©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Chapter 18 Continuing the Pauline Tradition: 2 Thessalonians,...
Transcript of ©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Chapter 18 Continuing the Pauline Tradition: 2 Thessalonians,...
©McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Chapter 18
Continuing the Pauline Tradition: 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians, the Pastoral Epistles, 1 Clement, and
the Epistle of Barnabas
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Key Topics/Themes
• Letters written in Paul’s name after his death
• 2 Thessalonians: reinterpretation of Pauline eschatology
• Colossians: Jesus Christ as cosmic power living within the believer
• Ephesians: Jew and Gentile united in one church
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Key Topics (cont’d.)
• Pastorals: warnings against heresy; importance of adhering to established church tradition
• 1 Clement and Barnabas: methods of church organization; interpreting the Hebrew Bible
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Six Disputed Pauline Letters
• 2 Thessalonians
• Colossians
• Ephesians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
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The Problem of Pseudonymity
• The disputed Pauline letters not “forgeries”
• Common for disciples to compose works perpetuating their masters’ thoughts
• Practice known as pseudonymity• Common in Hellenistic Judaism and in
early Christianity
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Second Letter to the Thessalonians
• A different eschatology from 1 Thessalonians
• Eschatology at the core of disputes about authenticity of 2 Thessalonians
• Persecutors of Thessalonian Christians will soon taste God’s wrath
• Punishment of the wicked may not be imminent
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Placing the Second Coming in Perspective
• The apocalyptic signs that will precede the Parousia of Christ
– The final rebellion against God’s rule– Appearance of the “wicked man”– Withdrawal of the “Restrainer”
• Traditional (non-Pauline?) signs of the end
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Letter to the Colossians
• A small town• Church founded by Paul’s associate
Epaphras• Purpose and organization
– Christ is superior to all other cosmic powers– Receiving Christ’s indwelling Spirit initiates
Christians into Christ’s mystery cult
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Christ, Source of Cosmic Unity
• Jesus as the mediator of creation
• Mystical initiation into Christ
• Obligations of initiation: living a pure and upright life
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Letter to the Ephesians
• The case of Ephesians as pseudonymous
• Date and organization
• God’s plan of salvation through the united body of Christ (1:3-3:21)
• Instructions for living in the world (4:1-6:20)
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The Pastorals: Letters to Timothy and Titus
• Most scholars: these letters post-Pauline• Author called the “Pastor” because he gives
pastoral advice to ostensible recipients, Timothy and Titus
• Stresses teaching as the norm for Christian ministry
• Stresses firm opposition to false teaching
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1 Timothy
• Attacking false teachings (heresies)
• Qualifications for church offices
• Rankings within the church membership reflect social order of secular Hellenistic culture
• Role of women
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2 Timothy
• The Pastoral Epistle most closely resembling Paul’s undisputed letters
• 2 Timothy 4:6-22 has best claim for Pauline authorship
• Majority of scholars still see all of book as pseudonymous
• Appearance of false teachings as sign of the last days
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2 Timothy (cont’d.)
• The Hebrew Bible as the standard for religious orthodoxy
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Letter to Titus
• Historical Titus: Greek missionary associate of Paul
• Organization of book
• Qualifications for Christian ministry (1:4-2:15)
• Christian behavior in an ungodly world (3:1-11)
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The Pastor’s Contribution
• Attempts to promote continuity of authority in the church
• Deemphasis on charismatic, Spirit-led religion found in Paul’s letters
• Emphasis instead on correct doctrine and ecclesiastical authority
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1 Clement
• Does not claim to be by Paul
• Explicitly appeals to authority of Paul’s memory
• Written to church at Corinth
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Teachings of 1 Clement
• Warns Corinthians against removing church presbyters (“elders”)
• Principle of apostolic succession means these church leaders inherited their authority from Christ and then from his apostles
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The Epistle of Barnabas
• Widely read and considered canonical by some early Christians
• Written in name of Barnabas, Paul’s early missionary companion
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Teachings of Barnabas
• Hebrew scriptures to be understood symbolically as pointing to Christ
• Jewish dietary laws not to be taken literally• Contrasts the “Two Ways” of living life
– Way of Light– Way of Darkness
• Recalls similar language in the Didache
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Summary
• Post-Pauline Christians contended for Pauline lagacy
• 2 Thessalonians and Colossians closer to genuine Pauline thought than Ephesians and the Pastorals
• Epistle of Barnabas develops allegorical mode of scriptural interpretation in Galatians