Romans – Colossians

Question 1

Romans – Content

Answer 1

• A letter of instruction and exhortation setting forth Paul’s understanding of the gospel
• that Jew and Gentile together form one people of God
• based on God’s righteousness
• received through faith in Jesus Christ
• and on the gift of the Spirit

Question 2

Romans – Author

Answer 2

the apostle Paul

Question 3

Romans – Date

Answer 3

ca. A.D. 57, from Corinth (cf. Rom 15:25-26 with 1 Cor 16:1-7)

Question 4

Romans – Recipients

Answer 4

the church in Rome, which was neither founded by Paul nor under his jurisdiction—although he greets at least twenty-six people known to him (16:3-16)

Question 5

Romans – Occasion

Answer 5

a combination of three factors:

• (1) Phoebe’s proposed visit to Rome (16:1-2; which would begin in the house church of old friends Priscilla and Aquila, 16:3-5),
• (2) Paul’s own anticipated visit to Rome and desire that they help him with his proposed mission to Spain (15:17-29), and
• (3) information (apparently brought by visitors) about tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers there

Question 6

Romans – Emphases

Answer 6

1. Jews and Gentiles together as the one people of God
2. The role of the Jews in God’s salvation through Christ
3. Salvation by grace alone, received through faith in Christ Jesus and effected by the Spirit
4. The failure of the law and success of the Spirit in producing true righteousness
5. The need to be transformed in mind (by the Spirit) so as to live in unity as God’s people in the present

Question 7

1 Corinthians – Content

Answer 7

A letter of correction, in which Paul stands over against the Corinthians on issue after issue, mostly behavioural, but which are nevertheless betrayals of the gospel of Christ and the life in the Spirit

Question 8

1 Corinthians – Author

Answer 8

the apostle Paul

Question 9

1 Corinthians – Date

Answer 9

ca. A.D. 53-54, from Ephesus (see 16:8)

Question 10

1 and 2 Corinthians – Recipients

Answer 10

the church in Corinth, composed mostly of Gentiles (12:2; 8:7)

Question 11

1 Corinthians – Occasion

Answer 11

Paul responds to a letter from the church (7:1) and to reports he has received (1:11; 5: 1)

Question 12

1 Corinthians – Emphases

Answer 12

1. A crucified Messiah as the central message of the gospel
2. The cross as God’s wisdom and power
3. Christian behaviour that conforms to the gospel
4. The true nature of life in the Spirit
5. The future bodily resurrection of the Christian dead

Question 13

2 Corinthians – Content

Answer 13

probably two letters (chs. 1-9; 10-13) combined into one, dealing primarily with Paul’s tenuous relationship with the Corinthian church and in the process touching on several other matters as well:

• Paul’s ministry,
• the collection for the poor in Jerusalem,
• and some Jewish Christian itinerants who have invaded the church

Question 14

2 Corinthians – Author

Answer 14

the apostle Paul, joined by Timothy

Question 15

2 Corinthians – Date

Answer 15

ca. A.D. 54-55, from Macedonia (2:13; 7:5) — most likely Philippi

Question 16

2 Corinthians – Occasion

Answer 16

• Titus’s return from a recent visit (7:5-7)
• Paul’s anticipated third visit to the church (13:1), in light of
• (1) the church’s need to have the collection ready before Paul gets there
• (2) their readiness to embrace some “false apostles masquerading as apostles of Christ” (11:13)

Question 17

2 Corinthians – Emphases

Answer 17

1. Christian ministry as servanthood, reflecting that of Christ
2. The greater glory of the new covenant in contrast to the old
3. The glory of the gospel exhibited in the weakness of its ministers
4. The gospel as reconciliation
5. Giving to the poor as an expression of generosity, not of obligation

Question 18

Galatians – Content

Answer 18

a heated argument with the (Gentile) Galatian believers against some Jewish Christian “missionaries” who insist that Gentiles be circumcised if they are to be included in the people of God

Question 19

Galatians – Author

Answer 19

the apostle Paul, joined by “all the brothers and sis-

ters” with him (1:2)

Question 20

Galatians – Date

Answer 20

probably ca. A.D. 55 (although some think as early as 47-48), with no indication of place of origin

Question 21

Galatians – Recipients

Answer 21

Gentile believers in Galatia, either ethnic Galatians (whose territory in central Asia Minor had been earlier settled by people from Gaul [modern France]) or those in the Roman province of Galatia, which also included peoples of Pisidia, Lycaonia, and Phrygia (Acts 13-14; 16)

Question 22

Galatians – Occasion

Answer 22

• the churches of Galatia have been invaded by some agitators (5:12) who have questioned Paul’s gospel and his apostleship
• apparently some Galatians are on the verge of capitulating to them, which sparks a vigorous defense by Paul of his gospel and his calling

Question 23

Galatians – Emphases

Answer 23

1. Paul’s apostleship and gospel come directly from God and Christ, not through human mediation
2. The death of Jesus has brought an end to ethnic religious observances
3. The Spirit produces the righteousness the law could not
4. The Spirit enables believers not to yield to sinful desires
5. One receives the Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus

Question 24

Ephesians – Content

Answer 24

A letter of encouragement and exhortation, set against the backdrop of “the powers” (6:12), portraying Christ’s bringing Jew and Gentile together into the one people of God as his ultimate triumph and glory

Question 25

Ephesians – Author

Answer 25

the apostle Paul (although many have doubts)

Question 26

Ephesians – Date

Answer 26

A.D. 61-62, probably from Rome

Question 27

Ephesians – Recipients

Answer 27

perhaps a circular letter to many churches in the province of Asia, of which Ephesus is the capital (no city is given in the earliest manuscripts; Paul assumes the readers do not know him personally, 1:15; 3:2)

Question 28

Ephesians – Occasion

Answer 28

- Tychicus, who is carrying this letter (6:21-22), is also carrying two letters to Colosse (Colossians and Philemon [Col 4:7-9]) - perhaps after reflecting further on the Colossian situation and on the glory of Christ, and knowing the Asian fear of "the powers of this dark world," Paul writes a general pastoral letter for the churches of that area

Question 29

Ephesians – Emphases

Answer 29

1. The cosmic scope of the work of Christ 2. Christ's reconciliation of Jew and Gentile through the cross 3. Christ's supremacy over "the powers" for the sake of the church 4. Christian behaviour that reflects the unity of the Spirit

Question 30

Philippians – Content

Answer 30

Paul's thanksgiving for, encouragement of, and exhortation to the suffering community of believers in Philippi, who are also experiencing some internal struggles

Question 31

Philippians – Author

Answer 31

the apostle Paul, joined by his younger companion Timothy

Question 32

Philippians – Date

Answer 32

probably A.D. 62, almost certainly from Rome

Question 33

Philippians – Recipients

Answer 33

the church in Philippi (mostly Gentile), founded around A.D. 48-49 by Paul, Silas, and Timothy; Philippi is located at the eastern end of the vast plain of Macedonia on the very important Egnatian Way, which connected Rome with Byzantium (later Constantinople and Istanbul)

Question 34

Philippians – Occasion

Answer 34

Epaphroditus, who had brought information about the church to Paul in prison and delivered their gift to him (2:30; 4:18), is about to return to Philippi, having now recovered from a nearly fatal illness (2:26-27)

Question 35

Philippians – Emphases

Answer 35

1. Paul's and the Philippians' partnership in the gospel 2. Christ as the key to all of life, from beginning to end 3. Knowing Christ, by becoming like him in his death (sacrificing oneself for others); rejoicing in Christ even in suffering 4. Unity through humility and love 5. The certainty and pursuit of the final prize

Question 36

Colossians – Content

Answer 36

a letter encouraging relatively new believers to continue in the truth of Christ they have received, and warning them against outside religious influences

Question 37

Colossians – Author

Answer 37

the apostle Paul, joined by his younger companion Timothy

Question 38

Colossians – Date

Answer 38

probably A.D. 60-61 (if Paul is in Rome, as is most likely)

Question 39

Colossians – Recipient(s)

Answer 39

- the (mostly Gentile) believers in Colosse (Colosse was the least significant of three towns noted for their medicinal spas [including Hierapolis and Laodicea] at a crucial crossroads in the Lycus River Valley, approximately 120 miles southwest of Ephesus) - the letter is also to be read, as an exchange, in Laodicea (4:16)

Question 40

Colossians – Occasion

Answer 40

Epaphras, a Pauline coworker who had founded the churches in the Lycus Valley, has recently come to Paul bringing news of the church, mostly good but some less so

Question 41

Colossians – Emphases

Answer 41

1. The absolute supremacy and all-sufficiency of Christ, the Son of God 2. That Christ both forgives sin and removes one from the terror of "the powers" 3. Religious rules and regulations count for nothing, but ethical life that bears God's own image counts for everything 4. Christlike living affects relationships of all kinds