the Acts, and why is so much given to it? What do the seven
speeches of Paul signify? What Epistles did Paul write while at
Rome? Give the time and extent of this journey. Give the
historical connections. Why did Paul return to Jerusalem? Give
an account of his meeting with James and the elders; the temple
riot; his speech to the rioters; and his speech before the Jewish
Council. How was Paul comforted by God? What was the
conspiracy of the Jewish fanatics? How long did Paul remain a
prisoner at Caesarea? Give an account of his first defense before
his Jewish accusers, and the Roman governor Felix; his second
defense before Felix; his third defense before Festus; and his
fourth defense before Festus and King Agrippa II. Give an
account of the voyage to Rome; Caesarea to Myra; Myra to
Melita; and Melita to Rome. What did Paul testify to the Jews
and Gentiles in Rome? Where do we find incidental notices of
this imprisonment?
III. PAUL'S WRITINGS
STUDY VII
THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM
FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES
FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS
ANALYSIS
+Introduction to the Epistles of Paul+--Epistolary Writings. Some
Reasons for Paul's Writings. Qualifications of Paul. How
the Epistles are Best Understood. Titles and Groups.
Common Plan. Supreme Purpose.
+The Future of Christ's Kingdom+--The First Group of Epistles.
The Chief Doctrinal Point.
+The First Epistle to the Thessalonians+--The Founding of the
Church. Occasion, Time, and Place of Writing. Contents.
Analysis.
+The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians+--Occasion, Time, and
Place of Writing. Principal Divisions and Chief Points.
III. PAUL'S WRITINGS
STUDY VII
THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM
FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES
THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS
INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLES OF PAUL
+Epistolary Writings.+--The New Testament is
composed of twenty-seven books, twenty-one of which are
Epistles. Of this latter number thirteen are ascribed to
Paul. It is thus seen how largely the New Testament is
made up of Epistles and how many of these are attributed
to the Great Apostle.
In the letters of men of great prominence and power
of any age we get closer to the real condition of the affairs
of that age than by any other means. In this way, we
get information at first hand from the participants in the
events of which they write. It is fortunate for us that
we have this first hand material with which to deal, when
we come to study the early growth and development of
Christianity.
By means of the New Testament Epistles (which are
real letters and written with a definite purpose in view)
we look directly into the faith, the customs, and practices
of the early Christian churches. We see how they were
organized and how they conducted their services. We
see the marvelous changes wrought in the lives and
characters of the converts. We note that the triumphs of faith
were won through a belief in the Divine Son of God and
the power of the Holy Ghost. The struggles and difficulties
of these early Christians in coming out of heathenism
are depicted in a masterly way. Paul, in his endeavor
to guide aright the churches, of which he had been the
spiritual father, shows what he believes and teaches about
God, the Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, sin, redemption, and the
future state of the soul. In these letters the incidental
and indirect references to the doctrines taught, and the
customs of the early churches, are as valuable as the direct.
+Some Reasons for Paul's Writings.+--The Apostle
was the founder of churches over a large area of territory.
He soon realized, however, that it was impossible to visit
them as often as he desired and as frequently as he
ought. Many of the converts had come out of heathenism
and needed doctrinal and ethical instruction in the
way of Christ. They also needed encouragement,
comfort, and sometimes sharp correction for outbreaking sins.
As means of communication were open and easy along
the well kept Roman roads, what was more natural than
that Paul should begin to write letters which were not
only to be read by the particular churches to which they
were addressed, but passed on to the other churches.
+Qualifications of Paul.+
1. Intellectual. He was not only pre-eminent as a
missionary, but even more remarkable as a writer. "He
was the greatest thinker of his age, if not of any age,
who in the midst of his outward labors was producing
writings which have ever since been among the mightiest
intellectual forces of the world and are still growing."
2. Spiritual. He had been converted in a wonderful
way and had received a special revelation from Christ
(Acts 9:3-15; 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:11, 12). He had
been called to his great work among the Gentiles by Christ
and the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:15; 13:2). He was
absolutely absorbed in the work of Christ and in making
known His gospel.
+How the Epistles are Best Understood.+--Each one
should be studied in the light of the occasion which called
it forth and in connection with the church, group of
churches, or the individual to which it is addressed.
+Titles and Groups.+--The thirteen Epistles fall naturally
into four groups; in each of which is set forth some
great doctrinal and ethical truth.
First Group, First and Second Thessalonians. "These
Epistles are short, simple, and practical. They may be
regarded as illustrating Paul's earlier missionary instruction
to his converts--hence the name 'Missionary Epistles,'
sometimes applied to them. They treat of but one
doctrinal subject--the second coming of Christ." It should
be borne in mind, however, that Paul speaks of Jesus
Christ as "The Lord," "Our Lord," about twenty-five
times in First Thessalonians; this shows how thoroughly
he believed in the Deity of Christ.
Second Group, Galatians, First and Second Corinthians
and Romans. "This group is the great repertory of
Paul's doctrinal and ethical teaching. Galatians and
Romans deal chiefly with his doctrine of justification by
faith. They are designed to disprove the current Jewish
teaching (which was invading the churches) that men
might be saved by obedience to the Mosaic law. On the
contrary Paul maintained that the sole basis of salvation
is the grace of God to be appropriated by faith on man's
part."
Third Group, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and
Philippians. "This group is predominantly Christological.
Errors had invaded the churches addressed, which
tended to degrade the person and work of Christ, and the
Apostle writes with a view to showing his pre-eminence
and saving power, so that the readers may be induced to
keep their allegiance to Christ and His gospel."
Fourth Group, First Timothy, Titus and Second Timothy.
"These are called 'The Pastoral Epistles,' and were
designed to instruct Timothy and Titus as
superintendents of the churches
in Ephesus and Crete, and were thus
semi-official in character. But they have also a strong
personal element and a tone of warm sympathy and
affection." The above characterization of the four groups of
these Epistles by Prof. G. B. Stevens is brief and to the
point.
+Common Plan.+--The plan in all of Paul's Epistles,
with slight variations, is much the same. The outlines of
these letters fall uniformly into six divisions. "First, a
greeting sometimes very brief, sometimes extending over
several verses, in which he generally manages with
consummate skill to strike the keynote of the whole letter.
Secondly, a thanksgiving to God for the Christian gifts
and graces of his converts. Thirdly, a doctrinal part, in
which he argues out or explains some great topic of
Christian truth, specially required by the condition of the
church to which he is writing. Fourthly, a practical
section, in which he applies to daily moral duties the great
doctrines which he has developed. Fifthly, personal
messages, salutations, and details. Sixthly, a brief
autograph conclusion to ratify the genuineness of the entire
letter."
+The Supreme Purpose+ was to make known the Divine
Christ as the Savior of all men, both Jew and Gentile
(1 Cor. 2:1-16; Col. 1:9-29; Phil. 2:9-11; Acts 26:22,
23; Rom. 3:9-31).
THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM
FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES
THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS
+The First Group of Epistles.+--The First and Second
Epistles to the Thessalonians are the earliest writings of
Paul of which we have any certain knowledge. He may
possibly have written earlier epistles, which are now lost.
He speaks of writing a salutation "in every epistle"
(2 Thess. 3:17), "with mine own hand," which may
imply that he had already written a number of Epistles.
In regard to later writings he also speaks of an Epistle
(1 Cor. 5:9) to the Corinthians written to them before
that now known as First Corinthians and of one written
to the Laodiceans (Col. 4:16); of these writings we have
no record save these incidental notices, if these notices
refer to lost Epistles.
+The Chief Doctrinal Point+ considered in this group is
"The Future of Christ's Kingdom" as it was related to His
second coming (1 Thess. 4:13-5:9, compare 2 Thess. 2:1-17).
It was natural that, after so great a manifestation
of the Divine Christ, the earlier believers in Him
should make much of the promise that He said He would
come again, and amid their troubles and difficulties the
strong tendency would be to think that second coming
was close at hand. It is a well known fact however that
the near approach of a great joy or sorrow unfits men and
women for the ordinary pursuits of life. Paul, in his first
letter to the members of the church of Thessalonica,
spoke of the second coming of Christ to relieve their
minds of a worry over those who had died since he had
preached to them (lest they should not see the Lord when
He came), and also to encourage them in their faith
(1 Thess. 4:13-18). It seems that Paul was taken to mean
by what he wrote that Christ's coming was near at hand.
The believers in Christ, in Thessalonica, began to give up
their ordinary avocations and pursuits in speedy anticipation
of this great event. He therefore takes occasion in
his second letter to the church to correct the impression
that Christ's coming (2 Thess. 2:1-17) was near at hand.
He exhorts them to true and faithful living in the sight of
their Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 3:1-18) as the best way
to serve their Divine Master. The principle of the true
Christian life is here set forth in a masterly way; it holds
good for all time and all peoples.
THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS
+The Founding of the Church at Thessalonica+ (Acts
17:1-10).--Paul was on his second missionary journey
and this church was the second which he organized in
Europe. He entered into the synagogue at Thessalonica
and three Sabbath days reasoned with the Jews out of the
scriptures, "opening and alleging, that Christ must needs
have suffered and risen again from the dead; and that this
Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ" (Acts 17:3). Through
this preaching a few of the Jews believed "and
of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief
women not a few." It appears from this account that
the church was mostly made up of Gentiles. But through
the opposition of the Jews all the city was set in an uproar
and Paul was sent away by night to Berea.
+Occasion, Time, and Place of Writing.+--Paul left
Thessalonica unwillingly for he had a great affection for
his converts in this city. Twice he endeavored to return,
but was prevented from doing so (2:17, 18). When
he reached Athens (Acts 17:15) he grew so anxious about
the church at Thessalonica that he sent Timothy back to
see how it prospered (3:1, 2). While Timothy was
gone on his mission Paul went on to Corinth (Acts
18:1). Here Timothy found him when he returned with
his report of the church (Acts 18:5; 1 Thess. 3:6).
Paul was greatly pleased with what Timothy had to say
about the converts. While enduring persecution they
were standing fast in the Lord and devoted to their faith
in Christ (3:7-13). The report which Timothy brought
was the occasion of the first letter to this church.
The time was, in all probability, in the winter of 52-53
A.D., and the place of writing was at Corinth, where
Paul remained for over a year and a half (Acts 18:1, 11, 18).
+Contents.+--The first three chapters are of a personal
character and show how dear to Paul's heart were these
converts of Thessalonica. They also show the good
record made for the short time since they had embraced
Christianity. But nothing could be more revolutionary
in those days than to become a Christian; therefore Paul
takes occasion to correct social, moral, and doctrinal
faults and to instruct them more fully in the faith, in
Christ, which they professed. In the matter of doctrine
Paul mentions Christ as "the Lord," "our Lord" about
twenty-five times, showing his belief in and teaching of
the Deity of Christ. In regard to Christ's speedy second
coming, of which many seem to have had a lively
expectation so that they were troubled when some died lest
these had lost their opportunity to see this glorious event,
Paul writes to reassure them that all believers, those who
have died and those who are alive at that time, "will enter
together and share equally in the blessings of Christ's
heavenly kingdom" (4:13-18). The Epistle closes with
exhortations to be joyful, thankful, and prayerful.
+Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+
1. Introduction (1:1-10). Personal address and
salutation. Thanksgiving for their faith, love and hope in
Jesus Christ and for their conversion.
2. Narrative (2:1-4:12). How the gospel was given
and how it was received at Thessalonica. An account of
Paul's care and anxiety for the church. Paul's prayer for
their establishment in the faith of Jesus Christ. Exhortation
to abstain as followers of Christ from impurity and
fraud; to follow after holiness and brotherly love.
3. Doctrinal (4:13-5:11). The second advent of
Christ. The parts which the dead and living will have
when Christ shall come again. The uncertainty of the
time. The need of constant watchfulness.
4. Practical (5:12-28). Rules for the conduct of the
church, its overseers and members. Exhortation to be
joyful, prayerful, and thankful. Closing prayer that they
may be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Greeting and benediction.
THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS
+Occasion, Time, and Place of Writing.+--What Paul
wrote about the second coming of Christ, in the First
Epistle, seems to have been misunderstood by the church
at Thessalonica (1:7-3:11). Then too there was
probably a spurious epistle (and this may have occasioned
much of the trouble) in circulation, in which Paul is
evidently made to declare that the day of Christ is close at
hand (2:2). He writes of this false epistle very vigorously
that they be not troubled in spirit by a letter, "as
from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." Evidently
some were neglecting their work, becoming impatient at
the delay in Christ's coming (3:5, 11, 12) and walking
disorderly.
The Epistle opens, with an expression of thanks for the
general condition of the church and that it was enduring
persecutions and tribulations well (1:2-6). Hence it is
evident that some but not all of the church members were
out of accord with an earnest sensible faith in Christ.
This Epistle reflects certain conditions which Paul had
to meet in his work and shows how he sought to check
any defections from right conceptions of true Christian
doctrine and life. In the second chapter Paul shows that
the "day of Christ" may not speedily come, that certain
other things must come to pass before it is revealed
(compare Matthew ch. 24), and that the true Christian way is
to stand fast always in the Lord. In thus standing fast
every believer will grow in faith and grace.
The duties taught are "courage and faith under persecution
and calmness and quiet industry in the presence of
the greatest expectations."
The time of writing was probably, a few months after
that of the First Epistle, in 53 A.D. The place of
writing was Corinth.
+Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+
1. Introduction (1:1-4). Salutation. Thanksgiving
for the growth of faith in the Thessalonian church.
2. Doctrinal (1:5-2:17). The great day of the
Lord. The Thessalonians seemingly misunderstood Paul's
first letter and he now more fully explains the second
advent of Christ. It will be a day of terrible retribution
for the unbeliever but one of glory for all who trust in
Him. A warning is given not to think the day near at
hand. Certain things must first come to pass; "a falling
away," "a man of sin," "signs and lying
wonders." Thanksgiving that the
Thessalonians have been chosen to
salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit.
3. Conclusion (Ch. 3). Paul requests prayer for
himself that "the word of the Lord may have free course
and be glorified" with him; he also desires that the Lord
may direct their "hearts into the love of God and into the
patient waiting for Christ." Paul gives command to
discipline the disorderly and that every man earn his own
living. Exhortation to be not weary in well doing.
Salutation and benediction.
QUESTIONS
What can be said of epistolary writings; their place and
usefulness? Give some reasons for Paul's writings. What were the
qualifications of Paul? How are the Epistles best understood?
What can be said of the four groups and their characteristics?
What is the common plan? What is the supreme purpose? What
can be said of the first group of Epistles; First and Second
Thessalonians? What is the chief doctrinal point? The First
Epistle; what can be said of the founding of the church at
Thessalonica? What can be said of the occasion, time, and place of
writing? What are the contents? Give the four parts of the
principal divisions and chief points. The Second Epistle; what
can be said of the occasion, time, and place of writing? Give the
three parts of the principal divisions and chief points.
III. PAUL'S WRITINGS
STUDY VIII
THE OLD FAITHS AND THE NEW
SECOND GROUP OF EPISTLES
GALATIANS. FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS. ROMANS.
ANALYSIS
+Problems of Early Christianity+--The Old Faiths and the New.
The Great Question. The Jewish Faith. The Heathen Faith.
The New Faith in Christ. Practical Bearing upon Present
Day Living. The Epistles of this Group.
+The Epistle to the Galatians+--The Galatians. Time of Writing.
Occasion and Purpose. Principal Divisions and Chief Points.
+The Epistles to the Corinthians+--The Church at Corinth. The
City of Corinth.
+The First Epistle to the Corinthians+--Occasion and Purpose.
Place and Time. The Supremacy of Christ. Principal
Divisions and Chief Points.
+The Second Epistle to the Corinthians+--Occasion and Purpose.
Place and Time. Principal Divisions and Chief Points.
+The Epistle to the Romans+--The Church at Rome. Occasion and
Purpose. Place and Time. Central Thought. Principal
Divisions and Chief Points.
III. PAUL'S WRITINGS
STUDY VIII
THE OLD FAITHS AND THE NEW
SECOND GROUP OF EPISTLES
GALATIANS. FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS. ROMANS.
PROBLEMS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
+The Old Faiths and the New.+--In this second group
of Epistles, Galatians, First and Second Corinthians, and
Romans, we enter upon a period of conflict in which
Christianity is being defined, and differentiated from
Judaism and Heathenism. No great truth ever came into
the world without a battle for its right to the attention of
men.
The new faith in Christ made large claims for itself.
It marked an advance upon Judaism and maintained that
in Christ was fulfilled all the promises made by the
prophets of the coming of the Jewish Messiah. It radically
antagonized the heathen religions. It had a double task to win
men out of Judaism and heathenism. Only by a careful
study of these great doctrinal Epistles, and the circumstances
out of which they arose, can it be seen how really
great was this task.
+The Great Question+ was: "On what terms does God
save men? Does He owe salvation to any because of
what they have done, or does He bestow it as an
unmerited favor upon condition of trust and self-surrender?" Paul
maintained that the sole basis of salvation is the
grace of God through Jesus Christ to be appropriated by
faith on the part of man. This is still the great question.
+The Jewish Faith+ had been long in the world. Its
prophets had two great themes, the Messiah and the
Messianic Kingdom. All Israel, while observing feast and
fast days, the precepts of the Mosaic law and offering
sacrifices, looked forward to the coming of the Messiah
and the establishment of His kingdom upon earth, as the
supreme fulfillment of its hopes.
It is the contention of Paul in these Epistles that this
Messiah has come in the person of Jesus Christ and
fulfilled all the promises made to Israel, and that, through
faith in Him, believers are released from the observance
of the precepts of the Mosaic law.
There were two parties of Jews who sought to check
the advance of the early church, with its all sufficient
Savior. First, there were the Jews who denied any and
every claim of Christ to be the Messiah; of this party
were the rioters who drove Paul out of city after city and
sought to kill him in the temple. Second, there were the
Jewish Christians who "asserted that their faith was
Judaism with a new prophet; that the law of Moses and Mosaic
ceremonial practices were binding on Christians as well as
on unbelieving Jews; that Gentile believers must first
become proselytes to Judaism before they could become
Christians; and lastly that circumcision was the only
gateway to baptism." With the first class of Jews it was not
so difficult to deal, for they were out and out antagonists,
but the Jewish Christians, (who still clung to the Jewish
law) were constantly making trouble not only amongst the
Christian Jews, who had fully come out from under the
law of Moses and expressed their faith in Christ, but also
among the Christian Gentiles who had come out of the
heathen religions. The masterly arguments of Paul,
presented in Galatians and Romans, deal chiefly with the
doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone. In
Gal. 5:1-4 he calls the return to Jewish belief and
practice, "falling from grace."
+The Heathen Faith.+--The people of the Roman
empire were idolaters. Temples for the worship of idols
occupied prominent positions in every city. Some of
them were very beautiful, from an architectural point of
view. But the objects of worship, frequently, were of the
basest sort. This worship caused a notorious laxness of
view in regard to the relations between the sexes. This
state of things is not overstated by Paul in his epistle to
the Romans (1:18-23). It was this condition of idolatrous
worship which led to the decision of the Jerusalem
Council in regard to the Gentile converts (Acts 15:29).
The Christianity which Paul taught called for a pure and
upright life and a subjugation of human passion. We see
the effects of former idolatrous lives manifesting
themselves in the evils which Paul sought to correct in his
letters to the Corinthians. It was no small conflict in
which the Great Apostle to the Gentiles engaged when he
sought to cleanse, through Christ, the base idolatrous
hearts of the men of his times.
+The New Faith in Christ.+--Paul stands for spiritual
freedom in Christ and loyalty to Him as Divine Lord
without the necessity of observing the minute regulations
of the Jewish ritual. He insists upon purity of soul and
outward life as opposed to the laxness of the idolaters.
Each individual soul is related to Christ to whom it is
responsible.