1 Corinthians

The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians is the seventh book of the New Testament. The book, originally written in Greek, was a letter from Paul of Tarsus and Sosthenes to the Christians of Corinth, Greece.

This epistle contains some of the best-known phrases in the New Testament:

- "all things to all men" (9:22)
- "without love, I am nothing" (13:2)
- "through a glass, darkly" (13:12)
- "when I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child" (13:11).

There is scholarly consensus that Paul is the actual author. The letter is quoted or mentioned by the earliest of sources, and is included in every ancient canon, including that of Marcion. The epistle was written from Ephesus (16:8), a city on the west coast of today's Turkey, about 180 miles by sea from Corinth. According to Acts of the Apostles, Paul founded the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17), then spent approximately three years in Ephesus (Acts 19:8, 19:10, 20:31). The letter was written during this time in Ephesus, which is usually dated as being in the range of 53 to 57 AD.

Outline

1.Salutation (1:1-3)
- Paul addresses the issue regarding challenges to his apostleship and defends the issue by claiming that it was given to him through a revelation from Christ. The salutation (the first section of the letter) reinforces the legitimacy of Paul's apostolic claim.

2.Thanksgiving (1:4-9)
- The thanksgiving part of the letter is typical of Hellenistic letter writing. In a thanksgiving recitation the writer thanks God for health, a safe journey, deliverance from danger, or good fortune.
- In this letter, the thanksgiving introduces charismata and gnosis, topics to which Paul will return and that he will discuss at greater length later in the letter.

3.Division in Corinth (1:10–4:21)
- Facts of division
- Causes of division
- Cure for division

4.Immorality in Corinth (5:1–6:20)
- Discipline an Immoral Brother
- Resolving personal disputes
- Sexual purity

5.Difficulties in Corinth (7:1–14:40)
- Marriage
- Christian liberty
- Worship

6.Doctrine of Resurrection (15:1-58)

7.Closing (16:1-24)
- Paul’s closing remarks in his letters usually contain his intentions and efforts to improve the community. He would first conclude with his paraenesis and wish them peace by including a prayer request, greet them with his name and his friends with a holy kiss, and offer final grace and benediction:

“ Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia… Let all your things be done with charity. Greet one another with a holy kiss… I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Cor. 16:1-24).

Hebrews

Although Hebrews is included in the Pauline corpus and was part of that corpus in its earliest attested form, its authorship is perhaps the most debated since the book is anonymous and because of stylistic differences with Paul's writings. Some patristic authors defended the traditional Pauline attribution with theories of scribal assistants such as Clement of Rome or Luke. Numerous alternative candidates for authorship have been proposed. The most prominent have been Barnabas, to whom Tertullian assigned the work; Apollos, defended by Luther and many moderns; Priscilla, suggested by von Harnack; Epaphras; and Silas. Arguments for none are decisive, and Origen's judgment that "God only knows" who composed the work is sound.

This is what we do know. The writer is a Hellenistic Jewish Christian, and his arguments presuppose that he is writing to others who think as he does, i.e., to a Hellenistic Jewish Christian community. Since Clement of Rome knows and quotes the text within what could only have been a few years of its writing, that community may well have been in Rome. This view is supported by the greetings from 'those who have come from Italy' in Heb 13:24.

The primary purpose of the Letter to the Hebrews is to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. The central thought of the entire Epistle is the doctrine of the Person of Christ and his role as mediator between God and humanity.

The epistle opens with an exaltation of Jesus as "the radiance of God's glory, the express image of his being, and upholding all things by his powerful word."[1:3] The epistle presents Jesus with the titles "pioneer" or "forerunner," "Son" and "Son of God," "priest" and "high priest." It has been described as an "intricate" New Testament book. The epistle casts Jesus as both exalted Son and high priest, a unique dual Christology.

One of the favorite sections of Hebrews is chapter 11. This chapter in a way sums up the theme of the book. The Hebrew people of the Old Testament had faith that something better was coming, and now that faith has been fulfilled in the Messiah Jesus. Jesus is the answer that all Hebrews have hoped for in their lives of faith.

Titus

Titus is one of the three epistles known collectively as the pastoral letters (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) - which is to say they are Paul's letters to church leaders. The Apostle Titus was born into idolatry on Crete, though he was of Greek origin. Having believed in Christ through the Apostle Paul, he became Paul's disciple and follower and labored with him greatly in the preaching of the Gospel. He was one of the Seventy Apostles (read in Acts if curious).

The importance of the role and qualifications of leaders (pastors, bishops, elders) should not be understated. Paul realized that if Satan were to defame a leader, he could destroy the whole church.

One of the secular peculiarities of the Epistle to Titus is the inclusion of text which has become known as the Epimenides paradox. According to the World English Bible translation, Titus 1:12-13 reads (in part) "One of them, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.' This testimony is true." The statement by a member of a group that all members are liars is now a famous logic problem. He leaves the character judgment of the people on Crete up to their own prophet.

1 Timothy, 2 Timothy

I love First and Second Timothy. Paul has a warmth that is encouraging while at the same time the strength to still exhort his young protege. Imagine being willing to sacrifice all for the gospel! Imagine being his protege and how challenging that must be for you! These two epistles include:

A powerful doxology ("Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible ...")

Assurance of God's saving love ("who wants all men to be saved...")
Christ as the one Mediator

Guidelines for selecting church leaders

Strong exhortations to flee ungodliness for righteousness, faith, love, and peace

A declaration of faith in God's keeping power

A call to endure hardship

A warning to handle God's word as careful workmen

Advice in gently instructing opponents

A revelation of all Scripture as "God-breathed"

But my mind keeps returning to Paul's last words:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness ...." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)