NT Ch. 26 Rome & Beyond Pt. 2

What are the main themes of Ephesians?

1) the mystery of redemption 2) the divine intention for the human race 3) grace 4) predestination 5) reconciliation 6) union with Christ

What is the purpose of Philippians?

1) he wanted to explain why he was sending Epaphroditus back to them 2) he wanted to let them know of his plan to send Timothy to them 3) he wanted to thank the Philippian church for their concern for him and their generous gifts to him 4) he desired to inform them of his own circumstances and the advancement of the gospel 5) he wanted to exhort the church to live in humility, fellowship, and unity 6) he also needed to warn them concerning the false teachings of legalism, perfectionism, and careless living the letter is thoroughly Christ-centered. The preexistence, incarnation, and exaltation of Christ

Andrew

Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter. He was also a fisherman, and was a native of Bethsaida. He is the one who brought his brother Peter to Jesus. In fact, every time we find reference to his activities in the Gospels, he is bringing someone to Jesus. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, and became one of Jesus' first disciples. Because of John the Baptist's witness concerning Jesus, Andrew followed Jesus to His overnight lodging and became one of His first disciples. Subsequently Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus (John 1:40-41). He was a fisherman by trade (Matt. 4:18). He questioned Jesus about His prophesy concerning the temple (Mark 13:3). Andrew brought the lad with his lunch to Jesus, leading to the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:8). He and Philip brought some Greeks to see Jesus (John 12:22). He is mentioned for the last time in Acts 1:13. He figures prominently in several early extrabiblical church traditions. He is believed to have been killed on an x-shaped cross in Patros, Greece, around A.D. 69.

Bartholomew

Bartholomew is also known as Nathanael. His name means "son of Tolmai"—"Tolmai" means "plowman." Bartholomew was a native of Cana of Galilee. In the Synoptic Gospels, Bartholomew immediately follows the name of Philip. His name does not occur in John's Gospel. In the first chapter of John, however, the account of Philip's call to discipleship is closely related to the call of a person named Nathanael (vv. 43-51). This circumstance has led to the traditional identification of Bartholomew with Nathanael. The name Nathanael means, "giver of God." He was from Cana of Galilee (John 21:2), and apparently became one of the inner core of disciples who followed Jesus. Although Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not mention him by name, his two appearances in John point to his devotion to Christ. Philip announced to Nathanael that Jesus was the promised Messiah (John 1:45). It was then that Nathanael made the infamous remark, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). Bartholomew (Nathanael) is credited with taking the gospel to India and Armenia. He was beheaded in A.D. 68.

James the Less-------------

James the Less is always named first in this third group. He is also referred to as the son of Alpheus. By the way, Matthew's father was named Alpheus, so there is some possibility—not a good one—that Matthew and James the Less were brothers. We do not know why he is called "the Less." Perhaps it was only to distinguish him from the James in the first Group or it might have been a reference to his height or his age. James the son of Alphaeus is not mentioned in the Gospels beyond the lists of disciples. Little is known about this disciple. Matthew is also called the son of Alphaeus, and may possibly be the brother of James. If this is true, however, it is remarkable that these brothers were not associated in any way in the gospels, as were Simon and Andrew and the sons of Zebedee. Legend says that James was of the house of Gad, was stoned by the Jews for preaching Christ, and was buried by the sanctuary in Jerusalem. It is believed that he was executed by stoning at an unknown date.

James

James was the son of a man named Zebedee, and along with his brother John, was a fisherman. On one occasion Jesus called James and John "Sons of Thunder" because of the violent action they wanted to take against a Samaritan village. He was the first of the Twelve to be martyred. James, the son of Zebedee, was the brother of John. As one of the 12 disciples, he, with Peter and John, formed Jesus' innermost circle of associates. These three were present when Jesus raised Jairus' daughter, witnessed the transfiguration, and were summoned by Christ for support during His agony in Gethsemane. Perhaps because of James' and John's fiery fanaticism, evidenced as they sought to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritan village refusing to receive Jesus and the disciples (Luke 9:52-54), Jesus called the brothers "Boanerges" or "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). James' zeal was revealed in a more selfish manner as he and John (their mother, on their behalf, in Matt. 20:20-21) sought special positions of honor for the time of Christ's glory (Mark 10:35-40). They were promised, however, only a share in His suffering. James was the first of the 12 to be martyred (Acts 12:2). His execution (about A.D. 44), by order of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, was part of a larger persecution in which Peter was arrested (Acts 12:1-3).

What is the main purpose of Ephesians?

Jewish and Gentile believers are one in Christ

John

John, a fisherman, was James' brother. He was the author of five books in the New Testament—the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. He was the last of the Twelve to die, evidently living to be 90-95 years of age. He is often referred to as "the Beloved Disciple." John, son of Zebedee, was the brother of James. Harmonizing Matt. 27:56 with Mark 15:40 suggests that John's mother was Salome. If she was also the sister of Jesus' mother (John 19:25), then John was Jesus' first cousin. This string of associations is so conjectural, though, that we cannot be sure of it. Because James is usually mentioned first when the two brothers are identified, some have also conjectured that John was the younger of the two. James' brother, John, is also known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Luke locates John with Peter in Acts 3 as Peter healed the lame man. Tradition places John's primary ministry in Ephesus, before he was exiled to the Island of Patmos (from where he wrote the book of Revelation). There is no record of how John died.

Judas Iscariot---------------

Judas Iscariot is always named last in the listing of the Twelve. We of course know him as the one who betrayed Jesus, then later took his own life. Consequently, he was the first of the Twelve to die. His name Iscariot probably means "man of Kerioth." Kerioth was a village south of the city of Jerusalem, which means that Judas was the only one of the Twelve from the southern province of Judea. All the others were from Galilee or just east of the Jordan.

Matthew

Matthew is the author of the Gospel that bears his name. He had been a tax collector, and thus an outcast from the Jewish people. He was also known as Levi. His name is a Hebrew name meaning "gift of God." Matthew was a tax collector, whom Jesus called to be an apostle (Matt. 9:9; 10:3). Matthew's office was located on the main highway that ran from Damascus, down the Jordan Valley to Capernaum then westward to Acre to join the coastal road to Egypt or southward to Jerusalem. His duty was to collect "toll" or "transport" taxes from both local merchants and farmers carrying their goods to market as well as distant caravans passing through Galilee. He was an employee of Herod Antipas. Matthew knew the value of goods of all description: wool, flax, linen, pottery, brass, silver, gold, barley, olives, figs, wheat. He knew the value of local and foreign monetary systems. He spoke the local Aramaic language as well as Greek. Because Matthew had leased his "toll" collecting privileges by paying the annual fee in advance, he was subjected to the criticism of collecting more than enough, growing wealthy on his "profit." Thus he was hated by his fellow Jews. Matthew is the same person as Levi, a tax collector (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27), and thus the son of Alphaeus. James the son of Alphaeus is also listed among the apostles (Mark 3:18; Matt. 10:3; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). This indicates that both Matthew and his (half) brother were in close association with Jesus. Mary, the mother of James, keeps the vigil at the foot of the cross with Mary, the mother of Jesus (Matt. 27:55-56; Mark 15:40). If the James mentioned here is the same as the son of Alphaeus, then we have a larger family closely associated with the family of Jesus. Matthew remained in Palestine for about fifteen years following the resurrection (which is about the time of the Jerusalem Council). He is credited with taking the gospel to Ethiopia, before dying in Egypt. Details surrounding his death are unknown.

Peter

Peter is always named first. He was the most outspoken and the most visible of the Twelve. Of the lines in the Gospels that tell us of the words and activities of the Twelve, 60 percent of them are about Peter. His name was Simon, but Jesus gave him the Aramaic name "Cephas" meaning rock. "Peter" is the Greek equivalent of "Cephas." Peter had been a fisherman, and he was a native of Bethsaida. He wrote two of the books in the New Testament; 1 Peter and 2 Peter. Though Peter led the disciples and took a prominent role in the early church (Acts 1-5), he did not emerge as the leader. Peter helped establish the Jerusalem church, but James the brother of Jesus assumed the leadership of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15). Though active in the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 11-12), Paul became "the apostle to the Gentiles" (Acts 14; 16-28). Peter served as a bridge to hold together the diverse people of the early church (Acts 15). Peter became the "apostle to the Jews," preaching throughout Palestine. Peter died as a martyr in Rome under Nero, probably in A.D. 64 or 65 (1 Clement 5:1-6:1). Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. Conservative scholarship maintains that Peter wrote 1 and 2 Peter with scribal assistance. Eusebius held that John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark to preserve the preaching of Peter. Apparently devotees of Peter produced pseudonymously the noncanonical books, the Acts of Peter and the Gospel of Peter, assigning Peter's name to them.

Philip-----------------------

Philip is always the first one named in the second group. Philip is a Greek name meaning "lover of horses." Philip was from Bethsaida, and was the one who brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Jesus. We know very little about him. In the Synoptic Gospels, the name Philip occurs only in the lists of the names of the twelve disciples/apostles (Mark 3:16-19; Matt. 10:2-4; Luke 6:14-16; cf. Acts 1:13). In each instance Philip is presented in fifth position. In John, however, Philip plays a narrative role in 1:43-46; 6:5-7; 12:20-22; 14:8-9. He is said to be from Bethsaida (John 1:44; 12:21), is connected with Greeks seeking Jesus (12:20-21), and serves as a foil for the Johannine Jesus (6:5-7; 14:8-11). It is tempting to conclude that the figure of Philip was "known" by both the author and the readers of the Fourth Gospel. Philip met Jesus the day after Peter and Andrew joined Jesus. To be clear, this Philip (the apostle), is different from Philip the deacon, who preached to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. Tradition places Philip's ministry in Scythia as well. Apparently he died a martyr's death near the end of the first century.

Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot had evidently been associated with the revolutionaries who wanted to destroy Rome's power over the Jewish people. The King James Version incorrectly calls him "the Canaanite." This is a misspelling of the word Canaanean, an Aramaic word that means "patriot." Simon the Zealot is mentioned as one of the 12 disciples in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. Before becoming a disciple of Jesus, he was a member of the Zealots, a party of patriotic Jews, who believed that to submit to Rome's authority was to deny God's lordship. In Matthew and Mark he is called "the Canaanean." This is to designate him from Simon Peter; not that he was a Canaanite or from Cana, but rather a "zealot," or "enthusiast." In Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13, he is correctly called "the Zealot" since he was a member of that party of patriotic Jews, who so zealously opposed the Roman rule in Palestine and fanatically resorted to violence in their hatred of the foreign yoke. Tradition places him in North Africa after leaving Jerusalem. He too was martyred in Persia or Syria around 66.

Which of the prison epistles was written as a "thank you" note to one of Paul's favorite churches?

The epistle to the Philippians, a generous gift had come to Paul from the church in Ephesus through a man named Epaphroditus

Thaddeus

The name Thaddeus means "beloved." He was also known as Lebbeus and as Judas of James. The last designation means that he was either the son or the brother of James the Less. Many believe he was James the Less' son. Judas of James was one of the 12 apostles, and called, "Judas the son of James" (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). This has been interpreted as either Judas the brother of James or more plausibly as Judas, the son of James. In the lists of the disciples given in Matthew and Mark, instead of Judas of James, Thaddeus is mentioned. In John 14:22, this Judas is sharply distinguished from Judas Iscariot and is reported to have asked a question of Jesus: "Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, 'But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?' " Judas was martyred in Syria around A.D. 66.

Thomas

Thomas is usually remembered as "doubting Thomas," perhaps unjustly in the light of some other statements made by him. The name Thomas is an Aramaic name meaning "twin." He is also called Didymus, which is his Greek name. Didymus also means "twin." Thomas (Didymus) was one of Jesus' original 12 disciples. He is named in all the Synoptic Gospels and Acts (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13), but plays no further role in those writings. The name is a Greek transliteration of the word, "twin," translated as Didymus. Thomas appears prominently in John, during the final stages of Jesus' earthly life. When Jesus indicates that he is going back into Judea where "the Jews" had recently tried to stone him to death, Thomas courageously urges the disciples to accompany Jesus, "that we may die with him" (John 11:16). In John 14:5 he appears to lack a deeper understanding of Jesus, questioning how they can follow Jesus when they do not even know his destination; Jesus responds that he is that "way." When the other disciples report that Jesus has appeared to them, Thomas adamantly says that he will not believe Jesus is alive unless he can put his finger into the print of the nails in Jesus' hands and put his hand into Jesus' side (John 20:24-25). Jesus appears to the disciples eight days later when Thomas is present and invites him to satisfy his conditions for belief; Thomas responds, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26-28). Thomas is last mentioned among a group of disciples to whom the risen Jesus appears beside the Sea of Tiberius/Galilee (John 21:2). "Doubting Thomas," as he is often called, traveled east. After traveling to Persia and South India, he also died a martyr's death around A.D. 63.

What is the theme of Philippians?

joy in Christ

What is Paul's focus in the epistle of Ephesians?

the church, but Paul was compelled to discuss its origin in Christ