THE WORLD OF PAUL - A. Religion Condition

-urban man
-the context of the letter is different from the Gospels

What was it to like, to live in this city

A. RELIGION CONDITION
-when Paul began his activity, he did not preach in vacuum but in contrast with the religious leaders / beliefs / system and also philosophical questions

1. Religion System
a. Worship of the Graeco Roman Pantheon

Rome was originally an animist
Contact with Greek civilization led into a fusion of the Greek deities and the Roman deities
The Greek God Zeus became identified with the Roman god Jupiter, etc.
Poseidon with Neptune
Hades with Plato

During the period of the NT, these belief is in decline

Acts 19:27
Asia: Ephesus - Artemis
- god of hunting, wild animals
-known as Diana
-twin sister of Apollo

Course Outline

I. The World of Paul
A. Graeco-Roman City of the 1st Century CE
Religious Dimenension
Political Situation
Socio-Economic Condition

II. The Person of Paul
A. Curriculum Vitae
B. Conversion of Paul
C. Chronology of Paul

III. The Letters of Paul
A. General Issues
1. Considered letters /epistles
2. Different Kinds of Letters
3. How are Letters sent/ mode of sending
4. Structure of Pauline Letters
B. Individual Letters
1 Thessalonians NBJC
to Romans

Why the Need to Study Paul and His Letters

1. There is a value because we miss a lot of our Christian Tradition

qualitatively - they represent a canonical theology, a formative one
2. There is a historical Value - it presents us the earliest reports of the events in the early church
e.g. Acts 15; Gal 2, 1-10
- earliest statements of the kerygma
-earliest account of the eucharist 1 Cor 11
-earliest information about God
-earliest idea of parousia
-early idea of christian Morality 1 Cor 5, etc

3. There is a value in the liturgical and Spirtual Value
e.g. the grace of our Lord.. 2 cOr 13:3
formula of consecration 1 Cor 11:23

4. There is a Theological Value

Galatians and romans
Kenosis Phil 2,6-10 Christology, Fredom

5. There is Ecclessiological Value
- many of the first moments in the church are inspired by the letters of paul
e.g. Ecumenical Movement (It was Luther's readingf of Gal, and romans etc.)

Charismatic Movements 1 Cor 12/14 Gal 5

Do they resemble the real community 1 Cor 12 14 - charismatic Issue
agape LOVE
oikodon Building (edification of the community)

Study Paul to avoid abuse in the charismatic groups

Difficulties:
1. Reading a Scripture

Literary Form
Distance
Context

2. The NT/Bible is really a small library of Christian Faith, and the Letters is just a part of this mini library

There are times that they are not in harmony
e.g. Rom 3:28
James 2:24

Rom Christ is the end of the law contrary to Mt 5:17-18

One needs to be cautious in reading and in interpreting

Challenge: How to read Paul together with the Other Books
1. Address to community
2. Address to Individual

Current bible
Arranged by Length - Romans
- indicates that the letters were edited

Rom 16 is a late addition
How come he knew a lot of people in Rome?
Gloss - marginal note that has crept into the text e.g. 1 Cor 1:12

Read J. Fitzmayer, art 79 New Jerome Bible Commentary