Part 1
Fr. Michael Bazzi
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~*~*~*~
The 13
Letters of St. Paul in general
Paul supported his converts with:
1.
Prayer
2.
Personal contact
3.
Letters, when
necessary, to different communities and persons in Asia Minor
and Europe.
The 13 letters of St. Paul are
divided into 4 groups:
|
First and Second letters
of St. Paul |
4 Major |
4 Captivity |
3 Pastoral |
|
First & Second Letter to
Thessalonians |
Galatians
Romans
1&11 Corinthians |
Ephesians
Philippians
Philemon
Colossians |
Titus
1&11 Timothy |
The main themes of the 13
Letters are:
1.
That God is a father
who loves us, and the Holy Spirit who consecrates us.
2.
That Jesus made us
children of God and brothers and sisters to each other.
3.
That Christians Are
called to imitate Christ in their relationship to God and
to each other, in love, charity, and kindness.
The
Structure of the
Letters of St. Paul
Each of
the Letters of St. Paul has three main parts:
A.
Introduction
1.
The name of the writer
or his title
2.
The name of the church
or person to whom the letter is addressed
3.
The greetings (Peace)
4.
Thanksgiving to God
for all that was praiseworthy in His readers.
B.
Body:
1.
The first chapters
include doctrinal teaching.
2.
The last chapters
include advice for practical living as Christians.
C.
Conclusion
1.
Personal message
2.
Greetings to
individuals or from individuals
3.
Final blessings
|
(1) Letter to the Romans |
|
1-
When was it written? |
57-58 A.D |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Corinth in Greece |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
the Christian People of Rome |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
Salvation Willed by God the Father and realized by
Christ and Achieved through the Holy Spirit. No one is
excluded from this salvation. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1-3:20 Humanity was lost without the Gospel.
b)
3:21-8:39 Justification through Christ and not through
Moses Laws.
c)
9:1-16:27 Jews and Gentiles in God’s plan, the duties of
Christians. |
|
2) 1st
Letter to the Corinthians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
56
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Ephesus in Turkey |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
the people of Corinth-Greece |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
Paul
answered question about the problems in Corinth
(Marriage, Celibacy, relations with the unbelievers,
behavior at Liturgical Assemblies, and the resurrection
of the dead). Paul assured them that all of them make up
the body of Christ. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:10-14:40 Problems in the Christian Communities and the
answers.
b)
15:1-16:24 The resurrection. |
|
(3) 2nd
Letter to the Corinthians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
56
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Ephesus in Turkey |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
the people of Corinth-Greece |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
Paul
heard distressing news. He sent harsh letter which we
have lost, but has given Titus the task of settling the
affairs. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:12-7:4 crises between Paul and Corinthians and Paul’s
ministry.
b)
7:5-11:13 Resolution to the crises. |
|
(4) Letter to the
Galians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
56
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Ephesus in Turkey |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
the people of Galatians in Turkey. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
Some
Jews who were Paul’s converts taught that it is
impossible to be saved without keeping the law of Moses
accepting Circumcision. Paul told them that salvation is
the fruit of not a purely external practices but of
living faith blossoming in love. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:1- 2:21 Loyalty to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
b)
3:1-6:18 Faith and liberty and Christian living. |
|
(5) Letter to the
Ephesians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
61-63 A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
captivity in Rome |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Ephesians in Turkey |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
This
letter deals with church as body of Christ. This church
is the instrument for the making God’s plan of salvation
known throughout the Universe. The seven unities of the
church are: spirit, hope, one Lord, faith, baptism,
church as body of Christ, and the one God. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:1-4:24 Unity and world mission of the church.
b)
4:25-6:20 Daily conduct and expression of Unity. |
|
(6) Letter to the
Philippians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
61-63 A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
captivity in Rome |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Philippians North Eastern of Greece. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
Paul
exhort people to follow humility after the example of
Christ, the Son of God, who humbled himself to die on
the cross so as to save the mankind. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:1-3:21 Righteousness and the goal in Christ.
b)
4:1-23 Instructions for the community. |
|
(7) Letter to the
Colossians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
61-63 A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
captivity in Rome |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
the congregation at Colossae in East of Ephesus-Turkey. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
The
Apostle dwells on the mystery of Christ. He is the
eternal son of God. The creator, about all creatures,
Lord of the Universe and of the church of the redeemed.
Through him we are saved. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:1-2:3 Christ son of God.
b)
2:4-4:18 Warning against false teachers and the ideal
Christian life in the world. |
|
(8) 1st
Letter to the Thessalonians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
51
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Corinth in Greece. |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Thessalians in North Greece.. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
Paul
advised not to speculate on Christ’s return but to live
exemplary love until the day of his second coming. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
1:1-5:28 Specific Exhortations. |
|
(9) 2nd
Letter to the Thessalonians |
|
1-
When was it written? |
51
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Corinth in Greece. |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Thessalians in North Greece.. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
The
end of the world does not mean there will be warming
signs. People must go on humbly doing their daily
duties. They should be concerned with the quality of
their Christian |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)1:1-2:17 Warning against deception concerning the
Parousia (second coming of Christ.
b)
3:1-18 Exhortations. |
|
(10) 1st
Letter to Timothy |
|
1-
When was it written? |
65
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Macedonya-Greece. |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Timothy in Ephesus-Turkey. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
It
is called Pastoral letter because it is concerned with
the work of a pastor in caring for the community under
his care. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:1-5:1-6 Discipline and duties toward others.
b)6:2-6:21 Teaching the true wealth. |
|
(11) Letter to Titus
|
|
1-
When was it written? |
65
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Macedonya-Greece. |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Titus in the Island of Crete-Greece.. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
The
letter is addressed to Titus as a person in charge of
the church and warning against false teachers. Titus was
a Gentile Christian, but we are unaware about his place
of birth and residence. He appointed Presbyters and
Bishops. Paul exhorted the community to serve as leaven
for Christianity the social world about it. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:5-16 Pastoral change.
b)
2:1-3:15 Teaching the Christian life. |
|
(12) 2nd
Letter to Timothy |
|
1-
When was it written? |
65
A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
Macedonya-Greece. |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Timothy in Ephesus-Turkey. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
Paul
uses his own life as an example to encourage Timothy to
persevere in the faith. Paul is writing as a farewell
advice of a father to his spiritual son and contains his
last personal message. |
|
5-
How was it written (outline)? |
a)
1:6-4:8 Exhortation to Timothy .
b)
4:9-22 Instructions concerning false teaching. |
|
(13) Letter to
Philemon |
|
1-
When was it written? |
61-63 A.D. |
|
2-
Where was it written? |
From
captivity in Rome. |
|
3-
To whom was it written? |
To
Philemon from Colossae-Greece. |
|
4-
Why was it written (Theme-Message)? |
This
short letter addressed to Philemon, a well-known
Christian of Colossae. His salve Onesimus ran away, was
sought by the police, and found refuge with Paul in
Rome. Paul converted him and sent him back to his
master. Paul asked Phlilemon to treat Onesimus as a
runaway slave, but as a beloved Christian brother. |
