Final Flashcards
(37 cards)
Galatians and Justification by Faith – How does Paul’s argument in Galatians support his mission to the Gentiles?
Paul insists righteousness comes by faith, not by observing the Law.
Argues Gentiles can be full members of the church without becoming Jews.
Reinforces the gospel’s universality and his apostolic authority.
Acts 15 and Gentile Circumcision – How did the Council of Jerusalem navigate the question of Gentile circumcision, and what does this reveal about early Christian identity?
The Council decided Gentiles did not need circumcision or full adherence to Jewish Law.
Affirmed salvation by grace through faith, not by legal observance.
Helped define Christian identity as distinct yet inclusive of Gentiles.
Paul’s Autobiography – How do Galatians 1–2 and Philippians 3 shape Paul’s credibility as an apostle?
He stresses his direct calling from God, not human endorsement.
Shares his past as a persecutor to show the radical change.
Uses his story to defend his role and message to the Gentiles.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh – How should we interpret this in the context of his ministry?
It symbolizes human weakness and dependence on divine strength.
Reveals Paul’s vulnerability, making his faith more relatable.
Supports his theme that God works through suffering and weakness.
Philemon and Slavery – How does Paul’s appeal in Philemon challenge Roman social norms?
He asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ.
Undermines traditional slave/master dynamics without direct rebellion.
Introduces the idea of spiritual equality over social status.
Paul on Social Status – How do passages like 2 Corinthians 11 and Acts 16 reflect his views on suffering and identity?
Paul boasts in hardships, not achievements, as marks of apostleship.
Redefines honor by embracing humiliation for Christ’s sake.
Shows the gospel crossing boundaries of gender, class, and ethnicity.
Christians and the Imperial Cult – How might Roman political-religious expectations have clashed with Christian beliefs?
Christians refused to worship the emperor, seen as treasonous.
This rejection risked persecution and loss of social standing.
Christianity conflicted with Rome’s fusion of religion and politics.
Christianity in AD 50 – Why would someone join the early church despite risks, and how would it change their life?
Offered hope, dignity, and eternal life to all classes.
Created supportive communities across social divides.
Demanded moral transformation but promised belonging and purpose.
How did Paul and the early church include Gentiles, and how was this mission accomplished?
Acts 10 – Peter’s Vision and the Household of Cornelius
Peter receives a vision declaring all foods clean, symbolizing the removal of Jewish-Gentile barriers.
The Holy Spirit descends on Gentiles, shocking the Jewish believers.
Baptism is extended to Gentiles without requiring circumcision, a pivotal moment in Church inclusion.
How did Paul and the early church include Gentiles, and how was this mission accomplished?
Acts 15 – The Jerusalem Council
Church leaders debate whether Gentile converts must follow the Mosaic Law.
Peter, Paul, and James argue that salvation is by grace, not Law.
The Council decides Gentiles should abstain from a few practices (e.g., food sacrificed to idols) but not be circumcised.
How did Paul and the early church include Gentiles, and how was this mission accomplished?
How did Paul and the early church include Gentiles, and how was this mission accomplished?
Acts 13–14 – Paul and Barnabas’ First Missionary Journey
In cities like Antioch and Lystra, Paul first preaches in synagogues; when rejected by Jews, he turns to Gentiles.
Paul cites Isaiah to justify the Gentile mission: “I have made you a light to the Gentiles.”
Their ministry provokes both conversions and opposition, illustrating the mixed response to Gentile outreach.
How did Paul and the early church include Gentiles, and how was this mission accomplished?
Acts 18 – Paul’s Ministry in Corinth
Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla and works with them as a tentmaker.
He spends a year and a half teaching both Jews and Gentiles.
This chapter shows Paul’s integration of work and mission.
How did Paul and the early church include Gentiles, and how was this mission accomplished?
Galatians – Paul’s Defense of the Gospel to the Gentiles
Paul argues that Gentiles are justified by faith, not by the Law.
He recounts confronting Peter in Antioch for withdrawing from Gentile believers.
Galatians 3:28 captures the core idea: in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek.”
How did Paul and the early church include Gentiles, and how was this mission accomplished?
Paul in the Workshop (Article)
Paul likely preached while working, using the workshop as a daily mission field.
His approach paralleled Cynic philosophers who taught in public spaces and workshops.
The workshop helped him reach people of all classes, especially the urban poor.
What do Paul’s own letters and Acts tell us about his calling, conversion, and social status?
Acts 8–9 – Paul’s Conversion
Paul, a Pharisee and persecutor, encounters the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.
His sight is restored by Ananias; he is baptized and begins preaching Christ.
His transformation highlights divine initiative and personal calling.
What do Paul’s own letters and Acts tell us about his calling, conversion, and social status?
Galatians 1–2 – Paul’s Apostolic Authority
Paul claims his gospel came through a revelation from Christ, not human teaching.
He defends his independence from the Jerusalem apostles.
He uses his story to legitimize his mission to the Gentiles.
What do Paul’s own letters and Acts tell us about his calling, conversion, and social status?
Philippians 3 – Paul’s Background and Reorientation
Paul recounts his Jewish credentials and religious zeal.
He now considers all of it “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ.
Emphasizes spiritual values over inherited or social status.
What do Paul’s own letters and Acts tell us about his calling, conversion, and social status?
2 Corinthians 10–13 – Paul’s Sufferings and Apostolic Defense
Paul lists hardships: beatings, hunger, imprisonment, etc., as proof of his authenticity.
He boasts in weakness to show that power comes from God.
He contrasts himself with so-called “super-apostles” who boast in status.
What do Paul’s own letters and Acts tell us about his calling, conversion, and social status?
Paul’s Tentmaking and Social Class (Article)
Despite working with his hands, Paul’s language (“enslaved myself,” “demeaned myself”) shows he saw labor as socially lowering.
This view aligns with elite Roman attitudes; he likely came from a higher status background.
Paul embraced manual labor to preserve independence and credibility, not because he belonged to a laboring class.
How did early Christianity challenge or reflect Roman social norms?
Philemon – Christian Brotherhood Amid Slavery
Paul appeals to Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a slave but as a brother in Christ.
He doesn’t explicitly condemn slavery, but redefines the relationship through shared faith.
Highlights the beginning of a Christian ethic challenging status boundaries.
How did early Christianity challenge or reflect Roman social norms?
Slavery in Imperial Rome (Article reference)
Roman society was deeply hierarchical; slavery was embedded in economic and social systems.
Paul’s appeal to Christian unity undercuts this by creating a new identity above legal or social categories.
How did early Christianity challenge or reflect Roman social norms?
1 Thessalonians – Ethical Instruction to a Diverse Church
Paul encourages mutual love, work ethic, and hope in Christ across a mixed-status congregation.
He gently exhorts believers to support one another and remain morally distinct.
How did early Christianity challenge or reflect Roman social norms?
Acts 16 – Conversion of Lydia and the Philippian Jailer
Lydia, a wealthy merchant, and a Roman jailer both convert, showing Christianity’s reach across classes.
Paul’s imprisonment and miraculous release lead to evangelization of the jailer’s household.
The narrative models radical equality and divine reversal of social roles.
