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Lesson OneGalatians: An Introduction to Paul's Epistles and a Survey of His Galatian Epistle5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson Two1 Thessalonians-1 Corinthians: Paul's Doctrine of Last Things5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeJudaism: The Religion Jesus Was Born Into5 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 77
Discussion Questions
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How is understanding the process of letter-writing in the ancient Greco-Roman world helpful to your study of the epistles found in Scripture?
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It helps us to detect the various parts of a letter and to appreciate its flow of thought better. Additionally, knowing that Paul frequently combines the conventional Hebrew “peace” greeting with the Grecian “grace” greeting, helps us see how he reaches out appropriately to the churches which have a mixed Jewish-Gentile demography. Where we notice an anomaly from the usual letter structure, such as the absence of a word of thanksgiving, we are prompted now to examine the reason why.
#Epistles
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I believe that this helps us understand the language and meaning of the times. By having a better understanding of this processes, we can unpack the meaning of the Scriptures. I remember thinking that the Bible was too hard to understand, but as I learn more and break down these books in Scripture I find my eyes being opened with more understanding.
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Understanding the process of letter writing is very important to distinguish the literary forms of writing at the times of the epistles to be able to see the arbitrary choice of the writer to sometimes make different choices to make his point clear, like in the case of the letter to the Galatians where St Paul skips thanksgiving to make a point about the criticality of the topic he is going to discuss
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It gives background into how the letters were written in their culture and often the meaning if something was different. Style was also important to understand the author’s meanings. Often we forget these are letters written with a purpose.
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In this lesson, Dr. Blomberg briefly describes both a “hard legalism” and a “soft legalism.” How would you characterize the “soft legalism” he describes? Do you have a list of dos and don’ts for yourself and/or for others?
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Soft legalism is the list of “do’s and dont’s” that often come with salvation. It is not a list of prerequisites, but we have to be careful that we don’t put these things into that category. We can be guilty of judging others by our list of “do’s and dont’s”. I don’t have a written list of do’s and dont’s, but I can be guilty of having thoughts about how others should lives their lives or express their faith.
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I think that many of us unwittingly use lists of dos and don’ts that we have to challenge and hold up to the light of God’s Word.. In our quest to feel in control life and to make sense of it, we often assign our own rules that aren’t necessarily in line with God’s truth.
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Soft legalism is that list of things we think we need to do or not do because we are saved, and yes, it’s a sneaky form of legalism. It’s noticeable when I look at someone not measuring up to this standard and wonder if they are “really saved.” It takes a conscious effort to remind myself to keep this in proper perspective.
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I think it’s more of missing the target. Even St Paul himself in his letters many times lists do’s & don’t’s for the believers but never to tell them just do these things or don’t do those and this should be enough, but rather to give them guidance on the way from the experience of a shepherd and the care of a parent. On the other side he always warns believers from being dragged in to the list of Do’s and Don’t’s and missing the main point of doing or not doing anything which is living the fullness of life through the Holy Spirit who transform us into the likeness of Christ day by day.
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Soft legalism are things we attached to what we need to do to be strong in faith and even salvation. Not scriptural at all. Actually it is judgemental on things that God is not worried about.