classifications for the authorship or the Pauline letters,

2 What are the two main classifications for the authorship or the Pauline letters, and why are there two?

Need Help Writing an Essay?

Tell us about your assignment and we will find the best writer for your paper.

Get Help Now

The authorship is classified into undisputed Pauline letters since almost all scholars are convinced that apostle Paul practically wrote them himself. They date back to the 50s CE and are the earliest surviving Christian writing. These include Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon and1 Thessalonians (Mueller, 79).

The second main category is referred to as the deuteropauline letters because many scholars are unsure whether Paul wrote them.  They include 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus, The last three are referred to as Pastoral Epistles.

5) What are the four principles for reading an early Christian letter? Why are they important to follow?

Early Christian letters are similar to contemporary letters and emails or instant messages correspondents between friends and relatives. The principles for reading early Christian letters are highlighted below:

1. a) Author: This principle seeks to determine the person who wrote the letter, and our understanding and perceptions of the writer that will help us appreciate the message..
2. b) Audience: This principle establishes whom the author and their message targeted. It also seeks the relationship of those targeted by the author and whether the letter is personal or an advertisement for the mass media, or merely a spasm message (Mueller, 88).
3. c) Opponents: This principle establishes the people, believes or practices opposed by the author. The NT focuses on whether the author castigates non-Christians, Greco roman polytheists, Jews, or the Christians with diverse theology or perceptions of Jesus.
4. d) Occasion/ Purpose: This principle seeks to establish what prompted the author to write the letter to the audience and the reaction expected by the author.

It is important to follow these principles, as they will help us appreciate the teachings in the early Christian letters (Mueller, 88). These principles act as guides for proper understanding of the author, Paul, his relationship with us, what his works entailed, the issues that prompted him to write the letters, and the reactions required after reading them. Without referring to these principles, the letters would be rather overwhelming to our understanding.

Discussion Questions

1 Why does it or does it not make sense to refer to the NT as a single book. How might the metaphor of the NT as a library of much of the earliest surviving early Christians literature be more helpful and accurate?

It is apparently inaccurate to refer to the NT as a single book since it is a collection of the 27 earliest Christian writings and all contemporary Christians accept it as their scripture (Mueller, 78). There are numerous other subcategories other than the ones commonly known by people. The NT is divided into different genres such as Historical narratives, letters, and Apocalypse that have been written by numerous writers. This justifies the metaphor that the NT is a library of the earliest surviving Christian literature rather than a single book.

3. Galatians and Acts offer two different pictures of the early church-one divided and the other unified. If you grew up in the church (or some other religious community) which of these resonates with your experience of your religious community?

Galatians provides a picture of a divided church while Acts proposes a unified church (Mueller, 91). The latter dealt easily with issues such as circumcision whereas the latter rigidly adhered to the mosaic or Torah laws. Paul counters the rigid Galatian proposals that the church will be chaotic if rigid rules are not applied in the church (Mueller, 91). He believes that freedom of worship should be upheld as provided in Acts that proposes an objective biblical interpretations. The issues of corporal punishment and women behavior are objectively handled in Acts compared to Galatians where they may unite or divide the church respectively.

The modern world resonates with both the Galatians and Acts biblical interpretations. My religious community believes in strict rules to govern the churches that sometimes seem rigid and outdated. On other hand, the church appreciates freedoms of worship that are applied responsibly. My religious community is divided as some churches appreciate the mosaic rules while others appreciate the freedom of worship.

3. Questions About the Text, p. 124: #’s 3, 4, and 6 (approximately 2-3 sentences each)

3  What does the word eschatological mean?

These are the canon that focus on issues of the ultimate stages of life or the world. They deal with aspects such as death and the final judgment day.

4 What does the word Kingdom of God mean?

5 What word and its meaning are conveyed in the image at the beginning of John’s Gospel?

4. Questions for Discussion, p. 125: #’s 1 and 5 (approximately 5-8 sentences each)

1  The chapter argues that “thinking Christ topologically” frequently challenges ones assumptions about Jesus and God. As you read this chapter what aspect of Jesus ministry and his revelation of God most challenge your own assumptions?

5 Do you think people today have a hard time appreciating Jesus’ humanity or his divinity? Why?

5. Questions About the Text, p. 149: #’s 4 and 6 (approximately 3 sentences each)
6. What is meant by the Latin-derived word Consubstantial and its Greek counterpart homoousios? Why is the concept important?
7. What does the word Gnosticism mean, and what is it all about?

7. Additional Questions: 1) Name and describe one heresy that was present in the early Church. Does this belief system sound logical to you? Why or why not? (6-10 sentences); 2) How does interpreting an epistle differ from interpreting one of the four gospels? (approximately 5 sentences

Works Cited

Mueller J. J. SJ. Theological Foundations Revised and expanded. Retrieved 27 July 2013

https://reader.kno.com/reader/index.jsp?productId=txt9781599824899&productVersion=1

PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH GRADE VALLEY TODAY AND GET AN AMAZING DISCOUNT

The post classifications for the authorship or the Pauline letters, appeared first on Essay Oven.