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Handout 6 – Reading Paul’s Letters

A large amount of the New Testament, some 21 books out of the 27, are letters
written by early Christian leaders to a congregation or congregations. 13 of those 21
letters are written by an early Christian leader named Paul.

It’s like reading someone else’s mail.

God speaks to us through what Paul wrote to them.

The letters are often a favourite source of quotes for both Christians and non-
Christians.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy
gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do
not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my
body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It
does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in
wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes
all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues,
they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know only in part,
and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come
to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I
reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For
now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in
part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 And now faith, hope,
and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 13:1-13)
Handout 6 – Reading Paul’s Letters

What are we trying to do when we are reading Paul’s letters?

1. Our first task is to discover the original, intended meaning when they were
first written.

a. The simple principle we work by – the text cannot mean what it never
meant.

2. What are the things we need to know in order to discern the original
meaning of a text?

Literary Context

Paul’s writes arguments, not verses.

Therefore, you need to THINK PARAGRAPHS.

 Verses are not a reading guide, they are a finding guide.

You also need to think in terms of the whole book. The question is not just – what
does THIS PARAGRAPH mean on its own….the question is also – what does THIS
PARAGRAPH contribute to the whole letter?

The best way to start doing this is just to sit and read the thing – multiple times.

 As you read make notes about the flow of thought. How do the paragraphs
connect? What paragraphs make no sense at all?

It is only by reading the whole, and not just the parts, that you will find out the overall
shape that the author really intended.

 This will increase application (example, 1 Corinthians 13)


Handout 6 – Reading Paul’s Letters

Next, go see what someone says in outline. Here, you should consult Fee and Stuart in
their book How to Read the Bible Book by Book. They give a summary outline of
every biblical book in a few pages, which will orient you to the flow of the argument.
Another good source would be Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament:
Promises Kept.

Historical Context
Paul writes letters to particular situations.

The letters are what we might call “task theology”, because it is Paul thinking
thoughts about God and the Christian life, and applying them to some particular need.

 Why is Paul’s discussion on speaking in tongues only in 1 Corinthians?

 Why is Paul’s only teaching on communion/Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians?

 Why does Paul talk about justification by faith only in Galatians and Romans?

 Why does Paul talk a lot about the second coming of Jesus in 1 Thessalonians,
but not in Romans?

Historical Context means answering questions like:

What was going on in the life of the church that needed a response?
What was going on in the life of Paul that might have contributed to his
needing to send a letter?

Your own reading will suggest things, but it is good to consult something like The
Lion Handbook to the Bible, or the New Bible Dictionary or How to Read the Bible
Book by Book.

For those wanting more advanced information, this is to be found in the


commentaries, which will have a section called “Occasion” or “Situation” in their
Introductions.

Historical Context will help explain why Paul says what he says.
Handout 6 – Reading Paul’s Letters

Studying the Content of the Passage.


How does the passage itself work within itself.

Are there particular words or phrases that need explaining.

Basically, you need to explain what Paul is saying, within context, and the
commentaries will help you turn your educated guesses into thoughtful analysis.

Philippians 4:13 as an example


I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1. First, read the whole passage (THINK PARAGRAPHS):

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.
Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not
saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed
or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him
who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians
know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from
Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving,
except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and
again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for
what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even
more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you
sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And
my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2. What is the historical context of Paul and the Philippian church?

Paul is in jail

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone
else that I am in chains for Christ. (Phil 1:13)

The Philippians sent a man named Epaphroditus to give him a gift from them:

18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have
received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. (Phil 4:18)
Handout 6 – Reading Paul’s Letters

But on the journey from them to Paul, Epaphroditus became sick, and the church
heard of it and became saddened, but God was merciful to Epaphroditus, and so Paul
is now sending Epaphroditus back to them:

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow


worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of
my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was
ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him
only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more
eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have
less anxiety. (2:25-28)

3. Literary Context – Think the Whole Book

Paul’s purpose in sending Epaphroditus back with a letter is that Philippians will
know:

How he is (1:12-26)
To thank them for their gift (4:10, 14-19)
To encourage them to obedience in the matters of unity (1:27-2:17) and avoiding
certain heresies (3:1-4:1)

In light of this, the key to reading verse 13 – is found in verses 11 and 12

If you were explaining the whole paragraph, and not just verse 13, it would be about
showing Paul’s thankfulness for his gift, the importance of Christians supporting one
another materially, and the power of learning to be content in Christ whatever the
circumstances.

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