Reading Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Thessalonians

by Cousar, Charles B.

• ISBN13: 9781573123235
• ISBN10: 1573123234
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-02-01
• Publisher: Smyth & Helwys Pub

Summary

Cousar interprets three letters of Paul, each of which shows him in a different light. In Galatians, the apostle contends for the gospel against a group of Jewish Christian missionaries who have come into the congregation. In Philippians, Paul addresses his favorite community in intimate terms to offer thanks for a gift they have sent him and to urge them to maintain unity in the face of opposing forces. 1 Thessalonians, Paul's first letter, is written to encourage the congregation in that city to lead lives worthy of the gospel. The commentary traces the movement of the letters, paragraph by paragraph, and pays particular attention to the literary character of the writing, and to the theological implications of the text for the church today.

Table of Contents

Editor's Foreword	vii
Author's Preface	ix
Works Cited	xi
Galatains
Introduction	3	(18)
The Letter	3	(2)
Authorship	5	(1)
The ``Story'' of the Letter	6	(2)
Historical Circumstances	8	(6)
Structure of the Letter	14	(3)
Message of the Letter	17	(4)
A Striking Beginning (1:1-10)	21	(6)
Denial of Paul's Authorship (1:1)	21	(1)
Co-Authors (1:2)	22	(1)
Recipients (1:2b)	22	(1)
Confessional Greeting (1:4)	23	(1)
Statement of Astonishment (1:6-9)	24	(1)
Questions and an Affirmation (1:10)	25	(2)
The Origin and Power of the Gospel (1:11-24)	27	(8)
Thesis (1:11-12)	29	(2)
Personal Testimony (1:13-24)	31	(4)
The Truth of the Gospel (2:1-21)	35	(18)
The Truth of the Gospel at Jerusalem (2:1-10)	35	(6)
The Truth of the Gospel in Antioch (2:11-14)	41	(6)
Justification by the Faithfulness of Christ (2:15-21)	47	(6)
An Argument from Experience (3:1-5)	53	(4)
An Initial Argument from Scripture (3:6-4:11)	57	(18)
People of Faith as Abraham's Descendants (3:6-14)	58	(4)
The Promise and the Law (3:15-25)	62	(3)
Those in Christ as Abraham's Descendants (3:26-29)	65	(3)
God's Liberating Action in Christ (4:1-7)	68	(4)
A Warning Not to Revert to Slavery (4:8-11)	72	(3)
A Personal Argument (4:12-20)	75	(6)
An Exhortation to Imitate Paul (4:12a)	76	(1)
A Reminder of the Galatians' Previous Welcome (4:12b-16)	76	(1)
An Alert to the Agitators' Strategy (4:17-18)	77	(1)
An Expression of Paul's Concern and Frustration (4:19-20)	78	(3)
A Further Argument from Scripture (4:21-31)	81	(8)
A Direct Word to the Readers (4:21)	83	(1)
The Hagar-Sarah Story and Its Interpretation (4:22-27)	83	(3)
Implications and Appeal of the Hagar-Sarah Story (4:28-31)	86	(3)
A Warning Not to Abandon Freedom (5:1-12)	89	(8)
Introduction (5:1)	91	(1)
A Passionate Plea to Reject Circumcision (5:2-6)	92	(2)
An Indictment of Agitators (5:7-12)	94	(3)
Love and Law (5:13-15)	97	(4)
Living by the Spirit (5:16-6:10)	101	(8)
The Spirit at War with the Flesh (5:16-26)	101	(4)
Bearing One Another's Burdens (6:1-10)	105	(4)
A Decisive Closing (6:11-18)	109	(8)
Philippians
Introduction	117	(16)
The Letter	117	(3)
Authorship	120	(1)
Integrity of the Letter	121	(2)
Paul and the Philippian Church	123	(2)
The Opponents	125	(2)
Structure of the Letter	127	(3)
Message of the Letter	130	(3)
Genuine Friendship (1:1-11)	133	(4)
Progress of the Gospel (1:12-26)	137	(8)
Paul's Imprisonment (1:12-14)	137	(1)
Contrasting Preachers of the Gospel (1:15-18a)	138	(2)
Paul's Immediate Future (1:18b-26)	140	(5)
Living as Citizens Worthy of the Gospel (1:27-2:18)	145	(16)
Appeal to Steadfastness (1:27-30)	146	(3)
Appeal to Unity (2:1-4)	149	(1)
Appeal to Christ's Example (2:5-11)	150	(7)
Application of the Appeal (2:12-18)	157	(4)
Commendation of Two Christlike Models (2:19-30)	161	(4)
Conformity to the Cross (3:1-4:3)	165	(16)
Acknowledgment of Repetition (3:1b)	166	(1)
A Negative Model: Dogs, Evil Workers, Mutilators of the Flesh (3:2)	167	(1)
A Positive Model: ``We'' (3:3-4a)	168	(1)
A Positive Model: Paul (3:4b-11)	169	(3)
Life Between the ``Already'' and the ``Not Yet'' (3:12-14)	172	(1)
Exhortation to Follow Paul's Example (3:15-17)	173	(2)
A Negative Model: Enemies of the Cross (3:18-19)	175	(2)
A Positive Model: Heavenly Commonwealth (3:20-31)	177	(1)
Three Exhortations (4:1-3)	178	(3)
The Matter of Giving and Receiving (4:4-23)	181	(10)
Final Exhortations (4:4-6)	182	(1)
Peace Wish (4:7)	183	(1)
Continued Exhortations (4:8-9)	184	(1)
Giving and Receiving (4:10-20)	185	(2)
Greetings (4:21-22)	187	(4)
1 Thessalonians
Introduction	191	(8)
The Letter	191	(3)
Integrity of the Letter	194	(1)
Structure of the Letter	195	(2)
Paul and the Thessalonians	197	(2)
A Lavish Beginning (1:1-10)	199	(4)
Integrity of the Apostles (2:1-16)	203	(8)
The Claim of Bold Speech (2:1-2)	203	(1)
Denials and Affirmations about the Ministry (2:3-7a)	204	(2)
The Apostles' Pastoral Concern (2:7b-12)	206	(1)
The Thessalonians' Reception of the Gospel (2:13-16)	207	(4)
Personal Relationships (2:17-3:13)	211	(6)
The Pain of Separation from the Thessalonians (2:17-20)	212	(1)
Timothy's Visit to Thessalonica (3:1-10)	212	(2)
Prayer for a Return Visit, Love for Others, and Holiness (3:11-13)	214	(3)
Directions for Pleasing God (4:1-12)	217	(6)
Exhortation to Continue Pleasing God (4:1-2)	218	(1)
Called in Holiness (4:3-8)	219	(2)
Exhortation to Love Others and Live Quietly (4:9-12)	221	(2)
Eschatological Encouragement (4:13-5:11)	223	(8)
Comfort Concerning Those Who Have Died (4:13-18)	223	(4)
Concerning the Times and Seasons (5:1-11)	227	(4)
Directions for Communal Life; Closing (5:12-28)	231	(1)
Exhortations for Community Life (5:12-22)	232	(2)
A Prayer for Holiness (5:23-24)	234	(1)
Closing (5:25-28)	235