New Testament Exam #3 PDF

Paul and Women Jesus goes back to creation narrative when asked about sex and women Balance between our own experience and ancient world experience Bible’s view of God’s plan for the male-female relationship A typical “western” non-evangelical view would say that these texts are ir...

Paul and Women Jesus goes back to creation narrative when asked about sex and women Balance between our own experience and ancient world experience Bible’s view of God’s plan for the male-female relationship A typical “western” non-evangelical view would say that these texts are irredeemable and should be overcome - the biblical writers were patriarchalists ○ Not seen as authoritative for the church - ex) 1 Timothy 2, misogynistic Two main views (in evangelical circles) ○ Complementarianism - men lead in marriage and the church and women follow - helper subordinate Soft complementarianism - Most would say equal value, different roles (God given roles, man has role of leader), women involved within church with head male pastor - embarrassed of other hard complementarians Hard complementarianism - Some would not say equal value (or derivative “image-of-goddess”) Aren’t as valuable ○ Egalitarianism - men and women are equal partners in marriage; they lead together. Both are able to be leaders in the church Hard egalitarianism: Equal value, equal roles - half and half, everything must be 50/50= equal, or women need more leadership than men bc historically we haven’t had any representation Soft egalitarianism: Middle of the road: mutuality, everyone provide their gifts, equal access to roles Marriage Genesis 1-3 - key texts because they set a creational norm as the first “marriage”; both Jesus and Paul use in the NT when talking about marriage and sexuality  Gen. 1:26-27 - Both views usually agree that the Hebrew “Adam” has the sense of “humans” here, “mankind” v “humankind” ○ A-dom : people (M&F - functional equivalence) , just men (formal equivalence) - contextual call ○ Both male and female given the task of stewarding the earth - no distinction Gen. 2:18 - Eve as Adam’s helper (ezer) ○ View 1) a subordinate follower, not from a leadership position; assistant ○ View 2) someone who helps from a position of strength - no subordinate connotations - OT uses ezer to describe God as the helper of Israel, not used of a subordinate - takes contextual context, God as ezer partnership/equality Gen. 2:19-22 ○ View 1) Adam is created first, which gives him priority/dominance/ leadership ○ View 2) God routinely subverts the firstborn’s role in the OT (Gen. 1 humans are created last; Eve is last last); Eve is made from Adam’s rib/side which pints to equality Woman take out of man Gen. 2:23 NAMING ○ View 1) The man names the woman, like he names the animals Naming has authority, fathers usually have naming rights ○ View 2) “Woman” isn't a name; here he recognizers her as both like him (human) and unlike him (female) Suitable as partner Gen. 2:24 ○ View 1) usually does not emphasize ○ View 2) Genesis uses the words “man” and “woman” to describe the couple not “husband” and “wife” which in the OT would be used with the connotation of master or owner and a wife as property A wife is her husband’s and a husband is his wife’s Genesis 3 and the Fall (breaking something God put in place) Gen. 3:16 ○ View 1) “desire” as need for love and romantic connection Women need that more than men ○ View 2) “desire” as the desire to control the man; first battle of the sexes She loses, man wins - “he will rule over you” ○ View 1) verse 16 is the reality now, though some admit that this breaks God’s original intent (which was man’s role as leader, but not in a negative “ruling sense) ○ View 2) This is the woman’s negative consequence; pre-fall status of the woman was one of equality and in light of Jesus beginning the kingdom/new age, which is about restoring creation, we should be living out the values of creation and resisting the results of the fall Gen. 3:20 - Adam names Eve - life, living ○ View 1) A repetition of 2:23 ○ View 2) Adam names her for the first time, post-fall, after God’s creational intent has been broken Not how God intended for it to be Ephesians 5 and Marriage - Paul spends 3 years in Ephesus, why isn't it more personal - Text criticism: certain copies leave out “in the church of Ephesus” Ephesians 5:21/22 ○ View 1)  Section begins with v. 22 (“wives submit to your husbands”) - the focus is on the wife’s submission Section begins with v. 21 (“submit to one another”) - the submission is one direction ○ View 2) it begins with v. 21, which is clear because there is no verb in v. 22 (we have to assume the verb from v. 21). The focus is mutual submission Ephesians 5:23 - “kephale” means… ○ View 1) “head” which stresses the man’s leadership, this is the “natural” reading of the word ○ View 2) “source”/ origin because Adam is the source of Eve through his rib Even if we use head we take the headship of a crucified Lord seriously - Christ is leader/origin of the church\ Paul quotes Gen. 2:24- goes back to creation ○ Paul uses kephale, not exousia (authority) - Paul would have made it clear that is was about authority by using exousia (which he’s used before) ○ Both 1 and 2 agree that the wife submits. 1) Wife should respect her husband, cultural status quo - how God intended it to be 2) Paul pushing back on status quo Ephesians 5:25 - “husbands love your wives” ○ View 1) argues that the husband’s job is to love his wife Wife submits, husband loves (deferring to others needs) as leader - sacrificial, commitment ○ View 2) stresses that loving is how the husband submits love = submission - Paul puts it in words that 1st C. men will understand Describes HOW the husband submits - rhetorically strategic 1st C. men realize it will cost them something Radical view in 1st C. context  ○ Both views agree that the way in which the husband loves his wife is how Jesus loved the church - he gives up his life for her View 1 is less subversive than view 2 regarding the “household code” HB: Weights texts that pushes back on status quo more heavily The Church Other passages (besides Corinthians and Timothy) matter: Women as the first witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection in the Gospels ○ They function as apostles to the apostles ○ Group of women: includes names of some people within the community Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of Jesus, Susanna ○ Why are “the twelve” all male? 12 tribes - points back to Israel, comparison to twelve brothers/sons in tribes Mary learning at Jesus’ feet, which shows her training to be a teacher herself (Luke 10:38-42) ○ Martha is fulfilling roles of hospitality - Jesus says Mary of Bethany is doing what's better ○ Student posture at feet of teachers - students training to be teachers Women treated as leaders in books like Acts ○ 2:14 - Spirit fills both men and women at Pentecost ○ 9:2 - targets of Saul’s murderous threats ○ 16:13-15 - Paul/Silas’ encounter with Lydia’s household ○ 17:4 & 12 - references to prominent women ○ Paul isn’t arguing , he is just saying what it is Priscill/Prisca as a co-worker and teacher of men like Apollos (Romans 16:3)  ○ View 1) husband is primary teacher ○ View 2) woman as teacher Junia the apostle (Romans 16:7) ○ Only woman called an apostle ○ Called a man in certain translations “Junius” ○ Tries to be translated that she is known by apostles, not that she is one Phoebe the deacon and benefactor/leader (Rom 16:1-2) ○ Deacon - “does ministry”, “servant” ○ NT: group of people in the church - no NT evidence of what they do ○ Paul asks them to receive her; she is bring the letter (and would be the first to explain it to the Roman church) No mail system in ancient world Romans is Paul’s most complicated letter Entrusts Phoebe ○ 1) doesn't mean that she had to teach ○ 2) entrusted to teach Euodia and Syntyche (Phil 4:2-3) ○ Paul says to stop fighting between yourselves ○ They are part of a bigger ministry Affecting everyone in the church ○ “Collaborators” in the gospel Women Prophesying (Acts 21:9, 1 Corinthians 11:5) ○ Prophets - leaders ○ Male prophets supervising women prophets Paul says male and female distinctions don't matter in the people of God (Gal 3:28) ○ Passage is not about leadership specifically - apply to women in leadership View 1) Paul isn't even talking about leadership View 2) willing to apply it 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (30-38) Big Picture - View 1) Timeless Principle (limits all women) - Applies to all women at every time - gender issue / View 2) Contextually specific issue - Limits certain women in this church because of a problem/issue, but not all women generally - We need to have a matching problem to have a matching solution 1a) All women should always be silent in the church (in all places/times) ○ View 1 does not typically take this perspective Women are speaking in other letters 3 chapters earlier women were prophesying Inconsistent, doesn't make sense - Paul is a smart guy 1b) Women are allowed to prophesy, but are not allowed to weigh the prophecies of others (esp. men) and must be silent ○ Most view 1 believe this Women can’t do evaluation “preaching “ as long as men evaluate 2a) The text critic Gordon Fee has famously argues they are a later addition (Paul didn’t write them) because these verse move around in the manuscripts ○ Break logical flow of what Paul is writing ○ Not authoritative for the church - not scripture if Paul didn't write it ○ ⅓ - ½ agree with Fee 2b) Even if they are original, we need to remember that Paul has granted women the right to speak in ch. 11. The context here is abuse of gifts. Ben Witherington argues: during the weighing of the prophecies some women prophets (who had the right to weigh in) were asking questions ○ Asking questions - causing problems Why ? - they were confused or they thought that Christian prophecy was like pagan prophecy, where prophets responded to questions Geographical context: Delphi and oracle - spirit of Apollo would go into women/oracles and prophecy  ○ Paul says, “No, Christian prophets speak in response to the Spirit’s prompting. If you’re confused, don’t disrupt the gathering, but ask your husbands at home (who might also be prophets)” 2c) Bailey stresses that Paul has told tongues speakers and prophets to be silent when others are talking and he tells women not to talk/chat when others are talking-not their turn to speak ○ Women did not have as much access to Greek language as men Women can’t follow what's happening - helping each other translate ○ Women have not been socialized to have an attention span - didn’t learn, not as educated ○ Bailey has experience w/ arabic - women talking amongst themselves ○ Oral culture aspect - processing information through listening and speaking - can’t take notes so they talk about it ○ “I know your Greek is limited. But your husbands have learned a bit more Greek than you have managed to absorb. They have to in order to function on the job. You have not had the chance and it is not your fault. But things have gotten out of hand on a number of levels. Please be helpful and put your questions to your husbands after you return home. I have just told the speakers when to be quiet. This is a situation in which you also need to listen quietly even if you can’t follow what is said” Isn’t about gender, about access View 1) argues that this is a timeless principle, while view 2) argues that where women have educational and linguistic access (and are not being disruptive in church gatherings) they are not being limited ○ Paul shuts down men as well View 1) what the text directly says plus a few stories vs View 2) what stories are assumed and implied 1 Timothy 2:11-15 - Timothy - Jewish mom & Gentile dad (not circumcised)  - Paul has him circumcised so it's not a barricade for preaching to Jews View 1) Timeless Principle (limits all women) / View 2) Contextually specific issue (Limits certain women in this church because of a problem/issue, but not all women generally) V. 8-10 - Women in church are wealthy enough to dress expensively, men lifting up hands V. 11 - “A women should live in quietness and full submission” ○ Header point: women should learn and should do so with “full submission” ○ View 1) submission to men (text doesn't say to men, makes it about gender when it doesn’t need to be) ○ View 2) submission to elders, God, the Gospel, or teachers (which would apply to men as well) ○ The model of a good student Students taught to learn quietly and submit to teachers ○ Submission does not equal obedience V. 12 - “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet” - What about other NT women who teach ? ○ View 1) They shouldn't have taught because no woman ever can, or they must be teaching under male authority ○ View 2) Is just a woman/some women being limited in this church community? Paul isn't saying no woman can teach ever - only limiting a few who are causing problems Paul does not name them because people already know who the problem is V. 12 - Translation issue: authentein as hapax legomenon (one time occurring word - nothing to compare it to in NT) ○ View 1) “Assume authority over” (correlative rule, later sources)  Correlative rule - two verbs next to each other, if one is positive/neutral the other is positive/neutral ○ View 2) “domineer/dominate/control” In Greco-roman sources near the date the connotations are not positive (murderous, dominate) Misuse of authority, can’t dominate men through their teaching in demeaning ways In other passages it makes it clear that this church community had some problematic women and 1 Tim 1:3 stresses the “false doctrine” problem - View 1 says that Paul does not directly talk about those women V. 13- 15 : order of creation - Creation story: how God intended for the male/female thing to work- making a case from this makes it stronger ○ View 1) being second is about subordination. Adam was not deceived because he was first (cultural priority) Eve was deceived to take the initiative as leader over Adam (by taking the fruit first) First - leader, protect him from deception ; second - subordination Leave out Artemis baggage ○ View 2) God does not prioritize firstborns in the OT (Jacob and Esau). And was Eve deceived because she didn't hear God’s instructions firsthand? Also the likely audience is the church in Ephesus and/or surrounding area; in the artemis cult at least some women had power as priestess Women misunderstand how power works because of Artemis cult Sees this as Paul correcting them in that Artemis (first born) is not the foundational creation narrative - women wasn’t first, man was Eve was deceived - she is not the source of life and knowledge, so that’s not basis for female superiority Paul wants women to learn so they don’t do what Eve did, be deceive  Issue is deception not sex - Paul warns the Corinthian church (not just women) not to be deceived like Eve V. 15 - salvation through childbearing ○ 1a) all women need to have babies to be saved Not all women can ○ 1b) women need to stay in proper female roles to be saved Helping husbands, raising children, manage home Childbearing as a domestic framework ○ 2a) women are saved because of the childbirth of Jesus ○ 2b) women in general or specific women in this church will be kept safe in childbearing View 1) timeless principle that limits all women in all times and contexts View 2) in contexts where women can learn so they are not deceived and they don't dominate, they can be in leadership 1 Corinthians Resurrection Hope and How that Hope shapes community boundaries in the New Age/ KoG Background Paul is able to talk with Greek Philosophers, intellectuals because he is equipped and educated Gallio was the governor of Achaia in 51/52 CE, which is how we can identify that Paul was in Corinth in that time. Paul wrote 4 letters to Corinth, we only have 2 of them (1 Cor= 2nd letter) ○ What could be missing? **Reminder- “not written to us, for us” Corinth/Ephesus= biggest cities, most socially significant, connected to Rome  Paul spends 18 months in Corinth (2nd most time, Ephesus=*1st* most time) Talked about lots of different topics in this letter, but themes bind the topics 1 Corinthians 15 and the “Sex Texts” Shape the way followers of Jesus view bodies ○ Hope for the spiritual/heavenly body ○ Physical body chosen for resurrection as well, treating our bodies with respect ○ Burial as a treatment to belief in resurrection ○ Even if our resurrected bodies are renewed there is still continuity of our bodies ○ Comparison of Christians to temples - honor them Intro to 1 Corinthians 5-7: Sex, Our Culture, The Bible Sex in a hypersexualized culture: ○ Sex is both everything and nothing Everything - sexual desire constitutes our identity because feelings determine identity, everyone has “right” to it Nothing - recreational, self-expression, individual freedom, consumer choice ○ The act is not meaningful, but consent is meaningful ○ Sex is the default “story” for any percieved intimacy ○ Individuals self identify regarding their sexuality or sexual identity Common Christian Critque of hypersexualized culture: ○ Idolatrous if it prioritizes self and self understanding over God and his understanding of what it means to be human - including sexual brokenness ○ Sidelines texts that compare human sexuality and marriage to the relationship between God & his people (boundaries to sex) ○ Priority on feelings and psychological space is often connected with Romanticism, the idea that sexual desires/feelings are the most fundamental aspect of our identity  Once identity=sexual identity, sexual liberation is as important as any other kind of liberation Individualistic tendencies of current post modern movement are shaped by “secular” frameworks, not Christian frameworks Culture says that you should live “authentically” w/ what you desire, but Bible says to take up your cross & follow him Sex in NT: If we are fallen, we all have broken sexuality ○ Ppl usually say, only pedophiles/rapists have broken sexuality, but no we ALL do (makes you feel good ab yourself, but excuses the fact we’re all broken) ○ Ppl use sex as a weapon → pornography, objectification ○ God’s restoration for sex= w/i life-long covenantal relationship (marriage), mutual pleasure (1 Cor. 7), grounded in creation (Adam/Eve), no dehumanization (objectifying ppl for their body → makes them not fully human, not image-bearers) ○ Divorce - adultery and abandonment (not a physical leaving, emotional abandonment with abuse) 1 Corinthians 5 Background Info: In the Greco-Roman world, for the most part, sexual activity didnt bring shame at least for free Gentile men Paul is addressing the problem of a man sleeping with his step mother, incest, and the church is not rebuking him ○ They are proud of it, they feel that they are free to do whatever they want because they are free in Jesus - free from sin The community should not associate with him, hold each other to a higher standard, purge the evil, mourn for what is happening in the community We only judge those inside the church, God judges the outsiders, nonbelievers 1 Corinthians 6 V. 1-8 - believers take each other to court (higher status has advantage, public) ○ Should not handle personal disputes within the community - doesn’t model “Jesus community” well ○ Better to allow yourself to be defrauded by another Jesus follower than go to court V. 9-10 - vice list (don’t misinterpret Paul’s tone to be that he’s happy to find sin) ○ Message of vice list - some behaviors don’t fit into KoG, if you want to live into the New Age, must change behaviors ○ Sexually immoral, idolators, adulterers, greedy, drunkards, slanderers, men who have sex with men Occasional vs. Lifestyle ○ At what point does “occasional sin” become “lifestyle” Asking the WRONG question, when humans have a line, they do everything up to the line EX- adultery… hmm, okay so if its just sex, than I can chat w/ my ex, or just make out, we didnt have sex! How instead can you, honor/commit fully to marriage It was Intentional that there was NO line, bc the point is to not get anywhere even CLOSE to the line V. 11 - what some of you were ○ New creations in Jesus, able to participate in right  ○ Able to live within the reality of Jesus Same-sex behavior: leading to exclusion from KoG Story/Framework: ○ Ppl use diff. Stories to understand/interpret this passage the way they want (layer in diff. ways to set an agenda) Creation/The Fall We all have broken sexuality, not just homosexuals 1 Corinthians 6v16- quotes Adam/Eve to remind us ↑ Post-Modern: personal choice, about love, very fluid Love: choice in the moment Fluid: sexual attraction can change Shapes way see creation story (Adam/Eve ab partnership, not gender) Modern: sexual orientation, gene for homosexuality Scientific evidence of why same-sex attraction Once scientifically proven, explains why sexual orientation is static Translation: used terms- ○ malakoi (“soft”/passive partner) ○ arsenokoitai (combined “male” & “bed”, active partner) Slang in their time for “male-banger” Often used to refer to homosexual sex in OT Historical: ○ Is only pederasty (men sex w/ boys, accepted @ time) condemned? No, bc there’s other language for pedos that Paul doesn’t use, if he was just condemning pedos, it wasn’t very direct (but possible) Real issue is being “inflamed” with lust, not man with man ○ Was ancient Medit. world aware of “sexual orientation”/ long-term marriages?  Yes, there were ppl in long-term monogamous relationships (Paul knew) often wealthy, mostly men, more common in cities Yes, they did think orientation was bc of the stars ○ Did Jesus talk about same-sex behavior? No, he never mentions it, BUT does talk ab marriage (implied sex) as being only btwn man/woman (Adam/Eve) If trying to affirm, say that homosexuality isn’t that important if never mentions More traditional- OT is clear on sex btwn man/woman, so didn’t have reason to talk ab it bc his context would’ve already known Theme- Jesus always subverts status-quo, but doesn’t here, which must be important ○ Does Bible ever approve of same-sex behavior? All Jewish writers are not affirming, so Paul would be diff. than ALL of culture if he was affirming When trying to affirm, argue that the problem is excessive lust, not same-sex (but then Paul would be only one saying this) Romans 1v26-27, describes same-sex behavior as idolatry (humans worshiping creation, rather than creator) Not about just individuals, must read as a general word on culture Connection to Slavery & Women’s Roles in Marriage & Church - We now know this is a thing of the past and go in the other way - macro argument Total Witness of Scripture: Tension & Direction Tension in texts= related to slavery & women’s roles ○ Some match the “status quo”- slavery w/ household codes (ab submitting to masters, house order), women told to “be quiet”  ○ Some subvert “status quo”- slavery w/ Philemon being told to welcome slave as brother, women prophesying ○ NO tension for same-sex sexuality Direction (in relationship to the larger culture) ○ Is it loosening or tightening what culture says? Texts on women/slavery LOOSEN cultural/societal norms Texts on sexuality all tighten sexual boundaries (in that context) EX- Paul is subverting culture bc sexuality is loose for men, must be tightened EX- Jesus on marriage, tightens bc says only one partner, just M/W No texts affirms same-sex, all tighten 1 Corinthians 6v12-20 Paul argues that believers shouldn’t have sex w/ prostitutes bc Christians = united w/ Christ, ○ Who could have sex w/ prostitutes? Free, gentile men (not cheating, it was a right) *Not what freedom in Jesus means! ○ they become united w/ their sexual partners- united in “one flesh” like Genesis (A/E) ○ our bodies= TEMPLE of Holy Spirit ○ “You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” Slave language: God says freedom in Jesus means to be a slave to Jesus bc we must live the way he wants God commands us to die to ourselves 1 Corinthians 7 Husband & wife have authority over each others bodies  ○ This subverts culture bc NEVER would have said to bring the wife pleasure!! Singleness/celibacy= better than marriage bc single ppl can devote themselves FULLY to God & the KoG ○ Is this just Paul’s opinion? Bitter bc wife left him? ○ Marriage is hard & lots of work. Singleness= hard & not for everyone. It’s a gift marriage= meaningful, but temporary BUT, permanent marriage= between us & God (so make sure to prioritize God over partner) Sad, but won’t be married in Heaven, same way as you are on earth ○ Jesus /Paul= single, in that culture, very RARE for anyone to be single~ ○ 2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 8-9: The collection, generosity, and the reason for it all How important was the collection to Paul? ○ Very important, talked about it in other letter ○ Raising money for starving Christians in Judea Paul thinks other believers are indebted to these first converts and should help them ○ Without them, they wouldn't believe Opponents of Paul opposed the collection and accused Paul of misusing the money and keeping it for himself For Paul, the collection’s acceptance in Jerusalem equaled the acceptance of his ministry to the Gentiles and the unity of Jewish-Gentile church ○ Acceptance of one part of the church to another  ○ Church being unified across ethnic/racial lines 8:1-7 : Paul compares the Corinthians to the Macedonians ○ Macedonia and Acacia are rivals - Paul using this, “manipulative” “See that you excel in the grace of giving” ○ Titus collects the money not Paul so that people know that PAul isn’t going to touch the money (Paul can’t be blamed or accused) Money and Patronage: historical background ○ Patronage - patron & client, social contact, you owe them honor Follow patron around and proclaim how generous, amazing your patron is ○ People in need of money or support such as artists and writes would have patrons ○ Patronage was very common ○ Not between social equals Locked people into the social stratification they were in ○ Paul says no to patrons He would be giving honor to the wrong place, he opposes stratification It would bind him to Corinth “Hinder the gospel of Christ” - free of charge Paul was supported by Phillipians, but he was not their client ○ Nobody would say no to patronage, public shame when Paul refuses V. 8-9: another comparison (not command) ○ “I am not commanding you” but testing - Philemon language ○ Jesus had everything, but he gave it up, Jesus sacrificed for the other Paul wants them to do it financially V. 10-12: an urge to complete what they’ve started… this is also a chance for them to be benefactors/patrons to Christians in Jerusalem and partners with Paul ○ Not a first time ask - push harder when people have already agreed  ○ They won't receive honor though from Christians in jerusalem V. 13-15 - end goal of their giving is equality ○ Share so they have enough, they share as well when you're in need V. 16-24 - Titus is coming along with 2 other unnamed brothers (Timothy & Apollo?) ○ Ensures that Paul is not taking the money, accountability 9:1-5 - Paul has encouraged both the Macedonians and Corinthians to give in light of the other (honor/shame) ○ He wants the to give in the right way, not grudgingly ○ Comprehensive case: comparison to Jesus, earlier commitment, equality, live up to reputations V. 6 - context is helping believers in need, not tithing V. 7-8 - again his point is giving not out of guilt, abundance should lead to blessing others through good works ○ Emphasis on care for inside the church - participate and contribute V. 9 - quote of psalm 112:9 which connects giving and righteousness. Righteousness is not just having a right heart; it's about right action - living generously V. 10-11 - being “rich” leads to being generous, which leads to thanksgiving to god ○ God is the ultimate Patron V 12-15 Reason for giving is in response to what God gave in jesus - Kingdom of God ○ Corinthians get prayers, not thanks Hebrews Chapter 11: “Hall of Faith” - Hebrews 11:1-12:3 - This section stresses “faith” as major point - Author is unknown - suggestions of Luke and Priscilla What is Faith? ○ Assurance of things hoped for, confidence in things hoped for ○ Live towards them (act out your faith) ○ “Trust-obey” & “faithing it” How does the author develop the argument regarding faith? ○ Uses examples of OT figures - Moses, Abraham, David, Cane & Able Uses unnamed names - broader category for people to fit in (Daniel and Isaiah) Chronologically using names that everyone would recognize - satisfying and encouraging - so many examples ○ Repetitive structure Why does the author include this section on faith in the book? ○ Facing persecution / insulted publicly / losing property / losing social status and reputation Second thinking Jesus thing - realizing that it costs them ○ Jesus’ loyalty to the KoG cost him his life - he was shamed and crucified Jesus paved the way - they too will be elevated like Jesus, don't give up What is the hope/promise that the author recalls for the audience? ○ To be elevated to be with God in heaven ○ We are able to see what fulfillment looks like, OT was running blind ○ “The joy before him”/ “something bigger”/ “things promised”/ “heavenly country” James 5:13-18- Should everyone be healed? V.13: Suffering produced by hardship Suffering produced by external hardship V.14 Who could be called to pray for healing? Why? Anointing with oil (drove out many demons) Mark 6:13. Ancienct uses: medicine, ritual anointing, burial Luke 13 talks about the world we live in sometimes bad things happen its caused by outside factors V.16 Sin needs to be admitted, people need to confess sins to one another Prayer of a righteous person! 1 Peter and Persecution - Main points - persecution can be a good thing - “In what world” - we live in one says Peter 1 Main issue: They are being persecuted (4:1-4) ○ Where? - Asia Minor, modern day turkey ○ Why? - Pagans surprised that they stopped with their wild living and seek abuse on them “Living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry” Why are these activities/behaviors inappropriate in the Jesus community? ○ Present age: Connected to other Gods and is destructive Rather than restorative in the KoG What kind of persecution?  ○ Verbal slander, shaming ○ In a collectivist context public shaming is a big deal How does the author want them to respond? ○ Still be loving and kind - dont do to them what they are doing to you ○ Take the negative energy you have and put it toward good things Bring honor not shame ○ Don not feel shame, rejoice in your suffering Parallel to Christ Big Picture Hope? ○ Salvation of you soul ○ Live towards kingdom of God