Outline of the
chronologically first Pauline Epistles (1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 and
2 Corinthians, Romans)
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The
Pauline Corpus
Adult
Faith Formation Series, June and July 2023
Session
3: Overview of first Epistles, especially Galatians
Class Schedule, Tuesdays, from 7
to 8 pm
June 20th - Who was St Paul?
June 27th – Was St
Paul Catholic?
July 18th – The Letter
to the Galatians
July 25th – The Letter
to Philemon
I. Review
A. How
do we approach the Letters of St Paul as Catholics?
It is
the Gospels which must serve as the heart and interpretive key of all
Scripture. We do not read Jesus’ preaching in light of St Paul, but rather St
Paul in light of the preaching of Christ.
Hence, the Gospels help us interpret St Paul and provide the framework
within which we can read and understand St Paul.
B. What
are the Pauline Epistles about?
According to St Thomas Aquinas.
Hebrews,
Grace in Christ himself. Romans, Grace in itself. 1 Corinthians, the
sacraments. 2 Corinthians, the minister of the sacraments. Galatians, rejecting
sacraments of the Old Testament.
Ephesians,
Establishment of Church unity. Philippians, Unity’s consolidation and progress.
Colossians, Defense of unity against errors. 1 Thessalonians, Defense of unity
against existing persecutions. 2 Thessalonians, Defense of unity against
persecutions to come especially at end times. 1 Timothy, Governance of
ecclesial unity. 2 Timothy, Resistance against persecutors. Titus, defense
against heretics. Philemon, instructions to temporal lords.
C. St Paul’s Letters
themselves are chronologically divided as follows:
The First and Second
Letters to the Thessalonians are the first letters of St Paul, written in
Corinth during St Paul’s second missionary journey. Next are the “Great
Letters” (Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans – these are the four
longest letters as well), which were written during the third missionary
journey. Then the Captivity Letters
(those written during his first Roman Captivity: Philemon, Philippians,
Colossians, and Ephesians). The Pastoral Letters (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus)
were written towards the end of St Paul’s life (2 Timothy, possibly written
from prison and only days before his death) – they are called “pastoral”
because Timothy and Titus are pastors and bishops of the early Church. Finally,
there is the Letter to the Hebrews, which has a character all its own.
II. Outline of the style
of St Paul’s Epistles
The letters follow a
style that was common to the era.
Each begins with an opening
in which St Paul identifies himself as the sender of the Letter, and also names
any other co-senders who were with him in writing the Letter. Additionally, the
community or individual to whom the Letter is sent is named.
Example: 1 Cor
1:1-3, “Paul, called to be an apostle of
Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes a brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, to
them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that
invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in every place of theirs and
ours. Grace to you, and peace from God
our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
St Paul then moves on to
a thanksgiving prayer in which he asks God’s blessing upon the
recipients of the Letter and praises them for the ways they have grown in the
faith. Note that Galatians, famously,
does not have this thanksgiving prayer (because St Paul was very upset with
them). Also note the 1 Timothy does not have a proper thanksgiving prayer, but
does contain words of great affection: “To Timothy, my true child in the faith”
(1 Tim 1:2).
Example: 1 Cor 1:4-9, “I
give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in
Christ Jesus, That in all things you are
made rich in him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; As the testimony of
Christ was confirmed in you, So that
nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Who also will confirm
you unto the end without crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God is faithful: by whom you
are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Example: Rom 1:8-15, “
First I give thanks to my God, through Jesus Christ, for you
all, because your faith is spoken of in the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve in my
spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make a commemoration of
you; Always in my prayers making
request, if by any means now at length I may have a prosperous journey, by the
will of God, to come unto you. For I long
to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual grace, to strengthen
you: That is to say, that I may be
comforted together in you, by that which is common to us both, your faith and
mine. And I would not have you ignorant,
brethren, that I have often purposed to come unto you, (and have been hindered
hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other
Gentiles. To the Greeks and to the
barbarians, to the wise and to the unwise, I am a debtor; So (as much as is in me) I am ready to preach
the gospel to you also that are at Rome”
Next comes the body of
the Letter, which is broken into two sections: First, the dogmatic/doctrinal
themes and then the exhortative portion in which themes of the moral life are
commended. (compare Romans 12:1 or Galatians 5:1)
Finally, there is the conclusion
to the Letter in which St Paul gives some personal notes and greetings to
various individuals. Sometimes, St Paul indicates his own signature to prove
the authenticity of the Letter (the Letters would usually have been dictated
and written out by a scribe). Sometimes, the scribe would even add a sentence –
Romans 16:22.
Example: 1 Cor 16:13-24,
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, do manfully, and be strengthened. Let all your things be done in charity. And I beseech you, brethren, you know the
house of Stephanas, and of Fortunatus, and of Achaicus, that they are the
firstfruits of Achaia, and have dedicated themselves to the ministry of the
saints: That you also be subject to such, and to every one that worketh with
us, and laboureth. And I rejoice in the
presence of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because that which was
wanting on your part, they have supplied.
For they have refreshed both my spirit and yours. Know them, therefore,
that are such. The churches of Asia
salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church
that is in their house, with whom I also lodge.
All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. The
salutation of me Paul, with my own hand. If any man love not our Lord Jesus
Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My charity be with you all in Christ Jesus.
Amen.”
III. Outline of the
chronologically first Pauline Epistles (1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 and
2 Corinthians, Romans)
A.
Outline of 1 Thessalonians
Written
around AD 50-52 while in Corinth.
This
letter was delivered by St Timothy, as Paul was very concerned for his
Christians in Thessalonica. There was great persecution of the Church there,
and many had died. St Paul desired to assure them of life after death, the resurrection,
and the second coming of Christ.
Personal
Part of the Letter: 1 Thess 1-3.
Doctrinal
Part, on the return of the Lord: 1 Thess 4-5:11
Moral
Part, certain counsels: 1 Thess 5:12-22
B.
Outline of 2 Thessalonians
Written
around AD 50-52 while in Corinth, shortly after 1 Thessalonians.
Certain
confusion had arisen after St Paul’s first letter, leading some to think that
the return of the Lord would be very soon – and many people stopped working or
practicing virtue. St Paul wrote this letter a few months later, so as to
encourage the people to work in hope.
Personal
Part: 2 Thess 1.
Doctrinal
Part, Further teaching on the second coming of Christ: 2 Thess 2
Moral
Part, Encouragement to remain steadfast: 2 Thess 3
C.
Outline of Galatians
Written
around AD 54, perhaps while in Ephesus. Written to Gentile Christians who had
been profoundly influenced and confused by certain Judaizers who attempted to
impose the Jewish rituals (especially circumcision and dietary laws) upon the
Gentile converts. Paul emphasizes that we are not saved by the Old Law nor by
works, but by faith in Christ and the salvation given us through him.
Personal
Part, St Paul defends his authority and that of the Gospel: Gal 1-2
Doctrinal
Part, The works of the Law will not bring salvation, but only Christ: Gal 3-4
Moral
Part, Exhortation not to abuse this freedom given through grace but to live
virtuously: Gal 5-6
D.
Outline of 1 Corinthians
Written
around AD 57, while in Ephesus.
St Paul
had to leave off preaching in Corinth in a hurry because of a riot of the
silversmiths against him. The city was very prosperous and very cosmopolitan –
thus, there was much decadence of morals. St Paul wrote this first letter to
correct various abuses (especially liturgical), to emphasis the unity
established through the sacraments, and to correct various moral failings.
Correction
of Various abuses that have arisen: 1 Cor 1:10 – 6:20
Divisions among the faithful, 1 Cor
1-4
The case of incest, 1 Cor 5
Lawsuits, 1 Cor 6:1-11
Sins against chastity, 1 Cor 6:12-20
Replies
to questions the Corinthians have: 1 Cor
7-15
Marriage and celibacy, 1 Cor 7
Eating of food sacrificed to
idols, 1 Cor 8-10
Liturgical concerns, 1 Cor 11
Special gifts and graces of the
Spirit, 1 Cor 12-14
Jesus’ resurrection and ours, 1 Cor 15
Epilogue, 1 Cor 16
E.
Outline of 2 Corinthians
Written
around AD 57, while in Macedonia (just before visiting Corinth).
St Paul
wrote this not long after his first Letter, which had been very effective in
bringing about repentance, conversion and correction. This letter is filled
with much love and compassion, and is one of the most pastoral and personal
letters of St Paul.
St Paul
defends himself against his enemies, 2
Cor 2-7
The
collection of relief funds for the Church in Jerusalem, 2 Cor 8-9
St Paul
justifies his conduct as an Apostle and his manner of missionary work, 2 Cor 10-13
F.
Outline of Romans
Written
around AD 57-58, while in Corinth (visiting again after having written both
Letters).
As the
Letters to the Corinthians had proved so effective, St Paul was encouraged and
desired to travel even to Spain, combining with this trip an extended stay in
Rome. To prepare for this journey, St Paul wrote his letter to the Romans –
also to correct certain points of confusion on the relation of the Old Law to
the Gospel of Grace (the confusion here was not nearly so deep rooted or
problematic as it had been in Galatia). This is St Paul’s longest letter, and
is commonly regarded as his most important. It has a heavy amount of theology.
Dogmatic
Part, Justification through Christ: Rom 1:16 – 11:36.
Justification by Faith: Rom 1:18 – 4:25
Salvation and the Christian Life:
Rome 5-9
The history of the Chosen People and
our salvation by Christ: Rom 9-11
Moral
Part, Living in Charity: Rom 12-15:13
Christian living: Rom 12-13
Sensitivity towards others: Rom
14-15:13
