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Καινή Διαθήκη Ελληνική - Gamma Kappa

New Testament Letters - Who was Paul?

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New Testament Letters

  • All but 6 (21 of 27) books of the New Testament are letters, aka ‘epistles’
  • “Epistle” is a transliteration of the Greek ἐπιστολή (letter)
  • 35% of the text of the New Testament is letters
  • Most of the letters were written by Paul – approximately 1/4 of the New Testament
  • If the first century church had no problems, we would not have a good bit of the New Testament today

Why Letters?

  • In the 1st century, they could not text, Facetime or Zoom…
  • Best means of personal interaction at a distance
  • Letters were convenient and necessary for personal intimacy
  • Established personal presence from a distance
  • The Pax Romana and readily available transport made this possible!

Structure of Greco-Roman letters

We write: Address To, Body of Letter, Closing, From

Dear Timothy,

Long time no see! How have you been?
...<body of letter>...

Love to you,
Paul

They wrote: Address From To, Body of Letter, Conclusion

Paul, servant of the Lord,
to Timothy, my dear friend:
Greetings is Jesus' name.

Long time no see! How have you been?
...<body of letter>...

May God be greatly glorified in your life.
  • Address: “A to B, Greetings” χαίρειν (to rejoice) = “may you have joy”
  • NT letters often used χάρις (Grace) in place of χαίρειν
  • The conclusion of New Testament letters often included Benediction (spoken blessing) and/or Doxology (Words of glory to God)

Style of New Testament letters

  • Range of style from familiar to more formal, e.g Romans and Hebrews
  • Writers often employed professional scribes (amanuenses), who had freedom to use their skill to express the author’s message, e.g. 1 Peter 5.12 NASB95
  • Word of word dictation could occur, but was not common
  • letters were read aloud to their recipients, either churches or persons
  • silent reading was very rare in the ancient world
  • Letters were usually written to address particular problems and concerns

New Testament Letters

Approximate Chronological Order of Paul’s letters

  1. Galatians: Against the Judaizers (A.D. 49)
  2. 1 Thessalonians: Congratulations and Comfort (A.D. 50-51)
  3. 2 Thessalonians: Correction on the Second Coming (A.D. 50-51)
  4. 1 Corinthians: Church Problems (A.D. 55)
  5. 2 Corinthians: Paul’s Ministry (A.D. 56)
  6. Romans: Righteousness Through Faith in Christ (A.D. 58)
  7. Philemon: Plea for a Runaway Slave (A.D. 61-62)
  8. Colossians: Christ as the Head of the Church (A.D. 61-62)
  9. Ephesians: The Church as the Body of Christ (A.D. 61-62)
  10. Philippians: A Friendly Note of Thanks (A.D. 62)
  11. 1 Timothy Organization and administration of churches (A.D. 63-64)
  12. Titus Organization and administration of the churches (A.D. 63-64)
  13. 2 Timothy Commission of Timothy to carry on Paul’s work (A.D. 65)

Who was Paul?

Paul was a man of great natural ability, Jewish heritage, Roman citizenship, and Greek education.

God uniquely prepared and equipped Paul for 2 major tasks:

  1. Defending the new faith in Jesus against radical Judaism
  • At one point he even needed to defend the faith against the apostle Peter himself - see Galatians 2)
  1. Preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

Paul’s Preparation

when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15-16 NASB95)

Jewish Heritage

  • Though born and raised in Tarsus in Asia Minor, as a young lad he was sent to Jerusalem to study under the famous rabbinical scholar Gamaliel
  • He was a zealous student of the Torah and the “Traditions of the Elders” (what would later become part of the Talmud)
  • He excelled as a Pharisee, the “strictest sect” of Judaism

Paul’s dedicated zeal is what prompted him to persecute Christians

For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. (Romans 10:2 NASB95)

He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; (1 Timothy 1:12-13 NASB95)

Roman Citizenship

  • Paul was a free-born Roman citizen
  • A large number of the people under Roman rule were slaves
  • Citizenship was rare, free-born citizenship even more so
  • It was of great value in his ministry throughout the Roman Empire
  • Opened doors of opportunity which would otherwise have been closed

Greek Education

  • Tarsus was one of the top 3 centers and Greek culture and learning, along with Athens in Greece and Alexandria in Egypt
  • Paul was educated and well-versed Greek literature and philosophy
  • This enabled him to engage with the Greeks in their terms (“I become all things to all men…”)
  • Example: he quoted a Greek poet when preaching the gospel to the Athenians on Mars Hill (Acts 17.28 NASB95)

There is a relationship between the Holy Spirit and natural gifts.

  • Natural gifts are from God and should not be denigrated.
  • However, they should not be gloried in or relied upon.
  • The Holy Spirit uses natural gifts rather than nullifying them.

There is an application for us as disciples.

We should offer all our natural gifts and circumstances to God to use for his kingdom and glory.

o the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. (1 Corinthians 9:20-22 NASB95)

Paul’s Authority

Revelation

Paul was taught directly by the Lord Himself, not by another man

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12 NASB95)

I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows — was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (2 Corinthians 12:1-4 NASB95)

Paul was a first-hand witness of the risen Lord, hence his legitimate claim to be an apostle,

Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? (1 Corinthians 9:1 NASB95)

and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, (1 Corinthians 15:8-10 NASB95)

Why did Paul take such pains to assert his apostleship?

Knowledge of Scripture

After his conversion he want to Arabia for 3 years before he went to Jerusalem to meet Peter. During this he poured over the Scriptures he knew so well, and found Christ in them everywhere!

  • He was thus uniquely equipped to defend the Gospel against the “Judaizers” because he understood their arguments better than they did
  • He quotes the Old Testament over 90 times in his letters
  • He demonstrates that the Gospel is not something new, rather it is the actual fulfillment of Judaism

How did ‘Saul’ become ‘Paul’ ?

  • Dual names were very common in the Roman Empire
  • Saul was his Hebrew name, Paul was his Roman name.
  • His name did not change at his conversion
  • Jesus addressed him as ‘Saul’ on the road to Damascus
  • Jesus instructed Ananias to go to ‘Saul’ who found him, and said:

Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17 NAS95)

But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, (Acts 13:9 NAS95)

  • Among the Jews he was ‘Saul’. Among the Gentiles he was Paul

Assignment

Preparing

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Respond to the following:

Knowing

  1. How many letters are there in the New Testament
  2. Where was Paul born?
  3. Who was Paul’s teacher in the Torah and the Traditions?

Reflecting

Choose two or three of the following:

  1. Write a one sentence bio of Paul.
  2. How was Paul’s education in Greek literature and culture useful in his calling as an apostle?
  3. How was Paul’s training as a Pharisee useful in his calling as an apostle?

Communicating

Consider how Paul and others wrote letters to bring help to the saints. Now think of someone who is in some kind of difficulty. It could be someone you know, yourself, or even your future self. Prayerfully write this person a short letter to strengthen, bless and encourage them in the Lord.

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