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LETTERS OF PAUL

PAUL, THE CORRESPONDENT and HIS EDITOR, LUKE.

These are excerpts from the full 18-page commentary.
This symbol divides selected excerpts: ==========

Part of the Pauline story is told in Acts - “Practices of the Apostles.” The Letters add information. We see the complex person, Paul, much more thoroughly in his letters. These he wrote to various communities where he had worked. Many letters were occasioned by blazing anger. We know that Luke edited some of these letters and tried to make them more acceptable. I think Luke edited all of Paul’s letters, and this would be the third work attributed to Luke in the writings of the Apostolic Fathers.

We need two chronologies (2) as we start this commentary on the Letters of Paul. We need the lifeline of Paul and when he wrote the letters. I shall give the circumstances surrounding each letter as we begin the comments on that letter.

Sequence of commentaries will follow the chronology of the letters.

2 LIFE OF PAUL: MAIN DATES

It is important to note that Paul (Saul) was a young man at the time of his conversion, and was only 57 when he died. The sharp language and impatience in action can be understood much better if we keep in mind that he was a young as he began his missionary work. He was on his own because he was too hard to get along with in the Roman community of Christians. Paul was a young man who wanted to be in charge.

Timothy and Titus were still young boys living at home when their families were converted and they came to know Paul. Both of them admired Paul and followed him. This makes the advice of Paul to Timothy and Titus much more intelligible. They were not to allow the Christian communities in which they were the official leaders to ignore them because of their youth.

Paul began his first trip when he was 35 and made his third trip when he was 43-48. He was in and out of prison three different times between the ages of 51 and 57. He died in Rome at Tre Fontani at the age of 57.

2 CHRONOLOGY OF LETTERS
1 & 2 Thessalonians …… 50-51 A.D.
1 & 2 Corinthians …… 57 A.D.
Philippians …… 56-57 A.D.
Galatians – Romans …… 57-58 A.D.
Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon …… 61-63 A.D. (captivity letters)
1 Timothy, Titus …… 65 A.D.
2 Timothy …… 67.A.D.
* Letter to Hebrews is Joanine, not Pauline.

NOTE: Paul did his writing from age 40 until he was 57 years old, just before his death. He wrote the last letter, his “swan song,” from the Roman imprisonment just before his death. Remember: all the apostles were young men when called. None lived to be old men except John who was in his very early teens when called.

2 Sequence of commentaries follows the chronology of the letters.

1 THESSALONIANS. 50-51 A.D.

Paul was 40 years old as he wrote this letter. The people of Thessalonica had a serious question about the “Second Coming” of Christ. The Greek term is “Parousia” which literally means an “appearance.” Technically, in the biblical and theological context, it means the “Second Coming” or the “Appearance” of Jesus Christ in the final days of the world. Jesus will come and the Kingship will be fully established. The faithful will enter into a final and perfect phase of the Kingdom. The unfaithful will have excluded themselves forever from entrance into the Kingdom.

The Thessalonians listened to Paul and were convinced that this second appearance or Parousia of Jesus would take place within their life times. In fact, there was some indication that Paul himself thought the second appearance of Christ would be a matter of a few years.

The problem arose when Jesus did not return and some of the Christians were dying. What would happen to them in this final appearance of Jesus? Paul did not have an answer because he had not envisioned the problem. However he assured the flock that they need not worry. Those who have died will not lose out. The people who were still alive would not precede those who have died. Paul assured them that this answer did not settle the problem but he was sure of the justice of God. Everyone would be treated by God, as he/she deserved.

Paul then urged the faithful to grow in their faith as they had been instructed. God's will for everyone is that we be “HOLY.” This means: We are to be at peace with each other. We are to develop more and more courage in our daily lives. We are to take care of those who are weak and help them to cope. We are to be patient with each other and not even to think of vengeance. We are to be happy at all times and to pray constantly. We must give thanks to God for all his generosity and never suppress the Spirit.

2 THESSALONIANS. 50-51 A.D.

This letter is almost like a footnote attached to the other letter. Paul was again concerned with the end of time and what was going to happen. The great war or showdown between Jesus and the enemy had already taken place. Jesus conquered the kingdom of Satan or the Evil One. The victory was won. It would be fully manifest in the final judgment. Then all people would be called to their reward or loss of it, depending on how they had lived their lives.

1 CORINTHIANS. 57 A.D.

Corinth was the center of Hellenism, a magnet for every philosophy and religion, and a notorious center for immorality of every kind. To say the least, it was an awkward milieu for the new religion to get started. Some of the greatest minds came from this Hellenistic world. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are prime examples. The upper class of this Hellenistic world spent much of their time listening to anyone who had an idea to expound - no matter how inane. Then they had long and wild dinner parties to take care of the evening and most of the night. After this they slept, went to the baths and started another day. As Paul said, it was a life of debauchery and it gradually destroyed the Hellenistic world.

It was from this world that Paul made his first converts in Corinth. They were intrigued by the new ideas and accepted the practices wholeheartedly. However, there was always the lure of their former life around them, and they soon succumbed to their old habits or tried to mingle the old with the new. Paul got them back on track by his letters.

The first letter to the Corinthians has three major sections.

Section I. Divisions and Scandals: 1:10-6:20;
Section II. Answers to Various Questions: 7:1-14:40;
Section III. The Resurrection of the Dead: 15:1-58.

There is an introduction and a conclusion that ties these sections together into a literary whole.

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Stewards of the Mysteries of God. No Lawsuits; Avoid All Sin. 1 Cor. 4:1-13.

Christians should be able to settle all differences among themselves. Christians should not have to go to a religious court. Above all, Christians should not be contesting with each other in a civil court. Avoid all sin: especially prostitution connected with the fertility cults.

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Proper Conduct for Public Worship: Head Covering. 1 Cor. 11:2-14:40.

A man should never have his head covered if he is praying or speaking publicly. A woman should never have her head uncovered if she is praying or speaking publicly. This custom was definitely Jewish and referred to the conviction that women were of less importance than men. This practice was followed for centuries by the Church. At the present time, it is gradually being dropped.

The Last Supper.

This passage, 11:17-34, should be carefully read. This meal was supposed to be a commemoration and sharing in the last meal that Jesus ate before he died. It was to be a simple meal, and the main point was to remember the significance of sharing with Jesus and with each other. Instead, the people brought huge baskets and then got into private groups and ate and drank to excess.

Paul condemned the excess. He said to keep this meal simple, and stressed the meaning that it had in their lives. This meal was primarily a sharing with each other and with Jesus Christ as a true “community” (Koinonia). Paul, in no way, was talking about transubstantiation or other points that theologians have drawn from these words over the centuries. There is no mystery here. The conclusion, stated by Paul, was simple and concise: When you meet for this meal, wait for each other. If you are hungry, eat at home before you come.

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The Greatest Gift: LOVE. 1 COR. 12:31-13:13.

The last sentence of this passage is the key to all of Pauline thought: “Now there remain these three: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.” His opening sentence was, “And I am going to show you a way that is better than all of these.” He used the generic word “charism.” It means “gift.” The words, charism and charismatic, in English, have taken on some overtones that are not in the Greek. All that is stressed here is the fact that we are talking about all the gifts of God, and love is the greatest - as Paul now showed.

First, Paul gave some basic comparisons to show what a person would become without love. The most eloquent person in the world, without love, would be a loud, booming, empty gong. If he were a prophet, understood all mysteries, knew everything, had faith in all its fulness so that he could move mountains, but he did not have love, he would be nothing. If a person gave away every possession, and even gave his body to be burned, but had not love, it would do no good. In short, if there is no love, there is absolutely nothing.

Then, Paul gave the positive qualities of love: Love is patient and tailor-made to each person. Love is never jealous, boastful, or conceited. Love is never rude or self-seeking. Love does not take offense, nor is it conceited. Love takes no pleasure in the failures of others but delights in the truth. Love is always ready to excuse, trust, hope, and endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end. Faith - Hope - Love: The greatest of these is Love.

There is no doubt that love, qualified in this way, would change the whole world in a few generations. However, it means the removal of every slightest form of selfishness. Love and selfishness cannot stay in the same person. They contradict each other and selfishness will always take precedence - if it is not removed.

You will note, I used the word, “tailor-made” rather than “kind” for the second quality. I think this is a better translation of the Greek. The Greek word means “perfectly adapted to each individual.” Matthew used the same word when he talked about the yoke of Christ. Jesus said his yoke was “tailor-made” to each individual, and therefore the burden was easy to bear. (Mt. 11:28-30)

This description of LOVE seems almost to be out of character for Paul. We know that Luke edited many of the letters of Paul. I think he edited all the letters and tried to tone down the harsh attitude that came into the words of Paul on many occasions. I think that Luke was the source of this deep insight into love - with all its qualities and power of action.

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2 CORINTHIANS. 57 A.D.

The date for this letter is almost simultaneous with the first letter. The reason is quite simple. This second letter does not seem to hang together. It is almost like a series of fragments that go back to Paul but were put together to preserve them.

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Paul’s Apostolate. 2 COR. 3:12-7:16.

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Paul’s Apologia! 2 COR. 10:1-13:10

As we have said before, Paul had a contradictory personality in many senses. He was outspoken to the point of bluntness and yet he was crushed by remarks that most people would overlook. His primary concern was the acceptance of Jesus and his teachings and yet he could be almost distraught when people did not accept his presentation. In these chapters we get a deep insight into the person who was Paul. He was not a weak character!

It bothered him that people said he talked a big game when he was writing letters from a distance but when he was present, he was a pushover. Paul called on the authority that was his as an apostle. He had a right to command and demand, and he did so - if that was the only way to get them to listen.

Paul said that he stood on his own merits and did not have to get his strength or importance by comparing himself with others. These few verses seem to say that the Corinthians were comparing him and his manner of teaching to other missionaries. Paul was coming off second - as he heard it. Paul did not like to be compared to others. He wanted each person to stand on his own merits. Paul did not like to brag but he would - if necessary!

He was a Hebrew, an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham. He was a servant of Christ. And even more: in prison often; five times the 39 lashes of the Jews; 3 times beaten with sticks; once stoned; 3 times shipwrecked; a day and a night adrift on the open sea; in danger from rivers, robbers, his own people and the gentiles; in danger in towns and open country, at sea, and from so-called brothers. He had labored without sleep; and had been hungry, thirsty, starving, cold and without clothes. Plus all this, he had his daily anxiety about all the Churches. He had to be let down in a basket to escape the city.

Paul was given a special vision from God and then he was given his sickness to keep him humble. What this sickness was, was never clearly stated. It was severe enough to demand the help of a doctor and Luke was brought in. Luke stayed with Paul until the end.

The picture that evolved from this personal revelation was a man of tremendous talent, deep feelings, sincere faith, fierce attachment, and tender to the point of deep suffering from any insult. I have often tried to picture what Paul was like as he walked along on his different journeys with his companions. I would imagine he was always discussing some basic point of the teaching of Jesus and its application. He was eager to hear the opinions of all his companions but just as eager to question them. I think he would easily irritate the people around him unless they had the calm disposition of Luke. Timothy would be great because he was so much younger than Paul and knew him as a friend of the family. There was no doubt, the community in Jerusalem was smart to get Paul out on the road to exercise his zeal. He would have been a source of constant friction within the confines of Jerusalem itself.

Conclusion: 2 COR. 13:11-13.

This was the usual closing of a Pauline letter - tender and considerate.

PHILIPPIANS. 56-57 A.D.

Philippi was one of the principal cities of Macedonia. In 50 A.D., Paul worked there during his second missionary trip. He felt close to the people because he had accepted gifts from them - as was the usual practice. He did not want, in any way, to give the impression that he was making money out of his preaching and teaching.

Paul was under arrest when he was writing this letter but there was no certainty as to which captivity it was. It is primarily a friendly letter with some bits of doctrine included. There is special mention of the “bad workmen” who are trying to overthrow the work of Paul in other places and might arrive in Philippi.

Humility of Jesus. 2:1-11.

Humility is essential if there is to be unity, community and the resultant ability to work together in the ministry of the Word.

Then we have the famous “KENOTIC” text or the song in which Jesus was praised for “EMPTYING” himself. There is no doubt that this is a development of the Servant Song (ls.52:13-53:12). I do not think we should take this text to be a statement of the divine nature of Jesus in which he preexisted. The fact is, he could not give up this nature if he had it, and then I think the whole incarnation becomes a charade in which Jesus was God but he acted like man. He was God who could not suffer in any way and yet he suffered the terrible death of the cross. When any question of incongruity or impossibility is brought up, the theologians merely say “It's a mystery.”

The fact is, I think this song is talking about Jesus as the 2nd Adam. He was perfectly obedient to the Father in every detail of his life. Yet he was made to suffer the worst possible pains to atone for the failure of the 1st Adam. Because of this obedience and this victory over sin, death, and failure, he was deserving of the highest praise and honor. He was worthy to be at the right hand of the Father and greeted as the Lord of mankind.

The picture of the life of the Christian takes on more meaning. In day-to-day living, each person is to manifest this emptying of self, putting on of Jesus, and his obedience. The result is the glory of Jesus for each person.

GALATIANS. 57-58 A.D.

The letter to the Christians in Galatia and the letter to the Romans should always go hand in hand. Galatians is a fiery sort of letter because Paul was endeavoring to offset a heresy that had arisen in this community. That heresy dealt with the power of faith in Jesus Christ.

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ROMANS. 57-58 A.D.

The letter to the Romans was unusual among the writings of St. Paul for several reasons. In fact, many scholars question whether Paul wrote this letter. There is no doubt the ideas come from him, but was it written in its entirety by some emanuensis?

Editor’s note: an “emanuensis” is a person skilled in writing the ideas of others as dictated or paraphrased. In Paul’s time, the emanuensis would also be skilled in writing on parchment.

The reasons for questioning Paul’s authorship are several. First of all, Paul had not worked with the Christians in Rome. Peter was the apostle of Rome and set up the community there. As a general rule, Paul wrote only to the communities he had founded and, most of the time, to correct or encourage them.

Secondly, the ideas in this letter are too developed and elaborated to fit the style of Paul. He could have written in this fashion. It’s just that he did not ordinarily have the patience for such a detailed thesis.

My own proposal or theory is this. Paul wrote his answer to the community in Galatia. He was very angry that they could have been so easily duped. He was even more angry with the Judaizing Christians for waiting until he was gone and then attacking his followers. His anger led him to say a lot of things which might seem outrageous and out of keeping with the decorum demanded of an apostle and teacher.

After Paul calmed down, he saw that the core of what he said was good. With Luke's help, he removed the angry words, rethought and reworded his ideas, and Luke presented us with the finished Pauline product.

Live by Faith. Romans 1:16-17.

This is the text on which the whole rebellion or reformation of 1517 A.D. was based. Martin Luther and many theologians insisted that the Church had drifted away from its pristine holiness and truth. They felt that rituals and processions and donations had taken the place of true faith.

The actual wording of the Greek text is this: “The Good News is the creative power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. The justice of God is revealed from faith to faith.” Faith here is a much more complete notion than is usually learned in the catechism.

Faith means:

1) I UNDERSTAND what is being said.
2) I am CONVINCED of the truth of these ideas.
3) I am COMMITTED to the practice of these ideas.
4) I LIVE IN ACCORD with my convictions.

In this FULL sense of the word, there is no doubt that FAITH is the only source of salvation. There is no doubt that Martin Luther, from his writings, and many other theologians of the time, understood Faith in this full sense. However, the Roman authorities and controlling theologians at the Council took the narrow definition. Faith to them was only an intellectual assent. Hence the controversy was over a false definition of the key word.

Paul developed the qualities of faith in the rest of the letter. The development was done step by step. Hence many people in the western world feel they should read this letter first. The last chapters of the letter are a summary and exhortation to all the followers of Jesus.

COLOSSIANS. 61-63 A.D.

Colossians is another of the polemic letters of Paul. He was not angry but he was insistent that the errors that were again prevalent in the community must be removed.

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EPHESIANS. 61-63 A.D

The letter to the Ephesians is a follow-up on Colossians. This letter developed some of his most beautiful ideas of the Good News.

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PHILEMON. 61-63 A.D.

Paul was in prison when he wrote this note to Philemon. Philemon was a fellow worker in the ministry of the Word. One of his slaves, Onesimus, had run away and was recaptured and brought back.

In this society, the slaves were the chattel or property of the owner and the owner could treat them as he saw fit. If a slave ran away and was recaptured as in this case, he was usually beaten severely as an example, and might even be put to death if he was not too valuable as a worker.

Onesimus was put in prison with Paul and while there, he became a convert to the Christian way of life. Now he was to go back to his master who was also a Christian and a convert of Paul.

Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon. He offered to pay for any damages that Onesimus had cost. Paul stressed that the slave was to be treated as a brother in Christ. Note: Paul did not condemn buying and selling of slaves as against the natural law or innately wrong. He just said that Onesimus had to be treated as a brother in Christ.

Paul emphasized that he was writing this note in his own hand. And if all these arguments did not convince Philemon, Paul reminded him that he would be there shortly for a visit. The implication was clear. If Philemon had not handled the matter in a Christian manner, as Paul wanted, he would have to answer to Paul.

1 TIMOTHY. 65 A.D. TITUS. 65 A.D. 2 TIMOTHY. 67 A.D.

The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus are frequently called pastoral letters. The reason is found in the content. Paul was writing to these men at the end of his life. He knew that he would soon die for his faith. He had taught these men, trained them for the ministry of the word, and appointed them as “episkopoi” (overseers) in their areas.

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Short Summary of the Pauline Writings

This is a short summary of all the writings of Paul. Paul was influential in the foundation and spread of the Christian life and beliefs in the Roman world of the times. His influence has continued down through the centuries. However, it must be remembered that he was alive for only 37 of the first years of the life of the Church. He was a very hostile enemy of these ideas and ideals at first. His heritage and contributions go on but must be understood in the perspective of his times.