The Epistles of Paul

Epistle as a GenreEpistle as a Genre

• What is an Epistle?

• What is the basic form of an Epistle?

• What was involved in sending a letter in the First Century?

The Epistles are to the Gospels The Epistles are to the Gospels what the Prophets are to the Torahwhat the Prophets are to the Torah

Torah

EpistlesGospels

Prophets

What are some of the “big ideas” What are some of the “big ideas” presented in Paul’s Epistles?presented in Paul’s Epistles?

Foundational Epistles

Romans1st & 2nd CorinthiansGalatians

EphesiansPhilippiansColossians

1st & 2nd Thessalonians

Prison Epistles

Prophetic Epistles

1st & 2nd TimothyTitusPhilemon

Pastoral Epistles

RomansRomans

What is the “big idea” in the What is the “big idea” in the Epistle to the Romans?Epistle to the Romans?

RomansRomans

The Righteousness of GodThe Righteousness of God

Chapters 1-8

The Righteousness of God has been The Righteousness of God has been revealed…revealed…

Chapters 9-11

Chapters 12-16

In judging sinners

In saving believers

In His dealings

with Israel

In the lives of those

who follow Him

Doctrinal PracticalObedience of Faith (1:5)

Obedience of Faith (1:5)

Obedience of Faith (16:26)

Obedience of Faith (16:26)

I am not ashamed of the gospel…I am not ashamed of the gospel…

• It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes

• In it the righteousness of God is revealed

How is the righteousness of God revealed in

the gospel?

How is the righteousness of God revealed in

the gospel?

• In the wrath of God toward those who sin (Romans 1-3)

• In the grace of God toward those who believe (Romans 4-8)

The Righteousness of God is The Righteousness of God is revealed…revealed…

• In judging the pagans who rejected In judging the pagans who rejected Him (Chapter 1)Him (Chapter 1)

• In judging the Jews who In judging the Jews who disobeyed Him (Chapter 2)disobeyed Him (Chapter 2)

• In judging all men who have In judging all men who have sinned against Him (Chapter 3)sinned against Him (Chapter 3)

Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

h[marton

Aorist active indicativeof a`marta,nw (hamartano)

Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

dikaiou,menoi

Present Passive Participleof dikaio,w (dikaioo)

Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

ca,riti Dative singularof ca,rij (charis)

Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

avpolutrw,sewj

Genative singular ofavpolu,trwsij (apolutrosis)

Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

i`lasth,rion

Accusative singular ofi`lasth,rioj (hilasterios)

Justification

Redemption

We sinnedWe sinned

Propitiation

God’s graceGod’s grace

How is a person

Justified?

Justification

Redemption

We sinnedWe sinned

Propitiation

God’s graceGod’s grace

How is a person

Justified?

Romans 4:1-2 Romans 4:1-2 What then shall we say that

Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Romans 4:3Romans 4:3For what does the Scripture

say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

evlogi,sqh

Aorist passive indicative oflogi,zomai (logizomai)

Romans 4:4-5 Romans 4:4-5 Now to the one who works,

his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

logi,zetai

Present passive indicativeof logi,zomai (logizomai)

ReckonedReckoned

Our sinfulness

ReckonedReckoned

Christ’s Righteousness

Reckoned

Our sinfulness

The Righteousness of God is The Righteousness of God is revealed…revealed…

• In reckoning men as righteous by crediting them with the righteousness of Christ (Chapter 4)

• In declaring men to be righteous on the basis of the reckoning described in the previous chapter (Chapter 5)

Romans 5:12 Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through

one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

One Man

Romans 5:13-14 Romans 5:13-14 …for until the Law sin was in

the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Why did Why did people die people die between between

Adam and Adam and Moses?Moses?

if the law did if the law did not come not come

until Mosesuntil Moses

If sin is not If sin is not reckoned reckoned

without lawwithout law

and

then

If death If death comes comes

through sinthrough sin

and

Adam’s sin was imputed to all Adam’s sin was imputed to all menmen

Romans 5:18-19 Romans 5:18-19 So then as through one

transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

The Righteousness of God is revealed…The Righteousness of God is revealed…

• In reckoning men as righteous by crediting them with the righteousness of Christ (Chapter 4)

• In declaring men to be righteous on the basis of the reckoning described in the previous chapter (Chapter 5)

What about sin?What about sin?

– Can we continue to live in sin? (6)– What about the sin that is still in our lives? (7)

• In adopting us as His children (Chapter 8)

• Not all Israel is Israel.• God is sovereign and able to chose

whom He wills.• Salvation is offered to all who believe.• Israel’s unbelief has resulted in

blessings to the Gentiles.• All Israel will be saved.

What about What about Israel?Israel?

What about What about Israel?Israel?

How can we see God as righteous when How can we see God as righteous when His own chosen people do not believe His own chosen people do not believe and receive His promises?and receive His promises?

Chapters 1-11

DoctrinalChapters 12-16

PracticalSo What?

So What?

I Urge you…I Urge you…

• To present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice

• Do not be conformed to this world• Be transformed by the renewing of your

mind

What is Legalism?What is Legalism?

GalatiansGalatiansChapters 1-2 Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6

History Doctrine Practice

Paul’sapostleship

& vindication come from

the Lord

Man is justifiedthrough faith

alone

We are to walkby faith and

love

RomansRomans• Calm reflection • Passionate, emotional

GalatiansGalatians

• Christianity in the study

• Christianity on the battlefield

• Later Epistle • Earlier Epistle

• Justification by faith set forth systematically

• Justification by faith defended from attacks

• Our Constitution • Our Declaration of Independence

Galatians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle (not sent from

men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…

Galatians 1:6-9 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:8-9Galatians 1:8-9

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

Paul and JerusalemPaul and Jerusalem

• Paul’s Gospel did not come from Jerusalem (Chapter 1)

• Paul’s Gospel did not change in Jerusalem (2:1-10)

• Paul’s gospel was not changed by Jerusalem when they came to Antioch (2:11-16)

Jerusalem

Antioch

Who hasBewitched

You? Did you receive the Spirit by the

works of the Law, or by

hearing with faith?

Are youso foolish?Having begun by

the Spirit, are you now being perfected

by the flesh?

Did you sufferso many things

in vain?

Does God givethe Spirit and

Miracles by theLaw or by Faith?

Salvation isSalvation isthrough faiththrough faith

Appeal toof Abraham

Appeal tothe Law

Appeal tothe Tutor

Appeal toAdoption

Appeal to the Covenant

Promise

Appeal tofriendshipAppeal to

Scripture

If you are free…If you are free…

Don’t be entangledin a yoke of bondage Don’t turn your

Freedom into anOpportunity for

The flesh

Walk bythe Spirit

Bear oneanother’sBurdens

Share allgood things

Do good toall men

Galatians 6:14-16Galatians 6:14-16 But may it never be that I

would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.