Introduction to the Bible – Week 5
Editors’ note:
italics (lower case or ALL CAPS) show what students should write in their student outline
bold (including bold italics and bold ALL CAPS) shows what appears in the student outline
regular text is used for lecture notes; ALL CAPS are used for emphasis
Are there any questions from your reading?
New Testament: Epistles
Bible books:
Timeline:
The early church grows and Jerusalem is destroyed (70 AD).
Many of the churches written to experienced persecution or false teaching. Some suffered from both.
Paul’s Life and Letters
Note to teachers: this is another brief, high altitude overview. The PowerPoint file has a map.
Paul’s conversion & early ministry (Acts 9:1-30; 11:19-30)
Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey (Acts 13 & 14)
Galatians Written
The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey (Acts 16:6-18:22)
1 & 2 Thessalonians written
1 Corinthians written
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-21:14)
Romans & 2 Corinthians written
Paul’s Trip to Jerusalem, to Rome & Imprisonment (Acts 21:15-28:31)
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, & Philemon written
Release & Further Travels
1 Timothy & Titus written
Paul’s Second Roman Imprisonment
2 Timothy written
What is an Epistle?
A letter – written from one party to another. When we read an epistle, we’re reading someone else’s mail! The epistles were written by APOSTLES (e.g. Paul, Peter, John) to CHURCHES (Philippi - Philippians, Colossae – Colossians) or INDIVIDUALS (Timothy, Titus, Philemon).
An OCCASIONAL document.
What prompted Paul to write to the Colossians?
To encourage them (1:3-8)
To warn them (2:1-4; 2:8; 2:16-23)
To strengthen their faith in Jesus (1:15,16; 2:9,10)
Key features of the Epistles
The Epistles were written during the New Covenant.
The Law
Under the New Covenant:
The Old
Covenant (the Law) is obsolete (Hebrews 8:13).
The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
Like Christians today, the readers of the Epistles lived under the New Covenant. Like us they were indwelt by the Spirit. For this reason, more than any other part of scripture, the Epistles speak directly to us.
The Epistles root spiritual truths in everyday experience..
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
Also: the truths of Philippians emerge from Paul’s imprisonment (1:12-26) and therefore have greater credibility (4:10,11“content in all circumstances”).
The Epistles LOOK BACK at the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Christ’s death and resurrection are his “finished work.” The letters unfold how that work applies to us. They show us how to personally benefit from what Jesus accomplished.
An important relationship you will see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has DONE for us.
“This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.” – 1 John 4:10,11
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Love each other
Ask: What has God DONE for us?
He first loved us
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and what God has DONE for us?
Since (or because) he loved us, we ought to love one another
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions… Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
-Colossians 2:13-17
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Discard formalism & the teachers of formalism
Formalism involves rituals(“festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come”)
When Paul says “let know one act as your judge” in these matters, he is authorizing them to disobey and refute those teachers.
Ask: What has God DONE for us?
He made us alive and forgave us
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and what God has DONE for us?
Because the substance has come (Jesus) we can discard the shadows (the OT rituals) and relate personally to Jesus.
The Epistles _look forward___ to Christ’s return.
Ask: How should I live in light of the fact that Jesus will one day return?
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (read)
1 John 2:15-17 (read)
These truths (rewards in the next life and the fact that the word system is passing away) should impact our values. Investing in people rather than temporal things indicates belief in eternal values.
How to do an Epistle Overview
1. Read the letter in one sitting. (NOTE: The students were to read Colossians for last week’s homework)
2. Reconstruct the “occasion” for the letter: NOTE: these are not exhaustive inductive studies—just some sample verses.
Colossians
|
Author |
Audience |
Opponents |
|
Who wrote the letter?
Paul
What information does the author provide about himself?
1:1, 7 2:1 4:10
|
Who is the letter written to?
Christians in Colossae
What information does the author provide about his audience?
1:4-6
|
Does the author mention anyone who opposes God’s work? If so, who are they?
False teachers
What information does the author provide about the opponents?
2:4, 8, 16-23
|
Summarize:
Paul wrote to encourage a church he had not planted, and to warn them about counterfeit spirituality.
3. Outline the letter by writing a short title for each paragraph.
|
Colossians: Paragraph Titles (NASB) |
|
1:3-8 the transforming power of God’s word Faith, hope, and love are evidence of transformation. Paul reminds them that cause of the transformation is the word of God. 1:9-14 prayer for continued transformation Many character qualities are mentioned (patience, steadfastness, etc.), but they are all part of “walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all respects.” Again, at the root of it all, is the truth (verse 9 “spiritual wisdom and understanding” ). 1:15-23 the supremacy of Jesus He Paul argues for not just spirituality, but Christ-centered spirituality. Jesus is not just a great teacher, but the one who made the universe! Paul first establishes the supremacy of Jesus, so he can establish the effectiveness of His work on the cross (2:9-15).
|
4. Identify main themes in the letter (Colossians).
Ask: Are there any repeated words and ideas?
The danger of deception & the supremacy of Jesus.
New Testament: Prophecy
Bible books: Revelation
Key historical events:
The Book of Revelation describes how Jesus will bring about an end to this present phase of history and re-establish his rule.
Quick summary:
Written by the apostle John in about 95 A.D. when he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos and received a vision from Christ. This was a time of widespread persecution of the fledgling Christian movement.
Has some of the characteristics of an epistle (see 1:4-6), but is essentially a prophetic book (see 1:3 “the words of this prophecy”).
Has lessons for daily living but also provides key details about future events.
Probably the most widely misused and misinterpreted book in the Bible.
Ties together many biblical themes we’ve been studying throughout the course – a fitting conclusion to an amazing story.
PURPOSE: To strengthen Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ authority over human history
Evil will intensify as this age draws to an end . . . but Jesus will have the last word.
See Gary DeLashmutt’s Central Teaching series on the book of Revelation for a good introduction.
What’s next?
Are you going to be reading and applying the Bible to your life one month from now? A year from now? A decade from now?
The key to continued learning of the Word and continued motivation to learn is to be a ___DOER_______ of the Word.
_______DOING_______ LEADS TO LEARNING
Example: sharing your faith tends to drive the message deeper into you and you learn that God is with you (as per Matt 28:20) in ways you could not if you don’t share your faith.
Example: financial generosity leads to learning about God’s faithfulness in our financial life.
Example: going to fellowship with an others-centered attitude when we are tired and/or depressed leads to learning that it is “more blessed to give than receive.”
Doers are more motivated to keep reading and studying their Bible because living the Christian life brings up questions and throws us back on God for help from his word. Further, we find ourselves involved with people who have struggles and questions. This motivates us to learn so we can help them.
Matt. 7:24-27 (read)
Things you can DO that will lead to further learning and motivation:
NOTE: Go throw these briefly, quoting some of the scriptures but not opening them. Try to convey how much these activities have helped you.
Get involved in a learning community where you receive & give truth in the context of close relationships (Col. 3:16; Eph 4:15,16).
Develop a habit of regular, prayerful, scripture reading (Ps. 119).
See reading plans below
Be responsive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as He leads you out on His mission to share the truth (Matt. 28:18-20; Gal. 5:18, 25; Acts 16:6-10).
Learn to engage in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-19).
Get involved in corporate prayer that is based on Biblical priorities (Matt. 18:19,20)
Additional tips
1. Set specific goals for Bible reading
Helpful Bible Reading Plans
Discipleship Journal Bible Reading plans
www.navpress.com/Magazines/DJ/BibleReadingPlans.asp
The Original Discipleship Journal® Bible Reading Plan – Readings from four places in the Scripture every day: a Gospel, the Old Testament, an Epistle and the Wisdom Literature.
The Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan – Readings from two places in the Scripture every day: an Old or New Testament book and the Wisdom Literature.
Carson, D.A., For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1998).
2.
Memorize scripture
3. Use the Study Center
4. If you haven’t taken Christian Growth yet, consider taking it as soon as you can. If you have taken Christian Growth, we encourage you to sign up for Christian Ministry. The Christian Ministry series provides a great foundation for a lifetime of ministry.