Transcript General Epistles

Introduction
© John Stevenson, 2011
Dr. John T. Stevenson
• Family Life
• Academic Life
Dr. John T. Stevenson
• Family Life
• Academic Life
• Professional Life
Dr. John T. Stevenson
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Family Life
Academic Life
Professional Life
Spiritual Life
Ministry Life
Dr. John T. Stevenson
http://JohnStevenson.net
[email protected]
[email protected]
Group Introductions
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Your name
Your home church
Where are you in the TIU process?
What classes have you already
taken in the area of the Old or New
Testament?
Course Objectives
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To see the different social situations and
theological developments that distinguish
the later New Testament epistles from
the earlier epistles.
To understand the critical issues of
authorship of these epistles.
To explain the political background of
these epistles.
To understand the flow of thought of
each individual book.
Course Objectives
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To assess the influences of various subChristian cults or religious tendencies
such as Gnosticism, Doceticism, and the
Ebionites.
To produce contemporary applications of
the lessons learned from these epistles.
Marshall, Travis, &
Paul
Exploring the
New Testament: A
Guide to the
Letters and
Revelation.
InterVarsity, 2002
R. Martin & P.
Davids
Dictionary of the
Later New
Testament and its
Developments.
InterVarsity, 1997
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What
makes them •
“general”? •
Hebrews
James
1st & 2nd Peter
1st, 2nd, 3rd John
Jude
A question
of
authorship
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Hebrews
James
1st & 2nd Peter
1st, 2nd, 3rd John
Jude
• Which of the General Epistles have been
questioned as to their canonicity?
• On what basis do critics claim someone
else wrote these books other than their
named authors?
• Are you persuaded by these arguments?
What are the
distinguishing
differences
between the
Pauline Epistles
versus the
General Epistles?
Salvation & the
Christian Life
Romans, Corinthians,
Galatians
Prison Epistles
Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians
Eschatological
Epistles
Thessalonians
Pastoral
Epistles
Timothy, Titus, Philemon
Salvation
Hebrews
Faith and Works
James
Suffering
1st Peter
Eschatological
Epistles
2nd Peter
The Christian
Life
John and Jude
Largely
Gentile
Audience
Largely
Jewish
Audience
Gentile
Thinking
Jewish
Thinking
Gentile
Thinking
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Concrete
Rational
Linear
Moves from point to
point in a carefully
organized manner
Greeks search after
wisdom
Jewish
Thinking
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Symbolic
Visual
Holistic
Moves in a journey
through a series of
thoughts
Jews want a sign
Gentile
Thinking
Jewish
Thinking
Then a champion came out from the
armies of the Philistines named Goliath,
from Gath, whose height was six cubits
and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet
on his head, and he was clothed with
scale-armor which weighed five
thousand shekels of bronze. (1 Samuel
17:4-5).
Gentile
Thinking
Jewish
Thinking
He also had bronze greaves on his legs
and a bronze javelin slung between his
shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was
like a weaver's beam, and the head of
his spear weighed six hundred shekels
of iron; his shield-carrier also walked
before him. (1 Samuel 17:6-7).
Hebrew
Scriptures
Greek
Septuagint
What were some of the
ethnic/racial issues
faced by the early
church?
God of wine
& festivity
God of
healing
God of
sea &
storms
Jewish Persecutions
• Reasons for Jewish Persecution
– Perceived charge of blasphemy
– The stumbling block of the cross
– Jealousy for popularity of the people
– Gamaliel’s reasoned defense
• Initially limited to Judea and the
surrounding regions
And on that day a
great persecution
began against the
church in
Jerusalem, and
they were all
scattered
throughout the
regions of Judea
and Samaria,
except the
apostles. (Acts
8:1b).
Jewish Persecutions
• Reasons for Jewish Persecution
– Perceived charge of blasphemy
– The stumbling block of the cross
– Jealousy for popularity of the people
– Gamaliel’s reasoned defense
• Initially limited to Judea and the
surrounding regions
• Capital punishment was initially
unauthorized by Rome
Jewish Persecutions
• Curse on the “Nazareans” was added to
the official Jewish prayers of the late
first century.
Jewish Persecutions
• Curse on the “Nazareans” was added to
the official Jewish prayers of the late
first century.
• Christians left Judea
and moved to Pella
prior to the fall of
Jerusalem
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Christianity versus Rome
A Conflict of Culture
• Roman schools taught pagan religion.
• Roman cemeteries offered up prayers to
false idols.
Christianity versus Rome
A Conflict of Culture
• Roman schools taught pagan religion.
• Roman cemeteries offered up prayers to
false idols.
• Roman marketplaces sold food that had
been offered to Roman gods.
• The Roman military personnel were
required to swear oaths to the emperor,
worshiping him.
Christianity versus Rome
A Conflict of Culture
Roman
Religious
Tolerance
Christianity’s
Exclusive
Claims
In what ways does Christianity
conflict with today’s culture?