had given up their work (1 Thess. 2:9; 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:8), and had conducted themselves in a disorderly fashion (1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6, 7, 11).

Purpose: 1 Thessalonians: 

Purpose: 1 Thessalonians 1. To commend them for their faith (1:1-10) 2. To defend himself against the charges of an enemy (2:1-20) 3. To explain Timothy's visit (3) ~ Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians for 3 reasons (vv. 1-5) a. to establish - v. 2 b. to comfort - v. 2 c. to check-up - v. 5 4. To exhort them to moral purity, brotherly love, and hard work (4:1-12) 5. To correct their erroneous view of the Lord's return (4:13-18) 6. To explain the day of the Lord and their relationship to it (5:1-11) 7. To exhort them to various spiritual duties (5:12-28)

Purpose: 2 Thessalonians: 

Purpose: 2 Thessalonians To comfort them in their persecution (1:3-12) 2. To explain the day of Christ (2:1-12) To exhort them to obey his commands (2:13 - 3:5) To admonish them to discipline the disorderly (3:6-15) To give them a benediction and greeting which would distinguish his epistles from forgeries (3:16-18)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 1 Thessalonians: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 1 Thessalonians 1. Theme – holy living in light of Christ’s return 2. Key Verse – 1 Thess. 5:23 3. Outline a. Introduction (1:1) b. Personal Concerns (1:2 - 3:13) 1) To express appreciation for them (1:2-10) 2) To explain his approach to them (2:1-16) 3) To establish their affirmation of faith (2:17 - 3:13) c. Practical Commands (4:1 -5:22) 1) Regarding Christian holiness (4:1-12) 2) Regarding Christian hope (4:13-18) 3) Regarding Christian happiness (5:12-22) d. Conclusion (5:23-28)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 2 Thessalonians: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 2 Thessalonians 1. Theme – Christ’s return as it relates to the unsaved 2. Key Verses – 1:8-10 3. Outline a. Introduction (1:1, 2) b. Comfort in Times of Persecution (1:3-12) 1) The Purpose of Persecution (1:3-5) 2) The Promise of Future Retribution (1:6-10) 3) The Prayer for Grace (1:11, 12) c. The Coming of Christ in Perspective (2:1-17) 1) Explanation about the "Day of Christ" (2:1-12) 2) Exhortation to Steadfastness (2:13-17) d. Concerns for their Progress in the Lord (3:1-15) 1) Call for prayer (3:1, 2) 2) Confidence in their obedience (3:3-5) 3) Command to discipline the "disorderly" (3:6-15) e. Conclusion (3:16-18)

Practical Lessons: 

Practical Lessons 8 activities to engage in while you wait for Christ to return (all references come from 1 Thessalonians): 1. 5:16 – rejoice evermore 2. 5:17 – pray without ceasing 3. 5:18 – in everything give thanks 4. 5:19 – quench not the Spirit 5. 5:20 – despise not prophesying 6. 5:21a – prove all things 7. 5:21b – hold fast that which is good 8. 5:22 – abstain from all appearance of evil

Practical Lessons: 

Practical Lessons God will "recompense", i.e., pay back, those who work wickedness and persecute His people (2 Thess. 1:6). He often repays the wicked for their evil in the same way they have committed evil. 1. Pharaoh drowned the babies of Israel. What happened to his army? (Exodus 1:22; 14:27, 28) 2. Haman plotted to wipe out the Jews, beginning with the hanging of Mordecai, and what was Haman's fate? (Esther 7:10) 3. The advisors of King Darius forced him to arrest Daniel and throw him in the lion's den, but what later happened to those men? (Daniel 6:16a, 24)

Practical Lessons: 

Practical Lessons C. As uncertain as we are about how to interpret 2 Thessalonians 2, we're certain that Paul wrote it because the people had been deceived into believing that Christ had already returned and they had been left behind. Paul writes here to describe what will happen before Jesus' return and thereby assure them that they hadn't been forgotten.

GALATIANS: 

GALATIANS

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Galatia

Background: 

Background Paul and Barnabas visited the region south of Galatia during their first missionary journey. (Acts 13, 14). Paul wrote back to the believers in this region around 48/49 A.D. from either Antioch in Syria or Jerusalem. 1. Whether Paul was writing to the people who lived in the actual province of Galatia or writing to the people who lived south of there is a matter of debate. If he was writing to believers in the actual province, we don't know anything about them. If he was in fact writing to the Christians south of there, as present conservative scholarship believes, then Acts 13 and 14 describe the evangelization of these people.

Background: 

Background 2. During his second and third missionary journeys without Barnabas, Paul passed through the province of Galatia. Since he mentions Barnabas in Galatians 2:1, 9, 13, we must assume they knew him and therefore were the people Paul and Barnabas visited during their first journey. 3. Because Paul never mentions the Jerusalem Council meeting of Acts 15 to strengthen his argument that righteousness is not of the Law, we believe that he wrote this letter before that meeting.

Purpose: 

Purpose Paul wrote this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit... A. to assert the divine origin of his gospel (1, 2) B. to prove his authority as recognized by Jerusalem and Peter (2) C. to explain and defend the doctrine of justification by faith (3, 4) D. to establish ethical standards (5:1 - 6:10) E. to warn against Judaizers (6:11-18)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline A. Theme – character of Christian liberty (contrasted with legalism) B. Key Verse - 1:6 C. Outline 1. The Gospel of Grace Defended (1:1 - 2:21) 2. The Gospel of Grace Explained (3:1 - 4:31) 3. The Gospel of Grace Applied (5:1 - 6:18)

Questions Which Arise from Galatians: 

Questions Which Arise from Galatians A. How were people saved in the Old Testament? (Genesis 15:6) B. What role did the sacrifices and offerings play in the Old Testament saints' faith? What role should they play in our faith today? C. What authority does the Law of Moses have over Gentiles? (Acts 15) D. What authority does the Law have today? (1 Peter 1:5) E. What is legalism? - Legalism is a system of conduct based upon the belief that salvation is earned or maintained through personal obedience to a law or standard of practice.

ROMANS: 

ROMANS

Background: 

Background Paul wrote Romans, his letter to the Christians living in Rome, around 56 A.D. during his 3rd missionary journey while spending the winter in Corinth (Acts 20:1-3). The reasons for this belief are: 1. He had not visited Rome yet (1:10; 15:22, 23). 2. He had raised a collection for the Jerusalem saints during a time of famine there and now is on his way to deliver it (1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8, 9; Rom. 15:25, 26). This offering was raised on the third journey (Acts 24:17). 3. While writing Romans, he was in the home of Gaius who was from Corinth (16:23; 1 Cor. 1:14). 4. Erastus, treasurer of the city of Corinth, sends the Roman believers greetings (16:23).

Background: 

Background Although Paul hadn't visited Rome yet, he planned on dropping in when travelling to Spain (15:24). As a result of his travels, he knew several people who lived in Rome. In Romans 16 he mentions 26 people by name—people he apparently knew. It appears that the church at Rome lacked authoritative leadership. Paul's desire was to give this church foundational, doctrinal instruction which it would not have received otherwise. Fearful that Judaism might destroy the work of God in Rome, Paul wrote this letter of instruction (3:21-31).

Purpose: 

Purpose To teach the fundamental doctrines of salvation (1 - 8) 1. Justification (1 - 5) 2. Sanctification (6 - 8) To explain the unbelief of Israel and indicate its extent and duration (9 - 11) C. To urge believers to enter into the full Christian life (12) To admonish them to be subject to the government and to love one another (13) To encourage them to help one another by living by the principles of God's Word (14:1 - 15:13) F. To reveal his plans (15:14-33) G. To send greetings (16)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline A. Theme – salvation is by grace through faith B. Key Verses – 1:16-17 C. Outline Introduction (1:1-17) 1. Sin: Our Predicament Apart from Righteousness (1:18 - 3:20) a. The Condemnation of all men (1:18 - 3:8) b. The Conclusion of the matter (3:9-20) 2. Salvation: God's Provision for Righteousness (3:21 - 5:21) a. The Explanation of Justification (3:21-31) b. An Illustration of Justification (4:1-25) c. The Confirmation of Justification (5:1-11) d. The Application of Justification (5:12-21)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline 3. Sanctification: Our Progress in Righteousness (6:1 - 8:39) a. The Position of Sanctification - free from sin by the death of Christ (6:1-23) b. The Principle of Sanctification - free from the law by the body of Christ (7:1-25) c. The Power of Sanctification - free from the flesh by the indwelling Spirit (8:1-27) d. Perseverance in Sanctification - free from separation by the love of Christ (8:28-39) 4. Sovereignty: God's Plan for the Jews in Righteousness (9:1 - 11:36) a. Israel's Past Election (9:1-33) b. Israel's Present Rejection (10:1-21) c. Israel's Future Salvation (11:1-36)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline 5. Service: Our Practice of Righteousness (12:1 - 16:20) a. Surrender to God for service (12:1-21) b. Submission to Civil Authorities (13:1-14) c. Self-denial for the sake of weaker brethren (14:1 - 15:13) d. Situations of service for Paul (15:14-33) e. Salutations to some choice servants of God (16:1-16) f. Satanic opposition to service (16:17-20) Conclusion (16:21-27)

Classic Passages: 

Classic Passages The depraved nature of all men and the sin of homosexuality (1:18-32) B. Romans' Road to Salvation (3:10, 23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9, 10, 13) C. The Christian's relationship to sin (6:1, 2) D. "All things work together for good..." (8:28, 29) E. Living sacrifices (12:1, 2)

Classic Passages: 

Classic Passages Four questions to help you determine right from wrong (14:1 - 15:3) 1. Does it hurt my body? 2. Does it hurt my conscience? 3. Does it hurt my testimony? 4. Does it hurt my weaker brother?

1 and 2 CORINTHIANS: 

1 and 2 CORINTHIANS Leadership Lawsuits Marriage Divorce Sex Incest Gender roles Liberty Resurrection Giving Lord’s Supper Baptism

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Corinth

Background of the City: 

Background of the City Corinth was located on an isthmus which connected Macedonia and Achaia. To the east of Corinth was the Aegean Sea and to the west lay the Adriatic Sea, making Corinth a seaport town. To keep from having to sail an additional 200 miles around Achaia, ships would be dragged across Corinth (rolled across on logs). Corinth was the capital of Achaia, a crossroads of travel and commerce, the cultural center of the known world, and a city of great sin. The Temple of Aphrodite was located there.

TEMPLE OF APHRODITE: 

TEMPLE OF APHRODITE 3. Corinth was such a wicked place that out of the city's name was coined a term which described the process of losing all self-control or engaging in prostitution. That term was " Corinthianize ".

Background of the Church: 

Background of the Church 1. During his 2nd missionary journey Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months (51-52 A.D. [Acts 18:1-17]). 2. After Paul left, the great orator Apollos came and ministered there (Acts 18:24-28). 3. The Corinthian church was the most troubled church which Paul established.

Background of Paul’s Correspondence with the Corinthians: 

Background of Paul’s Correspondence with the Corinthians 1. Based upon 1 Corinthians 5:9, 11, it appears that Paul sent a letter on the subject of separation to the church even before he sent the letter we call 1 Corinthians. This earlier letter has not been preserved by God. 2. While in Ephesus during his third missionary journey (55 A.D.), Paul received word from the household of Chloe in Corinth that there were quarrels in the church (1 Cor. 1:11). The church sent a delegation of three men (1 Cor. 16:17) with a letter (1 Cor. 7:1) requiring Paul's judgment on certain matters. He wrote 1 Corinthians in response.

Background of Paul’s Correspondence with the Corinthians: 

Background of Paul’s Correspondence with the Corinthians 3. After sending this letter, after gaining some understanding of how it was received, and perhaps before leaving Ephesus, Paul wrote a third letter to the Corinthian church (2 Cor. 2:4). Some commentators identify this letter as 1 Corinthians, and others think of it as being a completely different one. If it was a new one, God didn't see fit to preserve it. 4. After Paul left Ephesus he came to Macedonia on his way to Corinth (55 A.D.). While there he wrote 2 Corinthians, his most personal letter.

Purpose: 1 Corinthians: 

Purpose: 1 Corinthians 1. To rebuke division in the church (1 - 4) 2. To instruct in church discipline (5) To reprove the church for going to court before unbelievers (6) To answer questions concerning marriage, divorce and food offered to idols (7 - 10) To instruct in the behavior of women and the Lord’s Supper (11) 6. To instruct on spiritual gifts (12 - 14) To refute those who denied the resurrection of the dead (15) 8. To instruct on the collection (16:1-4) 9. To give further plans and greetings (16:5-18)

Purpose: 2 Corinthians: 

Purpose: 2 Corinthians 1. To give thanks for God's goodness (1:3-11) 2. To explain his change of plans (1:12 - 2:4) To give instruction on the treatment of an offender (2:5-11) 4. To explain the gospel ministry (2:12 - 6:10) To exhort them in separation and reconciliation (6:11 - 7:16) 6. To instruct in giving (8, 9) 7. To vindicate his apostolic authority (10 - 13)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 1 Corinthians: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 1 Corinthians Theme – the application of Christian principles to carnality in individuals as well as in the church Key Verse – 6:19-20 Outline a. Introduction (1:1-9) b. Conditions that need Correcting (1:10 - 6:20) 1) Divisions in the church (1:10 - 4:21) 2) Discipline neglected in the church (5:1-13) 3) Disputes among brethren before pagan courts (6:1-11) 4) Defilement from moral impurity (6:12-20)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 1 Corinthians: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 1 Corinthians c. Questions that need Answers (7:1 - 16:4) 1) What about marriage? (7:1-40) 2) What about Christians eating meats offered to idols? (8:1 - 11:1) 3) What about the role of men and women? (11:2-16) 4) What about the ordinance of the Lord's Supper? (11:17-34) 5) What about spiritual gifts? (12:1 - 14:40) 6) What about the resurrection? (15:1-58) 7) What about the collection for the saints? (16:1-4) d. Conclusion (16:5-24)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 2 Corinthians: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 2 Corinthians 1. Theme - Paul's defense of his Christian ministry 2. Key Verse - 4:5-6 3. Outline a. Introduction (1:1-7) b. The Troubles of the Ministry (1:8 - 2:13) 1) Its Sufferings (1:8-14) 2) Its Sorrows (1:15 - 2:13) c. The Triumphs of the Ministry (2:14 - 7:16) 1) Its Assurance at all times (2:14-17) 2) Its Superior Work in the Lives of people (3:1-11) 3) Its Liberty in the Spirit (3:12-18) 4) Its Revelation of truth (4:1-6) 5) Its Anticipation beyond death (4:7 - 5:8) 6) Its Commission for one's life (5:9-21) 7) Its Testings for approval (6:1-10) 8) Its Purity in an unclean world (6:11 - 7:1) 9) Its Rejoicing in times of sorrow (7:2-16)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 2 Corinthians: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 2 Corinthians d. One's Treasures and the Ministry (8:1 - 9:16) e. A Testimony about the Ministry (10:1 - 13:10) 1) Spiritual Authority (10:1-11) 2) Cautious Admonitions (10:12 - 11:15) 3) Personal Agonies (11:16 - 12:10) 4) Deep Affection (12:11-15) 5) Concerned Appeals (12:17 - 13:10) f. Conclusion (13:11-14)

Practical Lessons: 

Practical Lessons Regarding 1 Corinthians 1:17 - "Paul's words in this passage should make it clear that in the New Testament baptism was not considered a part of salvation. How could Paul preach the Gospel and then say, 'Christ sent me not to baptize', if baptism was a part of salvation?" (Journey Through the Bible) The point here is if baptism were essential to salvation and Paul refused to baptize, he wouldn't have been preaching a full gospel. One reason God allows us to suffer is so that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort God gives us (2 Cor. 1:4). A second reason God allows us to suffer is so that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God (2 Cor. 1:9).

Practical Lessons: 

Practical Lessons Three reasons why you can patiently bear any hardship: 1. Christ’s life is made manifest in our sufferings (2 Cor. 4:10) 2. Suffering leads to greater glory (2 Cor. 4:17) 3. The hope of Heaven makes suffering bearable (2 Cor. 5:1-9) The proper way of giving to God's work is to give yourself first and then your money (2 Cor. 8:1-5).