Paul
{PAUL'S LETTERS}
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{GALATIANS}
- Controversy in Galatia - {PDF Copy} - (The key issue in Galatia is whether Gentiles must be circumcised and keep some, at least, of the deeds required by the Torah)
- Delivered From This Age - {PDF Copy} - (What God has done for His people is founded on the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, which inaugurated the messianic age – Galatians 1:1-5)
- Even an Angel - {PDF Copy} - (Paul warned the Galatians not to heed any gospel that deviated from the one preached by him - even if it came from an angel)
- Justified From Faith - {PDF Copy} - (Paul presents the points of agreement and disagreement with his opponents in the assemblies of Galatia – Galatians 2:15-21)
- Having Started in the Spirit - {PDF Copy} - (The receipt of the Spirit while in an uncircumcised state is irrefutable proof that Gentiles are accepted by God AS GENTILES)
- Doing the Whole Law - {PDF Copy} - (Anyone who is under the Law is obligated to keep all its required deeds and rituals, and therefore, risks coming under its curse)
- Why, Then, the Law? - {PDF Copy} - (If a man is not justified from the works of the Law, what was the purpose of the Law given at Sinai?)
- Limits of the Law - {PDF Copy} - (The jurisdiction of the Mosaic regulations over the covenant community reached its limit with the arrival of Jesus, the true seed of Abraham)
- Heirs in Jesus - {PDF Copy} - (Returning to the custodianship of the Law would mean rebuilding the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles)
- Redeemed and Adopted - {PDF Copy} - (The Law was an interim stage with a termination point. Disciples are no longer under its jurisdiction, but now, are in Christ)
- Rudiments of the Old Era - {PDF Copy} - (The Messianic Age dawned in Jesus, therefore calendrical rituals and other Levitical regulations belong to a now obsolete order)
- Circumcision - Cutting Issue - {PDF Copy} - (With the new era inaugurated by Jesus, circumcision is no longer the sign of membership in the covenant community)
- Spirit and Covenant - {PDF Copy} - (The Church and the gift of the Spirit have been integral to the redemptive plan of God from the very beginning)
- Heirs of the Promise - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the true seed of Abraham through whom his disciples inherit the covenant promises, including the gift of the Spirit)
{THESSALONIANS}
- Rescuing Us From Wrath - {PDF Copy} - (Even now, Jesus is “rescuing” his people from the coming “wrath” that the unrighteous will receive when he arrives in glory)
- His Parousia - {PDF Copy} - (The arrival of Jesus will mean the resurrection of the dead, the commencement of the New Creation, and the final judgment)
- Crown of Glory - {PDF Copy} - (If the Thessalonians continue to emulate the apostolic example, they will receive the crown of glory at the arrival of Jesus)
- Blameless in Holiness - {PDF Copy} - (Paul prays for the Thessalonians to be found holy and blameless on the day when Jesus arrives in glory)
- Meeting Jesus - {PDF Copy} - (Paul reassures the Thessalonians regarding the participation of dead saints in the arrival of Jesus from heaven)
- Sorrow Not - {PDF Copy} - (Foundational to the hope of the church is the bodily resurrection of believers that will take place when Jesus arrives from heaven)
- Redemption, not Abandonment - {PDF Copy} - (At the heart of the salvation provided by Jesus are the bodily resurrection and New Creation that will take place at his arrival from heaven)
- Just Judgment - {PDF Copy} - (The arrival of Jesus will mean vindication and rest for the righteous, but everlasting loss for the wicked)
- Times, Signs, and Seasons - {PDF Copy} - (Paul does not detail the times and seasons since the Thessalonians understand that the Lord will come like a thief in the night – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
- Rumors and Disinformation - {PDF Copy} - (Disinformation about the day of the Lord caused alarm in the congregation at Thessalonica – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)
- Two Missing Events - {PDF Copy} - (The Man of Lawlessness must appear, and the apostasy must occur before the Day of the Lord commences)
- The Coming Apostasy - {PDF Copy} - (Paul warns of the coming apostasy and links it to the coming man of lawlessness, the Son of Destruction)
- The Son of Destruction - {PDF Copy} - (Many saints will apostatize when the Lawless One, the Son of Destruction, seats himself in the sanctuary of God)
- Seated in the Sanctuary - {PDF Copy} - (The Man of Lawlessness will be unveiled when he seats himself in the House of God - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
- Until Revealed - {PDF Copy} - (The mystery of lawlessness is at work preparing the way for the unveiling of the Lawlessness One – 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7)
- Lying Signs and Wonders - {PDF Copy} - (The Lawless One will use lying signs and wonders to deceive saints into abandoning the faith)
- Lawless One Destroyed - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus will destroy the works of the Lawless One and paralyze him at his glorious arrival on the Day of the Lord)
- Stand Fast! - {PDF Copy} - (Believers prepare for the Apostasy and the coming Man of Lawlessness by standing firm in the apostolic tradition)
- The Sanctuary of God - {PDF Copy} - (In his letters, Paul applies Temple language to the church of Jesus Christ, the sanctuary of God)
{CORINTH}
- True Power and Wisdom - {PDF Copy} - (The power and wisdom of God are found in the proclamation of a Messiah who was crucified on a Roman cross)
- True Spirituality - {PDF Copy} - (The spiritually-minded man understands that the Gospel of Christ Crucified is God’s true power and wisdom - 1 Corinthians 2:14)
- The Ends of the Ages - {PDF Copy} - (In several ways, Paul coordinates the commencement of the last days with the Death and Resurrection of Jesus)
- Final Events - {PDF Copy} - (In explaining the future resurrection, Paul lists key events that will precede or coincide with the arrival of Jesus at the end of the age)
- Day of Christ - {PDF Copy} - (The return of Jesus will be the Day of the Lord when the dead are raised, the wicked are judged, and death will cease)
- The Death of Death - {PDF Copy} - (The arrival of Jesus at the end of the age will mean the termination of the Last Enemy - Death)
- Ekklesia - Assembly - {PDF Copy} - (The use of the term “church” or ekklésia is derived from the “assembly of Yahweh” gathered before the Tabernacle)
{PRISON LETTERS}
- Firstborn of the Dead - {PDF Copy} - (To the Colossians, Paul emphasizes the exalted position of Jesus that he attained following his death and resurrection – Colossians 1:18-19)
- Perfection in Resurrection - {PDF Copy} - (Paul expresses his goal of going on to perfection, a process that will culminate in our physical resurrection when Jesus arrives)
- One People - {PDF Copy} - (By his death, Jesus formed one covenant community - One New Man - based on faith in him, not ethnicity or nationality – Ephesians 2:11-22)
- The Suffering Servant - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples are summoned to adopt the same mind that Jesus had when he poured out his life unto death for the sake of others – Philippians 2:5-11)
- The Mind of Christ - {PDF Copy} - (The submission of Jesus to an unjust death becomes the paradigm for the love and service to others that disciples are summoned to manifest)
{ROMANS}
- Concerning His Son - {PDF Copy} - (Paul introduces his ministry to the churches of Rome and begins his exposition of the Gospel by identifying Christ’s qualifications as Messiah)
- The Power of God - {PDF Copy} - (In Romans, Paul presents his Gospel from humanity's plight due to sin to the resurrection of the dead and the New Creation)
- The Gospel Message - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is summoning his disciples to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God in every inhabited corner of the Earth – Romans 3:22-30)
- From Faith For Faith - {PDF Copy} - (Men are not set right before God from the works of the law but from the faith of Jesus Christ)
- Wrath Revealed - {PDF Copy} - (Paul presents his gospel to the churches of Rome, a message about God’s righteousness and wrath for both Jews and Greeks)
- Food and Calendars - {PDF Copy} - (Paul argues for tolerance in the church on food regulations and the observation of holy days – The shadows now find their fulfillment in Jesus)
- Works of the Law - {PDF Copy} - (In Romans, discussions about justification by “works” has a specific category of works in view – the “works of the law")
- The Faithfulness of God - {PDF Copy} - (The “righteousness of God” refers to His faithfulness to His promises and demonstrated in the salvation He provides in Jesus)
- The Faith of Abraham - {PDF Copy} - (The faith of uncircumcised Abraham provides an example for Jewish and Gentile believers who live from the faith of Jesus – Romans 4:11-17)
- Resurrection and New Creation - {PDF Copy} - (According to Paul, the future resurrection and the New Creation as inextricably linked)
- The Day of Wrath - {PDF Copy} - (According to Paul, the Day of Wrath is coming when the wicked will pay the ultimate price for their disobedience to God – Romans 2:5)
- Both Jews and Greeks - {PDF Copy} - (The equality of Jew and Gentile before God is a pivotal theme in Romans. Members of either group stand or fall before Him on the same basis)
- Plight to Solution - {PDF Copy} - (In Romans, Paul argues from plight to solution as he presents his gospel to the churches of Rome, a message for both Jews and Greeks)
- Future Glory - {PDF Copy} - (Paul summarizes what God did for believers in Jesus and prepares for his explanation of the status of the Jewish people – Romans 8:18-39)
- Coheirs with Jesus - {PDF Copy} - (The
covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus, his seed and heir, including the
promise of land –
Romans 8:1-23)
- The Redemption of our Body - {PDF Copy} - (Paul links the bodily resurrection of believers to the New Creation, and both events are part of the promised redemption – Romans 8:1-23)
- Abraham's Seed - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the promised seed of Abraham, the heir of the covenant promises, and receipt of the inheritance is based on faith in Him)
- Paul on the State - {PDF Copy} - (Paul instructed believers living in the Roman Empire not to resist the government since its existence and authority were arranged by God – Romans 13:1-8)
{PASTORALS}
- He Abolished Death - {PDF Copy} - (Paul reminded Timothy of Christ’s resurrection since false teachers were denying the future resurrection)