The book of Philippians is often described as the “friendship letter” due to Paul’s warm tone and considerate warnings to be aware of false missionaries. Paul thoroughly describes what living a Christian life should look like and describes it as remaining unified under the gospel, rejecting opposing teachings, and enduring suffering for one’s beliefs. Paul… Continue reading →
Basically, the letter of Philemon is the letter to single person named Philemon while Paul was in the prison; unlike other letters to the various churches. The letter specifically reveals event between Philemon and Onesimus; a runaway slave. Onesimus was one of slaves that Philemon has. According to Ehrman, Philemon was described as a wealthy… Continue reading →
a) Paul was writing to the Galatians in order to scold them, and correct them in their behavior and change in belief. Apparently someone else came to them preaching a contrary message to Paul’s, and Paul is “astonished” at this (1:6). Paul then goes on to defend his own authority as a true apostle, and… Continue reading →
In Galatians 2:15-21, Paul’s basic argument was a response to a group of opponents going against what Paul has been preaching. (Ehrman does point out however, that in Galatians we are only getting the side of the Gentile opponents through Paul’s viewpoint, so essentially it is a one sided story.) These opponents main point is… Continue reading →
As Paul writes his letter, there is a subtle and distinct frustration that Paul has with his people just as Jesus had with his Apostles. The frustration comes as he learns about problems from Chloe’s people (which are unknown), these problems include sexual immorality, collections, offering food to idols and speaking in tongues. This division… Continue reading →
The reason why Paul had to write to the churches in Galatia is because the new population of Gentile followers in Galatia were ‘unsettled’ about the issues centered on the application of the Mosaic laws, specifically, the issue with circumcision and whether Gentiles should follow the Jewish laws. Also according to Ehrman, Paul might be… Continue reading →
Corinth, was a large and prosperous city, major center of trade and communication. In Paul’s time it was a cosmopolitan place, home of a wide range of philosophers and religions. Paul’s mission was to spread the world that Jesus was soon to come again. Until then, believers must live in the world and live how… Continue reading →
In 11:22 it is revealed that the superapostles are of Jewish ancestry as can be seen when Paul says, “Are they Hebrews? So am I.” It can also be assumed that the superapostles were very skilled orators because Paul acknowledges that “[he] may be untrained in speech, but not in knowledge” (2 Corinthians 11:6) Erhman… Continue reading →
