The Apostle Paul and His Letters (Bibleworld)

203 Pages·2005·2.4 MB·English

by  Edwin D. Freed

THE APOSTLE PAUL
AND HIS LETTERS
BibleWorld
Series Editor: Philip R. Davies, University of Shefeld
BibleWorld shares the fruits of modern (and postmodern) biblical scholarship not
only among practitioners and students, but also with anyone interested in what
academic study of the Bible means in the 21st century. It explores our ever-increas-
ing knowledge and understanding of the social world that produced the biblical
texts, but also analyses aspects of the bible’s role in the history of our civilization
and the many perspectives – not just religious and theological, but also cultural,
political and aesthetic – which drive modern biblical scholarship.
Recent and forthcoming in the series:
Sodomy: A History of a Christian Biblical Myth
Michael Carden
Yours Faithfully: Virtual Letters from the Bible
Edited by: Philip R. Davies
Israel’s History and the History of Israel
Mario Liverani
The Morality of Paul’s Converts
Edwin D. Freed
The Origins of the ‘Second’ Temple:
Persian Imperial Policy and the Rebuilding of Jerusalem
Diana Edelman
An Introduction to the Bible (Revised edition)
John Rogerson
THE APOSTLE PAUL
AND HIS LETTERS
EDWIN D. FREED
Published by

UK: Equinox Publishing Ltd
Unit 6, The Village,
101 Amies St.,
London, SW11 2JW

US: DBBC,
28 Main Street,
Oakville, CT 06779

www.equinoxpub.com

First published 2005

© Edwin D. Freed 2005

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission
in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Freed, Edwin D.
The Apostle Paul and his letters / Edwin D. Freed.-- 1st ed.
p. cm. -- (Bibleworld)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-84553-002-0 -- ISBN 1-84553-003-9 (pbk.)
1. Paul, the Apostle, Saint. 2. Bible. N.T. Epistles of
Paul--Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title. II. Bible world
(London, England)
BS2506.3.F74 2005
227'.06--dc22
2004013708

ISBN 1-84553-002-0 (hardback)
ISBN 1-84553-003-9 (paperback)

Typeset by CA Typesetting, www.sheffieldtypesetting.com
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe, Chippenham, Wiltshire
eISBN: 1845530039
Carey A. Moore
first student
then colleague
always a friend

CONTENTS

Preface xiii
Abbreviations xvi
Map: The Journeys of Paul xviii

INTRODUCTION 1
How and Where the Story Began 1
Significant Phenomena behind the Story 3
Date and Arrangement of the Letters 3
Context and Nature of the Letters 4
Undisputed and Disputed Letters 5
Paul as a Person 5
Paul and the Christ Movement 7
The Independence of Paul’s Churches 8
The Designation ‘Christian’ 8
Origin of the Designation ‘Christian’ 10

Chapter 1
PAUL AND THE BOOK OF ACTS 12
Common Features in Paul’s Letters and Acts 12
Acts and the Gospel of Luke 13
Possible Sources for Acts 15
Acts as History 16
Acts as Theology 17
The Speeches in Acts 19
The Speeches and Luke’s Theology 19
The Relationship between Luke and Paul 22
Date and Place of Writing for Luke–Acts 23
Luke and the Letters of Paul 23

Chapter 2
PRIMARY PURPOSE, STRUCTURE, AND CONTENT OF ACTS 26
The Work of Peter in Jerusalem 27
Stephen, his Speech, and Death 27
The Work of Philip 28
viii The Apostle Paul and His Letters
Baptism and the Authority of the Apostles 28
Baptism, the Holy Spirit, and the Laying on of Hands 29
Paul’s Views on Baptism 30
Paul’s Vision on the Road to Damascus 32
More Work of Peter 33
The Work of Paul and his Companions 33
Paul’s Arrest, Trials, and Voyage to Rome 34
Summary 36

Chapter 3
PAUL’S PRIMARY MESSAGES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT 37
For Jews 37
Jesus Is the Messiah (Christ) 37
For Gentiles 39
God Alone Is God 39
Faithfulness toward God and the Holy Spirit 40
For Jews and Gentiles 40
Jesus Is Son of God and Lord 40
Development of Paul’s Beliefs about Jesus 42
Paul’s Special Religious Experience 42
Introspection, Retrospection, and Progression 45
Paul as a Mission Personage 48

Chapter 4
PAUL’S EARLY LETTERS: 1 AND 2 THESSALONIANS 49
1 Thessalonians 49
Background and Purposes of the Letter 49
Gentiles and Polytheism 51
Believers and their Behavior 53
The End of the Age and Believers Who Had Died 54
Paul’s Challenge to Those Still Living 55
Summary 57
2 Thessalonians 57
Summary 58

Chapter 5
PAUL’S EARLY LETTERS: 1 CORINTHIANS 1–6 60
The Beginning of the Church at Corinth 60
Apollos Comes onto the Scene 60
Paul at Corinth 63
Paul’s Correspondence with the Church at Corinth 64
Contents ix
The Situation at Corinth and Paul’s Response 66
Divisions among Members 66
Paul’s Rivals 68
Immorality 68
Lawsuits before Unbelievers 69
Morality and the Kingdom of God 70
What Paul Does Not Say 71
About Repentance 71
About Forgiveness 73
Paul’s Thought and That of Hebrews 74

Chapter 6
PAUL’S EARLY LETTERS: 1 CORINTHIANS 7–16 AND 2 CORINTHIANS 76
1 Corinthians 7–16 76
About What the Corinthians Had Written to Paul 76
Paul’s Response to the Corinthians’ Letter 76
About Marriage 76
Paul and the Commandments of God 77
About Eating Meat from a Sacrificed Animal 77
Paul Defends Himself 78
About Idolatry 78
About the Lord’s Supper 79
About Conduct at Worship 79
About Spiritual Gifts 81
About the Resurrection of the Dead 81
About Various Matters 82
Summary 82
2 Corinthians 10–13 82
The Situation in Corinth That Evoked These Chapters 82
Paul and his Rivals 83
Paul’s Response to the Situation 84
2 Corinthians 1–9 85
Summary 87

Chapter 7
LETTERS FROM PAUL’S MID-CAREER: GALATIANS 89
Common Core of Material in Galatians and Romans 89
Where Did the Galatians Live? 89
When Was Galatians Written? 90
The Main Problem in Galatia 90
Paul’s Response to the Problem 92
Paul and his Adversaries (Autobiographical) 92