Outline of the later Pauline Epistles (Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews)
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The
Pauline Corpus
Adult
Faith Formation Series, June and July 2023
Session 4:
Overview of later Epistles
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 (changed to study of the
later Pauline Epistles)
I. Review
A. Outline
of the style of St Paul’s Epistles: Greeting, thanksgiving prayer, body of the
letter (doctrinal themes and moral themes), conclusion.
B.
Closer look at the Letter to the Galatians.
II. Outline of the later Pauline
Epistles (Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus,
Hebrews)
A.
Outline of Philippians
Written
around AD 61-63 while imprisoned in Rome. (Some modern scholars think it could
be much earlier, during his imprisonment in Ephesus around AD 55.)
This
letter was delivered by Epaphroditus who had been sent to Paul by the
Philippians to minister to him in prison. When Epaphroditus fell ill, St Paul
sent him home with this letter to that church. The church of Philippi had been
founded by St Paul around AD 50 during his second missionary journey – it was
the first church he founded in Europe. Most in this community were Gentile
converts, though there were some Jewish converts as well – all seemed to have a
dear affection for St Paul, even as he held them most dear.
St Paul
wrote this Letter to thank the Philippians for their kindness to him in his
imprisonment, to encourage them to persevere and remain faithful, and to warn
them against certain Judaizers who were everywhere trying to create division.
Introduction:
Phil 1:1-26.
Doctrinal
Part, on asceticism and also the hymn of Christ’s Divinity “though he was in
the form of God…”: Phil 1:27 – 2:18.
Various
practical matters, plans and news: Phil 3:19-30.
Moral
Part, the Christian life and warnings about the Judaizers: Phil 3:1 – 4:9.
Thanksgiving
and farewell: Phil 4:10-23.
B.
Outline of Philemon
Written
around AD 63 while imprisoned in Rome.
Onesimus
was a slave of Philemon, who had in some way wronged his master – he was not
yet baptized. He fled to Rome to seek refuge from St Paul, and was converted by
him. St Paul eventually decided to send Onesimus back to Philemon, traveling
with Tychicus who was delivering the Letter to the Colossians. St Paul wrote
this Letter to encourage Philemon to receive Onesimus back and not punish him.
Philemon was a wealthy individual of Colossae and a convert to the church
there.
This is
the shortest of St Paul’s Letters, only one chapter and 25 verses. “Despite its
brevity, this epistle is a masterpiece of the art of letter-writing.” (Navarre
Bible Commentary)
Introduction:
Philem 1-7.
Body,
plea for Onesimus: Philem 8-21.
Conclusion
and farewell: Philem 22-25. “At the
same time prepare a guest room for me”
C.
Outline of Colossians
Written
around AD 61-63, while imprisoned in Rome. Delivered by Tychicus who was
traveling with Onesimus. Most of the church in Colossae were Gentil converts,
but there was a sizable group of Jewish converts as well. It seems that St Paul
never actually visited this community in person, at least certainly not before
he had sent this Letter and that to Philemon. St Paul probably “founded” the
church there during his preaching in his second apostolic journey – when
preaching in Ephesus, he converted people who were visiting from Colossae, and
they returned to establish the community in the city.
When St
Paul was imprisoned in Rome, Epaphras visited him to tell him that their were
false preachers spreading the Judaizing heresy in Colossae. Additionally, these
false teachers tried to present various false hierarchies of spiritual
intermediaries between God and man.
Introduction:
Col 1:1-14
Doctrinal
Part, emphasizing the lordship of Christ over all creation, his primacy, and
that Jesus is both God and man. Also, rejecting certain Jewish rituals: Col
1:15 – 2:23.
Moral
Part, baptism, prayer and the sacraments cast off the old man, we practice
virtue: Col 3:1-4:6
Conclusion:
Col 4:7-18
D.
Outline of Ephesians
Written
around AD 63 while St Paul was imprisoned in Rome. This Letter is called “to
the Ephesians” but the reference to the faithful “who are at Ephesus” (1:1) is
not in the best or oldest manuscripts – some think this Letter may have been
written to the Ephesians, but with the intension that it be shared with the
whole region. This may explain some peculiarities, like that this Letter does
not contain any reference to the particular circumstances of the church in
Ephesus nor a reference to St Paul’s time with that community nor even an
allusion to his sudden and difficult departure.
St Paul
had Stayed at Ephesus toward the end of his second preaching journey (around AD
52) and he returned at the beginning of his third journey, staying there for
more than two years (about AD 54-57). He had to leave the city because of a
riot caused by Demetrius and the silversmiths.
This Letter was written shortly after the Letter to the Colossians to
combat various heresies both in Ephesus and throughout the region (which
included Colossae, Laodicea, Hieropolis, etc as well as Ephesus).
Short
opening and blessing: Eph 1:1-2
Dogmatic
part, Christ’s work of salvation accomplished through the Church: Eph 1:3 –
3:31
Moral
part, exhortations to unity, virtue, chastity, and on family life: Eph 4:1 – 6:20
Conclusion
and farewell: Eph 6:21-24
E.
Outline of 1 Timothy
Written
around AD 65, while in Macedonia late in St Paul’s career (after his trip to
Spain). St Timothy was one of St Paul’s most trusted friends, and was appointed
by him as bishop of Ephesus some time later in his ministry. Timothy was the son of a Gentile father and a
Jewish Christian mother. St Paul had him circumcised to avoid confrontation
with the Judaizers during the second missionary journey. Timothy was
continually either staying behind to confirm St Paul’s work, or going ahead to
prepare for St Paul’s arrival.
This
letter was written to encourage Timothy and instruct him to correct various
heresies as well as advice regarding Church administration. This Letter is
significant because it shows the advanced hierarchical structure of the Church
even from the time of St Paul.
Opening
greeting: 1 Tim 1:1-2
Admonition
to defend the sound doctrine against heresy:
1 Tim 1:3-20
Instruction
regarding prayer and public worship: 1
Tim 2
Ecclesiastical
office and pastoral guidelines: 1 Tim
3:1 – 6:19
Farewell: 1 Tim 6:20-21
F.
Outline of Titus
Titus
was a Gentil who was converted and baptized by St Paul. He was with St Paul and
Barnabas at the Council of Jerusalem, and was not subjected to circumcision. He
delivered the First and Second Letters to the Corinthians. St Paul left Titus in Crete as the bishop of
that island.
This
Letter was probably written around AD 65, close to the time of 1 Timothy. St Paul gives Titus instruction on Church
governance, what sort of individuals are suitable to be ordained as priests,
and exhorts him to defend the faith against heresy. Like 1 Timothy, this Epistle shows the
advanced hierarchical structure of the Church of the Apostles.
Greeting: Tit 1:1-4
Instruction
on Church governance: Tit 1:5-16
Teaching
on Christian morality: Tit 2:1 – 3:11
Conclusion
and farewell: Tit 3:12-15
G. Outline
of 2 Timothy
This
Epistle is something of a last spiritual testament of St Paul, written very
late in his life and perhaps only days before his death (AD 67). This Letter is much more personal than 1
Timothy, and continues to encourage Timothy to remain faithful and persevere in
his ministry.
Greeting: 2 Tim 1:1-5
Instruction
on preaching the Gospel: 2 Tim 1:6 –
2:13
Guidance
on how to defend the Faith: 2 Tim 2:14 –
4:8
Final
counsels and farewell: 2 Tim 4:9-22
H.
Outline of Hebrews
This
Epistle was written to Jewish converts to Christianity, probably around AD 65
from Rome. It is most likely that this was written originally in either Hebrew
or Aramaic, and that a Greek version was prepared by St Luke – this Greek is
all that is left, and is accepted as the Canonical version.
This
Letter contains no greeting, nor the name of Paul.
Introduction: Heb 1:1-4
Christ
is higher than the angels: Heb 1:5 –
2:18
Christ’s
priesthood is greater than that of Levi:
Heb 3:1 – 5:10
Christ’s
priesthood is greater because it is eternal, as is his priestly sacrifice: Heb 5:11 – 10:39
Moral
part, on discipline and obedience: Heb
11-12
Final
exhortation, blessings, farewell: Heb
13
III.
Hymns present in St Paul’s Epistles
There
are several passages which seem to be ancient hymns (or, in some cases, creedal
statements), already well-known to the faithful to whom St Paul is writing.
These hymns often contain strikingly high theology, especially regarding the
divinity of Jesus Christ.
Rom.
1:3-4
1 Cor.
11:23 ff.
1 Cor 15:3-8
Phil.
2:6-11
“Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made
in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Eph
1:3-10
Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ
to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the
glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure
which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of
the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are
in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
Col.1:15-18
“He is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all
things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things
were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him
all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence.
1 Tim.
3:16
“God was
manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached
among the Gentiles,
Believed
on in the world, Received up in glory.”
