Early Epistles Final Exam Study Questions

Study Questions from 1 Corinthians: Who was the author? The Apostle Paul Date Written? Spring of 57 A.D. Place of Writing? Ephesus Purpose of Writing? The bad news concerning problems at Corinth had reached Paul in Ephesus. It seems that this news came from at least two sources: 1) the household of Chloe (1:11); and 2) a letter sent to him (7:1), possibly by the hands of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (16:17). Paul writes to answer these reports. Why was Paul glad he had NOT personally baptized many Corinthians? (1 Cor. 1:13-16) “Lest anyone should say that I baptized in my own name.” (v. 15) “But the _______________ man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (2:14) ~ natural “I planted Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (3:6) Who is this man? Where else is he mentioned in the Bible? Jew from Alexandria, taught by Aquila and Priscilla, went to Ephesus, mentioned in Acts 18. To whom were the apostles made a spectacle? (1 Cor 4:9) ~ “We have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.” What things did Paul command the Corinthian church to do in relationship to the fornicator that was called a brother? (1 Cor. 5:5, 7, 9, 11, 13) Hand this man over to Satan. Don’t keep company with anyone who calls himself a brother and is sexually immoral, greedy, a swindler, drunkard, slanderous. Put out of your fellowship the man who did this. What short imperative does Paul give regarding sexual immorality? (1 Cor. 6:18) ~Flee sexual immorality What is the meaning of “From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none.” (7:29) The key to understanding Paul’s meaning are the words "as if." Notice the rest: “those who mourn, as if… those who are happy, as if… those who buy, as if…and so on. Paul does not mean that we should deny marriage, bereavement, happiness, ownership, or stewardship of worldly things, but that we be sure to put them all in second place relative to our obedience to God.

What would be a modern example of sinning against a weak brother (8:9-12)? A person who eats meat inviting a vegetarian to dinner where only meat will be served To what two athletic contests does Paul compare his manner of life? (1 Cor 9:24-26) ~Fighting and running. “therefore I run” and “thus I fight” (v.26) Why did some of the Israelites NOT get into the Promised Land? (1 Cor. 10:6-10) ~ “as they lusted” (v.6); “idolaters as were some of them” (v.7); “sexual immorality” (v. 8); “as some of them also complained.” (v.10) What does Paul mean when he says the cup of the Lord’s Supper is “a participation in the blood of Christ” and “the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ”? (10:16; compare 10:18) Paul is teaching here that the cup and bread of communion are more than empty ritual if we fully put our trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The symbols of communion represent what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross and we participate in that by fully putting our trust in Jesus. What is the purpose for the observance of the Lord’s Supper? (1 Cor 11:23-25) “this do in remembrance of Me” (v.24) and “in remembrance of Me” (v.25) What should be our attitude toward Spiritual gifts? (1 Cor. 12:31) “earnestly desire the best gifts.” What appearance of Jesus after His resurrection was mentioned in 2 Cor. Chapter 15? “and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once…after that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.” (v.5-7) How did Paul end the epistle of 1 Corinthians? (16:21-24) “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.” (v.22) “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (v.23) “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (v.24) How do you explain Paul’s statement “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand”? (16:21) In all of Paul’s letters even if he did not write the letter with his own hand he made sure to sign it at the end saying the letter was from him, his thoughts, so it would be authentic. Study Questions from 2 Corinthians: Who was the author? Apostle Paul What was the date it was written? 56 or 57 A.D. What was the place where it was written? Macedonia (7:5)

What was the purpose of writing? a. To give instruction in doctrine and practical exhortations b. To give further instructions for the offering being gathered for the poor saints in Jerusalem c. To make an extended defense of Paul’s apostleship in view of false accusations by some in the Corinthian church How did Paul describe his troubles in Asia? (2 Cor. 1:8-9) “we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves…” In what spirit did Paul determine NOT to come to the Corinthian church again? (2 Cor 2:1-2) “But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.” Who is the “anyone” of 2:5? Does it refer to a certain person? Yes, it refers to a person who has caused offense in the church at Corinth. When Paul mentions that “Moses…put a veil over his face…” What event in History is he referring to? (3:13) The giving of the Law (And how Moses’ face glowed with the glory of God when he came down from meeting God on the mountain) Since “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ…” (4:4) How can they receive salvation? God must open their hearts and minds first. This is something we should pray for as we share our faith with unbelievers. Why did Paul rejoice in trials and afflictions? (2 Cor 4:17) “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Explain how we can “…not be yoked together with unbelievers…” (6:14) and still have a “ministry” (6:3) to them? Be friends with them but do not be conformed to their ways, be a light to them, make them wonder why our lives are so different Why was Paul “downcast”? (7:6) Because of all of his affliction What agricultural example did Paul apply to giving? (2 Cor 9:6) “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” How was Paul behind the other apostles? (2 Cor 11:5) “For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.”

Explain the paradox “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (12:10) When we are weak, we are strong in Christ. When we reach the end of our ropes and have no strength left, the power of His Holy Spirit strengthens us. Our weaknesses and suffering are nothing in comparison to the strength of our God, and in light of eternity they are well worth bearing. We are strengthened when we are weak by the hope we have How could a person “fail the test” (13:5)? They could say they are a Christian but when the testing of the fruit of their faith comes around, they did not produce any. Therefore, they were not really a Christian, most likely just Christianized. Study Questions from 1 Thessalonians: Who was the author? Apostle Paul What was the date of writing? 52 A.D. What was the place of writing? Corinth What was the purpose of writing? In the church of Thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of Christ. Paul desired to clear them up in his letter. He also writes it as an instruction in holy living. The gospel didn’t come to the Thessalonians simply with words, but how? (1:5) In the power of the Holy Spirit By what illustration did Paul compare his gentleness among them? (1 Thess 2:7) “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” Paul speaks about trials (3:3, 4) and says “we were destined for them…” What does he mean by that? He means that if we are followers of Christ we will suffer just as he suffered, Christ said “when you suffer” not “if you suffer”. When we come to Christ we pledge our allegiance to follow him in His suffering, and even death Why did Paul desire to see the Thessalonians face to face? (1 Thess 3:10) “…that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith…” What did Paul say regarding our behavior toward those outside the church? (1 Thess 4:12) “…that you may walk properly toward those who are outside…” How did Paul describe the coming of the day of the Lord? (1 Thess 5:1-4) “…the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night…as labor pains upon a pregnant woman…”

Study Questions from 2 Thessalonians: Who was the author? Apostle Paul What was the date of writing? 52 A.D. What was the place of writing? Corinth What was the purpose of writing? The church in Thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the Day of the Lord. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. They were being persecuted badly. Paul wrote to clear up misconceptions and to comfort them. How does Paul consider God’s plan to recompense tribulation to those that troubled the Thessalonian church? (2 Thess 1:6) “…since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you.” What must take place before the day of Christ (Day of the Lord) can come? (2 Thess 2:3) “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” We learn about a “lawless one” (2:8, 9). List the things revealed about him. He is a man of lawlessness, he is a blasphemer, he is a lawless one, he is an imitator of Christ, he is a deceiver, he is doomed to destruction, he will be killed by the breath of Christ, he will do false signs with power from Satan What was Paul’s example? (2 Thess 3:8) “…but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.”