Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Understand Paul’s pastoral goals and strategies for each of his letters

• Explain controversies concerning authorship, pseudonymity and authority of various letters

• Describe important cultural practices such as patronage, reciprocity, honor and shame

• Draw nearer to Jesus as you explore NT Christology across numerous texts

• Understand the challenges first-century Christians faced when they rejected their pagan roots

• Evaluate your own conduct and attitudes as Paul, Peter, John and others speak to you from the ancient past

Course Outline

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

• Our Scripture Is Somebody Else’s Mail

Unit 1: Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

• Introducing Paul the Persecutor

• Introducing Paul the Preacher

• Introduction to the Galatian Church

• Gospel of the Rivals

• Paul’s Goal for His Converts

• Who Are You Going to Trust?

• Life in the Spirit

Unit 2: The Thessalonian Letters

• The Situation in Thessalonica

• Timothy’s Visit

• Insulating the Converts from Social Shame

• Affirming the Christian’s Honor

• Answering the Converts’ Questions

• Authorship of 2 Thessalonians

• Paul’s Goals in 2 Thessalonians

• Paul and the Thessalonians: Continued Ministry and Reflections

Unit 3: The Corinthian Letters

• The City of Corinth

• The History of Paul’s Relationship with the Corinthians

• Second Corinthians: One Letter or Many?

• Pastoral Issues of 1 Corinthians: Part 1

• Pastoral Issues of 1 Corinthians: Part 2

• Paul’s Reflections on Ministry

• Paul on Stewardship

• Did 2 Corinthians Work?

Unit 4: The Letter to the Romans

• Introducing Paul’s Letter to the Romans

• Romans 1–8 as Pastoral Word

• Romans 9–15 as Pastoral Word

• Paul’s Personal Goals for Romans

• Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 5: Philemon, Colossians, and Ephesians

• The Story behind Philemon

• Paul’s Goals for Philemon

• Paul’s Strategy in Philemon

• The Problem in Colossae

• Paul’s Goals for Colossians

• Authorship of Colossians

• Colossians as an Authentic Pauline Letter

• Authorship of Ephesians

• Situation behind Ephesians

• Central Theme of Ephesians

• Contributions of Colossians and Ephesians

Unit 6: The Letter to the Philippians

• Paul’s Relationship with the Philippians

• Paul’s Location in Philippians

• One Letter or Several?

• The Reason for Philippians

• Paul’s Strategy in Philippians

Unit 7: Letters to Paul’s Delegates: Timothy and Titus

• The Implied Setting of the Pastoral Letters

• The Question of Authenticity: Part 1

• The Question of Authenticity: Part 2

• The Question of Authenticity: Part 3

• The Question of Authenticity: Part 4

• Principal Emphases of the Pastoral Epistles: Part 1

• Principal Emphases of the Pastoral Epistles: Part 2

• Ongoing Challenge of the Pastorals

Unit 8: The Letter “to the Hebrews”

• Introduction to Hebrews and Its Audience

• Addressees’ Background and Presenting Challenges

• Who Wrote Hebrews?

• The Pastoral Strategy of Hebrews

• Despising Shame: Exemplars of the Faith

• Reinterpreting Experiences of Disgrace

• Nurturing a Supportive Faith Community

• Responding to Divine Grace with Appropriate Gratitude: Part 1

• Responding to Divine Grace with Appropriate Gratitude: Part 2

• Contributions of Hebrews to Early Christianity

Unit 9: The Epistle of James

• Introduction to James

• James as Wisdom Literature

• James and Paul

• Major Emphases of James: Part 1

• Major Emphases of James: Part 2

Unit 10: The First Letter of Peter

• The Pastoral Challenge of 1 Peter

• Who Wrote 1 Peter and When?

• Peter’s Pastoral Response and Rhetorical Strategy

• Reinterpreting Experiences of Suffering

• Redefining the “Real” Challenge

• Shaping Relationships with Outsiders and Insiders

Unit 11: Jude and 2 Peter

• Introducing Jude and 2 Peter

• The Epistle of Jude and Its Setting

• Pastoral Challenge and Authorship of 2 Peter

• Grace and Response in 2 Peter

• Censuring and Answering the Opponents

• Contributions of Jude and 2 Peter

Unit 12: The Johannine Letters

• Introducing the Johannine Letters

• Authorship and Genre

• Believing Means Loving

• Sin and Righteousness

Unit 13: The Revelation of John

• The Genres of Revelation

• Who Wrote Revelation?

• The Date of Revelation

• The Situation of the Addressees: Part 1

• The Situation of the Addressees: Part 2

• The Public Story of Rome

• The Public Image of the Emperors

• John’s Unveiling

• John’s Goals

• Keeping the Words of This Prophecy

Conclusion

• Living the Challenge of the New Testament

Details

• Title: NT222 Introducing the Epistles and Revelation: Their Setting and Message

• Instructor: David A. deSilva

• Publisher: Lexham Press

• Publication Date: 2016

• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education

• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources

• Courses: 1

• Video Hours: 12