Why is it more difficult to interpret Paul’s letters than it seems?
Paul’s letters are more difficult to interpret than they seem because they are occasional documents. They were written for a specific reason to a specific group with specific instruction for their situation. These letters contain valuable instruction for us, but only when we have an understanding of what the occasion was that these letters were written.
How does the fact that letters are occasional documents (as opposed to literary texts, which may be non-occasional) influence the reading of letters?
These letters are one side of a “conversation.” We must realize that we don’t have “all” of the information pertaining to the occasion or circumstances they were written for or to. The Fee and Stuart explain it as being similar to hearing one side of a phone conversation. We only hear one side of the conversation, we don’t hear the specific questions or the information on the other end of the phone.
Another important aspect of these letters is that they contain “task theology,” not “stated theology.” The epistles are not treatises.1 They are examples of how the writer’s of the Biblical letters apply their theological principles, beliefs convictions and standards but they are not explanations of the theology itself. The epistles, as explained by Fee and Stuart, are full of theology, but it is applied theology. (p 58)
Why do Fee and Stuart stress the importance of reading the whole epistle multiple times?
Fee ad Stuart stress the importance of reading the epistles multiple times and as a whole for a couple of reasons. One is to see the “big view” or the epistle in whole view. This allows for the reader to begin to see things like the “tone” tha...
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... Christians view the Old Testament narratives as intended to teach a “moral lesson.” The third reason listed that often the Old Testament narratives contain implicit teachings or affirmations of other explicit teachings found elsewhere in the Bible. (pp 92-93).
In various places of the text Fee and Stuart have spoken in the negative of attempts to “get around” various teachings to have them keep from contradicting their doctrinal beliefs or stances. Similarly, the Old Testament narratives can be used, poorly I may add, to support or enforce variable desires that a Christian would like to place on others. Fee and Stuart offered the example of the building of the temple as “proof” that God wants a church to build a new building; or the use of 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 as a politically rally cry to Christians as a promise explicitly to them, for their direct situation.
By utilizing this repetition in his letter made sure that Jefferson is alerted and come to the realization of Banneker’s opposing viewpoint on slavery. Furthermore, Banneker included dictions such as “suffer,” “injustice”, “serious,” and “groaning.” This effectively enhances the issue of the horrible condition and treatment the slave received during late 1700s. In addition, these dictions helps conveys “how pitiable” that Jefferson didn’t entitles the rights given by nature to everyone when he is “fully convinced” by this belief. The
I have always seen scripture as the Apostle Paul stated in his letter to Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). I see this statement of the Apostle Paul’s directed more to the OT, because the OT would have been readily available to most NT churches of that time period. The churches would have still been receiving portions of the NT scripture well after the Apostle Paul 's statement in 2 Timothy 3:16. For a person to truly understand the scripture we must be careful that our presuppositions do not hinder or distort the scripture and its original meaning. When studying scripture I always look to challenge my own personal
Aquinas, St. Thomas. COMMENTARY on SAINT PAUL'S EPISTLE to the GALATIANS. Trans. F. R. Larcher. Albany: Magi Books, 1996.
Brown, David, D, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. John. Crosswalk Inc. 1996.Byzantine Greek Translation of the Book of John.Harris, Hall. Commentary on the Gospel of John. Biblical Studies Press. 1996. Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry Complete Commentary. www.biblestudytools.net1996.Johnson, Barton W. People's New Testament Commentary. Crosswalk Inc. 1999. www.biblestudytools.net.1999.Bryant, Beauford. Krause, Mark. The College Press NIV Commentary John. College Press. 1998.
Lea., Thomas D. and Black., David Alan. 2003. The New Testament It’s Background and Message. Nashville, Tennessee: Published by B&H Academic.
In his article “Applying the Old Testament Law Today”, J. Daniel Hays brings out many positive and negative reasons why some believers tend to ignore many Old Testament Laws and embrace others. Hays emphasize how different evangelical scholars use moral, civil and ceremonial laws to help believers know whether a particular Mosaic Law applies to them. (Hays, 22) Ironically, we were taught in church and Bible study different ways to apply Matthew 25:39, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, to our daily living. Once an individual put this into action, they will begin to understand the true meaning of giving and how to love the way Jesus directed us to in the Bible.
The progression of the letter starts with an introduction by Paul where he greets and bless his audience, the church of Ephesus, and introduces himself. It follows on explaining that they have been predestined in God's plan for His glory. It continues by stating that we have dead because of our sins but now we ar...
An awareness of the historical-cultural background of Paul’s letter to Philemon will aid in interpretation of the text. The information gleamed should allow for a greater contextual appreciation. With this knowledge in hand, the reader can grasp a deeper understanding of the theological teachings of the book of Philemon.
...pse." In Current Issues in New Testament Interpretation, edited by W. Klaasen and G.F. Snyder, 23-37. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1962.
Discuss this statement and show how your critical understanding of the text has been strengthened by at least two different readings.
Awwad,Johnny 2011. From Saul to Paul: The Conversion of Paul the Apostle. Theological Review vol 32, pgs 1-14
Every author depicts information in light of purposes and themes. Sometimes these themes are moral issues, emotions, or existential concepts. In the case of the Old Testament, the authors wrote books that highlighted various ideas such as love, obedience, and suffering. Despite various subtopics, the Old Testament clearly demonstrates the theme of God’s faithfulness to his followers.
“Clients have reported that they reread letters Epston sent them years earlier to remind themselves what they went through and how far they have come” (Nichols, 2013, p. 281). For example, my fourth grade teacher made me to write a letter of how I envision myself three years from now. The letter was given to the teacher with an envelope. When I was in seven grade, my counselor wanted to talk to me. She pulled out from my files an envelope and gave me the letter that I wrote in fourth grade. When I read the letter, I was able to see how much I had improve over the years. My grammar got better and I was accomplishing in keeping my grades
Upon reading his letters on the accounts of Jesus, I am deeply disturbed by Paul’s numerous contradictions, jarring hypocrisies, blatant anti-Semitism, and demeaning antifeminism. Even more troubling is Paul’s consistent failure to not ever quote Jesus, but to make the recipients of his letters rely solely on the fact that God and Jesus consecrated him, Paul—according to Paul, himself (of course). Paul believes that he has been chosen, much like Abraham, Noah, Moses and the Prophets to carry out Jesus’ demands of how people should live until Jesus returns. However, unlike Abraham, Noah, Moses, and the Prophets, Paul does not dictate t...
Morality and the Bible & nbsp; Both the legal and salvation philosophies of the Old and New Testaments reflect those of the cultures around them, due to much copying and borrowing of laws and ideas. Furthermore, all societies around the world have similar moral and legal codes -- which is certainly not an accident. & nbsp; Interestingly enough, the moral codes of the world's religions bear a striking resemblance to each other, with only minor variations. Religions as different as Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism all have proscriptions against killing, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. This is not an accident, for reasons we shall explore below. & nbsp; Christians may then object that there is something unique about the Bible that makes it a superior moral code.