Paul’s Letters
“New Testament”
•Testament = Covenant
•“New and improved”
•Late 2nd century development
•Division occurred much later
Canonical Order
•Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
•Acts
•Paul’s letters
•“Catholic” letters (Jam, 1 & 2 Pet, 1, 2, & 3John, Jude)
•Revelation
Paul’s Letters
•The Apostle Paul
•Letter collection (ordered by length)
–Rom, 1 & 2 Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, Phmn
–1 & 2 Tim, Titus
–Hebrews
Paul’s Letters
•Letter collection (ordered by date)
–1 Thess (& 2 Thess?)
–Gal?
–Rom, 1 & 2 Cor
–Eph, Phil, Col, Phmn (Prison Epistles)
–1 & 2 Tim, Titus (Pastoral Epistles)
–Hebrews
Romans
•Theme: One people, one church
•Structure
–Address = 1:1-7
–Prayer = 1:8-12
–Body = 1:13-15:32
•God’s wrath and righteousness (1-4)
•God’s solution to sin (5-8)
•God’s faithfulness to Israel (9-11)
•Worship of God (12-15)
–Greetings = 15:33-16:23 (or 27)
1 Corinthians
•Theme: Sacrifice self for others’ benefit
•Structure
–Address = 1:1-3
–Prayer = 1:4-9
–Body = 1:10-16:18
•Division (1-4)
•Sexual and Legal abuses (5-7)
•Food and idols (8-10)
•Public worship (11)
•Spiritual gifts (12-14)
•Bodily resurrection (15)
•Helping the poor (16)
–Greetings = 15:33-16:23 (or 27)
2 Corinthians
•Theme: Watch out for charlatans
•Composite letter?
•Structure
–Address = 1:1-2
–Prayer = 1:3-7
–Body = 1:8-13:10
•Paul’s ministry (1-7)
•Giving is grace (8-9)
•False teachers (10-13)
–Greetings = 13:11-13
Galatians
•Theme: Christ is sufficient
•Structure
–Address = 1:1-5
–Body = 1:6-6:17
•Christ today (1-2)
•Christ in the past (3-4)
•Freedom in Christ (5-6)
–Greetings = 6:18
Philippians
•Theme: Rejoice always
•Structure
–Address = 1:1-2 (Elders and deacons)
–Prayer = 1:3-11
–Body = 1:12-4:9
•Progress (1)
•Positive & Negative Models (2-3)
•Concrete solutions (4)
–P.S. 4:10-20
–Greetings = 4:21-23
1 Thessalonians
•Theme: Continue in faith, hope, love
•Structure
–Address = 1:1
–Prayer = 1:2-5
–Body = 1:6-5:24
•Model (1-2)
•Longing for a visit (3)
•Memory (4:1-5:11)
•Maxims (5:12-24)
–Greetings = 5:25-28
Philemon
•Theme: Regard Onesimus as a brother
•Structure
–Address = 1-3
–Prayer = 4-7
–Body = 8-22
–Greetings = 23-25