1. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter 15 Unity, Freedom, and Christ’s Return: Paul’s Letters to Thessalonica and Corinth

2. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Key Topics/Themes 1 Thessalonians  Nearness of the eschaton  Warnings against attempting to calculate date of the Parousia 1 Corinthians  Paul’s aims to heal divisions in the church  Specific instructions concerning doctrine, ethics, and church order

3. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Key Topics (continued) 2 Corinthians  Overcoming apostolic opponents  Paul’s reconciliation with the Corinthian church

4. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Introduction Paul’s early letters dominated by eschatology Paul battling opponents within and outside his churches

5. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. First Letter to the Thessalonians

6. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Basic Information Oldest surviving Christian document Appears to be primarily Gentile church Church must prepare for Parousia by refraining from sexual sin

7. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Parousia and the Resurrection Concern at Thessalonica over eternal destiny of dead Christians Describes Parousia using typical apocalyptic language Warnings against attempts to calculate the “dates and times” Day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night”

8. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Role of the Spirit Presence of the Spirit in the church a sign of the impending End Warning not to “stifle inspiration” in the church

9. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. First Letter to the Corinthians

10. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Introduction Paul spends a year and a half in Corinth 1 Cor. not Paul’s first letter to Corinth 2 Cor. likely a composite letter Letters reveal two-way correspondence

11. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The City and Its People Large, prosperous, libertine Aphrodite the patron goddess Church members from various backgrounds Resulting strife in Corinthian church Paul’s challenge: to bring unity

12. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Topics of Concern Organization:  Chs. 1-6: overcoming factions in the church  Chs. 7-15: answers to specific questions Paul’s eschatological urgency

13. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Necessity of Christian Unity (Chapters 1-6) Church divided into cliques Avoiding competitiveness and cultivating divine wisdom The limits of Christian freedom Discouragement from lawsuits between Christians

14. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Answering Letters from the Congregation (Chapters 7-15) Marriage, divorce, and celibacy A problem of conscience Regulating behavior in church  The importance of women in church  The communion meal  Need to regulate gifts of the Spirit to foster unity

15. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Answering Letters (continued)  The hymn to love (agapē)  Speaking in tongues a less important spiritual gift

16. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Answering Letters (continued) The eschatological hope: resurrection of the dead The historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection Closing remarks: importance of taking up a collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem

17. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Second Letter to the Corinthians Chs. 10-13 written before chs. 1-9 The “severe” letter (chs. 10-13): Paul’s defense of his apostolic authority The letter of reconciliation (chs. 1-9)

18. © 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Summary 1 Thessalonians: overcoming misconceptions about the Parousia 1 Corinthians: overcoming church conflict to unite the church 2 Corinthians: God operates through “weak” human vessels Paul and readers standing at the turning point of two ages