Lecture 11: Prison Epistles (Part 2), Pastoral Epistles, Hebrews and James

I. The Prison Epistles (part 2)

A. Exegetical Highlights in Philippians

1. A Personal Letter (1:3-11)

2. Christ’s Example of Humility (2:5-11)

3. The Impossibility of Denying the Lordship of Christ (2:10)

4. A Brief Biography of Paul (3:4-6)

5. God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility (2:12-13)

6. Promises about Prayer & the Peace of God (4:4-7)

7. The Strengthening Grace of God (4:13)

B. Key Theological Themes

C. Key Applications

II. The Pastoral Epistles

A. Background

1. The Books: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus

2. The Author: Paul

3. Dates: AD 62-68

4. Recipients: Timothy and Titus

B. Exegetical Highlights

1. Criteria for Church Leaders

2. Deacon vs. Elder

3. Additional Topics

C. Theological Themes and Application

III. Hebrews

A. Background

1. Author: Unknown

2. Recipients: Unknown

B. An Outline of Hebrews

1. The Supremacy of Christ (1:1-14)

2. The Five Warning Passages (2:1-4; 4:12-13; 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 12:25-29)

3. Jesus as the Great High Priest (2:17-18; 4:14-15:10; 7:1–8:13)

4. The Supremacy of the New Covenant (8:1-13)

5. The Nature of Faith (10:19-12:3)

C. Key Theological Themes in Hebrews

1. Christ alone is sufficient for salvation (1:1-4).

2. Do not fall away (5:11-6:12).

D. Key Applications from Hebrews

IV. James

A. Background

1. Author: James, the half-brother of Jesus

2. Recipients: Jewish Christians in the Diaspora

3. Date: A.D. 44-49



Circumstances

B. Three Key Topics of James

1. Trials and Temptations

2. Wisdom and Speech

3. The Right Use of Riches

C. A Subordinate Topic in James: Faith vs. Works

1. Different Definitions of Faith

2. Different Views of Works

3. Different Problems Being Addressed

D. Key Applications from James