CLASS NOTES – 1 & 2 CORINTHIANS

Corinth Background

 History of Corinth – Greek City, Then Roman Colony

50-51/2 AD - Paul in Corinth - Acts 18:1-18, 24-28

First Lost Letter to Corinth – 1 Cor. 5:9

56 AD - 1 Corinthians – written from Ephesus by Paul

Paul returns to Corinth?  Second Lost Letter to Corinth? – 2 Cor. 2:1-4

57 AD - 2 Corinthians – written from Macedonia by Paul

57-58 AD Paul’s final visit – Acts 20:2-3.

Outline of 1 Corinthians

Introduction – 1 Cor. 1:1-9

Factions and In-fighting – 1 Cor. 1:10-4:21

Problems of Behavior – 1 Cor. 5:1-11:34

Problems of Spiritual Gifts – 1 Cor. 12:1-14:40

The Resurrection of Christ and of Christians – 1 Cor. 15:1-58

The Collection, Travel Plans, Greetings – 1 Cor. 16:1-24

Outline of 2 Corinthians

Introduction – 2 Cor. 1:1-11

Paul’s Conflict with the Corinthian Church – 2 Cor. 1:12-2:13

Paul’s Defense of his Ministry – 2 Cor. 2:14-7:16

Collection for the Jerusalem Church – 2 Cor. 8:1-9:15

Paul’s Response to Challenges to his Apostolic Authority – 2 Cor. 10:1-13:10

Greetings and Conclusion – 13:11-13

Major/Relevant Themes of 1 & 2 Corinthians

Human Wisdom vs. God’s Foolishness – The Cross

Accountability in the Church

Sexual Morality and Sexual Immorality – The Body

The Problem of Hats

Spiritual Gifts – Speaking in Tongues, Prophesy, Healing, Administration, etc.

A New Creation in Christ

Resurrection

Questions for Reflection

 In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul, in speaking of Jesus, writes, “For our sake, he [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  This verse sums up the Gospel message – that on the cross, our sin was placed on Jesus, and his righteousness was placed on us.  If this is true, Paul says, we are a new creation!  What does it mean for you to be a new creation because of Jesus?  How is being a new creation more than just being healed or forgiven?

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul recounts God saying to him, “my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”  How does this section of Scripture affect how you think about your own experiences of suffering?  How does it affect the way you share your faith with others?

CLASS NOTES – THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

The Life of Paul

Acts and the Letters

Life Prior to Conversion – Acts 22:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Galatians 1:13-14

Encounter with Jesus (36 AD) – Acts 22:6-16, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Galatians 1:15-17.

Apostleship

Three Missionary Journeys

Final Arrest, Imprisonment and Execution (58-64 AD)

 Background for Romans

Paul’s only Letter to a church he had never visited.

Purpose of the letter – introduction, support-raising for a mission to Spain.

What is Paul’s gospel?

Outline of Romans

Introduction – Romans 1:1-17

Universal nature of sin (Jews and Gentiles) – Romans 1:18-3:20

Justification by Faith, not by Law – Romans 3:21-5:21

Living under Grace – Romans 6:1-8:39

The Problem of Non-Christian Jews – Romans 9-11

Our Response to Grace (Sanctification) – Romans 12-15:13

Conclusion – Romans 15:14-16:27

Major/Relevant Themes of Romans

The Roots of Sin

Homosexuality

Justification by Faith, not by Works

Original Sin

What good is the Old Testament?

Sin in the Christian life

Predestination

Jews and Christianity

Obedience to the Government

Differences between Christian individuals and churches

Questions for Reflection

 Central to Paul’s theology is the assertion that we are saved by faith, not by works.  This distinguishes Christianity from all other faith traditions.  We are not “religion.”  What practical applications does this idea have for your daily life?

How do we as Christians wrestle with the sin that is still present in our lives, and at the same time, believe that we are sinless before God?  Are you more likely to over-stigmatize your sin and ignore the forgiveness of God, or are you inclined to excuse your own in-excusable behavior because you undervalue holiness?

Do you consider yourself to be a “strong” Christian or a “weak” Christian?  What does that even mean?  Who are you called to mentor, and who are you called to learn from?

CLASS NOTES – THE GOSPEL OF LUKE/ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Background for Luke/Acts

Luke 1:1-4 – Researched, orderly account.

Audience/Recipient – who is Theophilus?  Target Audience – Greeks (3:38)

Author – Anonymous; historically Luke the doctor, companion of Paul.  See Acts 20:5, etc.

Date – 85 AD or 63 AD?

Last of the Synoptics

Acts of the Apostles, or perhaps Acts of Peter and Paul

Audience/Author/Date: Same as above

Covers roughly the 30 years from Jesus’ ascension to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.

Outline of Luke/Acts

Luke

1. Introduction: Infancy and Boyhood of Jesus (1-2)
2. Preparation for Ministry (3-4:13)
3. Ministry in Galilee ( 4:14-9:50)
4. Journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:27)
5. In Jerusalem: Ministry and Passion and Resurrection (19:28-24)

Acts – Acts 1:8

1. Introduction/Preparation for Ministry (1)
2. Ministry in Jerusalem (2-8:1)
3. Missions to Samaria and Judea (8:1b-12)
4. Missions of Barnabas and Paul (13-15:35)
5. Mission of Paul to the Ends of the Earth (15:36-28:31)

Major Themes for Luke/Acts

1. Economic Liberation (poverty vs. riches) – Luke 1:52-53, 4:18, 6:20-26, 12: 13-21, 12:33, 18:22.  Also, Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-5:11.
2. God who seeks – Luke 15, but also 7:36-50, 19:1-10, etc.  Luke 19:10 as a key verse.  Becomes the job of the church.
3. Centrality of Jerusalem – Luke 9:51, Acts 1:8, Acts 15, etc.
4. Parables and Luke 19:11-27.  Distinct from Matthew’s account.
5. The Holy Spirit, Pentecost, and the church – Acts 2:1-4, 19:1-7
6. Must Christians be Jews?  Acts 10:34-5, 44-48, Acts 15
7. Salvation history in three stages: Israel à Jesus à Church.  Luke 1-2, Acts 1, 2, 7, etc.

Reflection Questions

In the Gospel of Matthew, many of the beatitudes are “spiritualized” while in Luke they are more straightforward.   For example, Matthew says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” while Luke says “Blessed are the poor.”  Which of those expressions is most challenging for you?  Why do you think the Spirit preserved BOTH in our NT?

How do you respond to Jesus’ message of economic liberation? 

Have you experienced God as the “one who seeks”?

Consider the promise that God lives within you in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  How does this shape or change your theological understanding of your faith?

CLASS NOTES – THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Background for the Gospel of Matthew

Synoptic (from the Greek meaning similar)

About 80% of the Gospel of Mark appears in Matthew, but half of Matthew’s Gospel does not appear in Mark.

Four Source Hypothesis for Matthew and Luke – Mark, Q, M and L

Material in Matthew not found in Mark:

1.  Infancy stories

2.  Sermons

3.  Two miracles (8:5-13 and 12:22-23)

Target Audience for Matthew – Jews and Gentiles

Major theme – Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (and more!).

Authorship – Historically identified as Matthew the Apostle, but anonymous in the text.

Date – 80-90 AD

Why is Matthew first in the NT? - Gospel par excellence for teaching

Outline of the book

Origins and Infancy of Jesus(1-2)

Part One:  Proclamation of the Kingdom

• Narrative: John the Baptist, baptism of Jesus, temptation, Galilee (3-4)
• Discourse: Sermon on the Mount (5-7)

Part 2:  Ministry and Mission in Galilee

• Narrative mixed with short dialogue: nine miracles (8-9)
• Discourse: Mission Sermon (10)

Part 3:  Questioning of and Opposition to Jesus

• Narrative setting for teaching and dialogue: Jesus and John the Baptist, woes, thanksgiving, Sabbath, Jesus’ family (11-12)
• Discourse:  Sermon in Parables (13:1-52)

Part 4:  Jesus and the Church

• Narrative mixed with much dialogue: feeding the 5,000, walking on water, Pharisees, feeding the 4,000, Peter’s confession, transfiguration, passion predictions (13-17)
• Dialogue:  Sermon on the church (18)

Part 5:  Journey to and Ministry in Jerusalem

• Narrative mixed with much dialogue: teaching, judgment parables, passion prediction, Palm Sunday, temple cleansing, conflict with authorities (19-23)
• Discourse:  End of Times Sermon (24-25)

Climax: Passion, Death and Resurrection (26-28)

Major Themes for Matthew

1.  Fulfillment of OT Scriptures – 2:6, 18

2.  Virgin Birth – 1:18-25. 

3.  Christology (or, “Who is Jesus?”) - Jesus as Son of Man and Son of God, Emmanuel, co-equal with Father and Spirit in 28:19.  Also, Jesus as the fulfillment of Moses and David.

4.  Ecclesiology (or, “What is the church?”) – 16:18-19, 18.  Papacy?

5.  Eschatology” (or, “What happens at the end?”) – 24-25. 

6.  Jesus as an ethical teacher – Sermon on the Mount, etc.  20th Century context?  “Challenge” of the kingdom of God.

Reflection Questions

Reflect on both the miraculous (i.e. the virgin birth) and the ethical (i.e. love your enemies) in Matthew.  Which is more challenging for you, and why?

The early church listed Matthew first in the Gospels because it so powerfully captures the teachings of Jesus, while still preserving his mighty works and his death and resurrection.  What would we lose if we had the teachings of Christ, but not the stories of his mighty power?  What would we lose if we had the stories of his miracles and resurrection, but no records of his instructions?