“New Testament Overview, Part 7: The Rest of Paul’s Epistles”

“New Testament Overview, Part 7: The Rest of Paul’s Epistles”

February 28, 2024

New Testament Overview
Part 7: The Rest of Paul’s Epistles

I. Introduction

We’ve looked at Romans, the first of the Pauline writings.
This Session: The remainder of the Pauline Epistles

1 & 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon

These were believers, just like us, struggling against the sin, the world, and the devil as they put their faith into practice.
Breaking them down further:

General Epistles
Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon [c. ad 61], Philippians [c. ad 62])
Pastoral Epistles (1& Timothy, Titus)

II. 1 & 2 Corinthians
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12–16).

AUDIENCE: Saints at Corinth (They wrote Paul, 1 Cor 7:1)
DATE: ad 56 & 56 (as well as the “severe letter,” 2 Cor 2:4)
THEME:

I — Correction (factions and sin plagued the church)
II — Defense of Apostleship (false teachers, “super apostles”)

OUTLINE

I.

I. Divisions in the Church (1 – 4) Concern
II. Disobedience in the Church (5 – 6) Condemnation
III. Difficulties in the Church (7 – 16) Counsel

II.

I. Character: Paul's Explanation of His Ministry (1 – 7)
II. Collection: Paul's Collection for the Saints (8 – 9)
III. Credentials: Paul's Defense of His Apostleship (10 – 13)

Paul probably visited Corinth after this to follow up.

III. Galatians
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:19–21).

AUDIENCE: Saints at Galatia
The Galatian Churches: Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (see Acts 13:14–14:23; 16:1–5)
DATE: ad 50–56
THEME: Justification by Faith
(they had been believing a false gospel!)
OUTLINE

I. Justification by faith defended (1 – 2)
II. Justification by faith explained (3 – 4)
III. Justification by faith applied (5 – 6)

Legalism can either come as a means of justification or as a means of maintaining justification!
Don’t mix law-keeping with the gospel (cf. Gal. 3:1–3).

IV. Ephesians
“from whom the whole body… causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph 4:11–16).

AUDIENCE: Saints at Ephesus
DATE: ad 61
THEME: Building up the Body of Christ
OUTLINE

I. Our Christian Position (1 – 3)
II. Our Christian Practice (4 – 6)

The gospel themes of predestination, redemption, and love lead into the practical section of the book, building up the whole church as well as the couples, families, and working relationships therein.
Our spiritual warfare (chapter six) also rests on our gospel promises!

V. Philippians
“I know how to get along with humble means… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philli. 4:12–13).

AUDIENCE: Saints at Philippi
DATE: ad 62
THEME: Unity/Joy in Christ
OUTLINE

I. Joy and Unity in Suffering
II. Joy and Unity in Submission
III. Joy and Unity in Salvation
IV. Joy and Unity in Sanctification

Rejoicing in all circumstances (1:21; 3:7; 4:4, 13)!

VI. Colossians
“Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to … things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ” Col. 2:16–17).

AUDIENCE: Saints at Colossae
DATE: ad 61
THEME: All-Sufficiency of Christ(people had a false view of Christ and were engaging in angel-worship, Jewish mysticism, asceticism, etc.)
OUTLINE

I. Sufficiency of Christ (1 – 2)
II. Submission to Christ (3 – 4)

VII. 1 & 2 Thessalonians
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” (1 Thess. 4:3–4).

AUDIENCE: Saints at Thessalonica
DATE: ad 50–51
THEME:

I — The Growth of a New Church (which includes eschatological teaching!)
II — Comfort and Correction (including, again, eschatology)

OUTLINE

I.

I. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (1)
II. Vindication before the Thessalonians (2 – 3)
III. Exhortation of the Thessalonians (4 – 5)

II.

I. Encouragement in Persecution (1)
II. Explanation of the Day of the Lord (2)
III. Exhortations to Readiness (3)

VIII. 1 & 2 Timothy
“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of…” (2 Tim. 3:14–15).

AUDIENCE: Timothy
DATE: ad 63 & 67
THEME:

I. — Shepherd's Manual (to a sometimes-timid pastor)
II. — Carrying on the Ministry (Paul’s last letter)

OUTLINE

I.

I. For Timothy – Personal (1 – 3)
II. For Timothy to the Church – Pastoral (4 – 6)

II.

I. Instructions for Spiritual Combat (1 – 3)
II. Commission to Spiritual Combat (4)

IX. Titus
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires…” (Titus 2:11–13).

AUDIENCE: Titus
DATE: ad 66
THEME: Sound Church and Sound People
(Titus had to set some remaining things in order)
OUTLINE

I. Leadership (1)
II. Congregation (2)
III. Lifestyle of Believer (3)

X. Philemon
“For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother…” (Phm 15–16).

AUDIENCE: Philemon
DATE: ad 61
THEME: From bondage to brotherhood in Christ; Usefulness (v. 16); Slave to saint; Human forgiveness; Christian diplomacy
OUTLINE

I. Praise of Philemon (1 – 7)
II. Plea to Philemon (8 – 17)
III. Pledge to Philemon (18 – 25)

XI. Conclusion

Christians!
Next Time: Hebrews