1. MATTHEW
I. OUTLINE-BRIEF
1. The Messiah Introduced. 1:1-4:16.
2. Ministry in Galilee. 4:17-16:28.
3. The New Messiah. 17:1-20:34.
4. Jesus in Jerusalem. 21:1-25:46.
5. Death and Resurrection. 26:1-28:20.
II. OUTLINE-COMPLETE
1. Beginning of the Narrative. 1:1-7:29 [1].
A. Genealogy of Jesus. 1:1-17.
B. Birth and Childhood. 1:18-2:23.
C. John the Baptist. 3:1-12.
D. Beginning of Jesus' Ministry. 3:13-4:25.
E. First Discourse. 5:1-7:27.
F. Summary. 7:28,29.
2. Resumption of Narrative. 8:1-9:34 [2].
A. Descent from Mountain. 8:1-17.
B. Interlude. 8:18-22.
C. Miracles. 8:23-9:8.
D. Difference in Disciples. 9:9-17.
E. Other Miracles. 9:18-34.
3. Second Discourse. 9:35-11:1 [3].
A. Introduction. 9:35-10:4.
B. The Discourse. 10:5-42.
C. Summary. 11:1.
4. Resumption of Narrative. 11:2-12:50 [4].
A. Relation of John. 11:2-19.
B. Contrasts. 11:20-30.
C. Examples of Rejection. 12:1-50.
5. Third Discourse. 13:1-58 [5].
A. Introduction. 13:1-3.
B. A Parable. 13:4-23.
C. Group of Parables. 13:24-43.
D. Another Group. 13:44-58.
6. Resumption of Narrative. 14:1-17:27 [6].
A. Herod Antipas. 14:1-12.
B. Miracles. 14:13-36.
C. Rituals. 15:1-20.
D. The Gentiles. 15:21-39.
E. Pharisees and Sadducees. 16:1-12.
F. Second Self-revelation. 16:13-17:13.
G. The Epileptic Boy. 17:14-20.
H. Prediction of Suffering. 17:22,23.
I. The Temple Tax. 17:14-27.
7. Fourth Discourse. 18:1-19:2 [7].
A. The "Little Ones." 18:1-14.
B. When They Sin. 18:15-35.
C. Summary. 19:1,2.
8. Jesus Goes to Jerusalem. 19:3-23:39 [8].
A. Demand on Followers. 19:3-20:28.
B. Healing Two Blind Men. 20:29-34.
C. Events in Jerusalem. 21;1-23:39.
9. Fifth Discourse. 24:1-26:2 [9].
A. Prophecy of the End. 24:1-8.
B. Being Prepared. 24:9-25:13.
C. Parable on Capabilities. 25:14-30.
D. Last Judgment. 25:31-46.
E. Prophecy of Arrest. 26:1,2.
10. Events Leading up to Death. 26:3-27:66 [10].
A. Preliminary Events. 26:3-27:26.
B. The Crucifixion. 27:27-56.
C. Burial of Jesus. 27:57-66.
11. The Resurrection. 28:1-20 [11].
A. Angel and the Women. 28:1-8.
B. Jesus and the Women. 28:9,10.
C. The Lying Guards. 28:11-15.
D. Appearances to the Eleven. 28:16-20.
III. AUTHORSHIP
1. Matthew was written by Isador, a disciple of Matthew.
2. Isador wrote in Greek, but he had an Aramaic record of the "sayings of Jesus" compiled by Matthew.
3. Isador wrote Matthew in A.D. 71 at Pella. He had Matthew's notes which had been revised in A.D. 40.
4. Isador also had four-fifths of Mark's record.
5. The last copy of Matthew's notes was destroyed in the burning of a Syrian monastery in A.D. 416.
(The above facts regarding authorship of Matthew are from the Urantia Book, (1341.2) 121:8.1 [12].)
6. Scholars have doubted that Matthew wrote this Gospel because it does not seem that the author was an eyewitness. They believe it was written about A.D. 75 to 80.
7. It is the Jewish viewpoint of Christ's life and work.
IV. CHARACTER
1. In the early times, Matthew was the "best seller" among Christian documents.
2. For several centuries it was the most quoted of the four Gospels.
3. The Roman Catholics like Matthew because it exalts Peter. They have called it the "most important book in the world."
4. Constantly Jesus' work is presented as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy-"that it might be fulfilled," as spoken by the prophet.
5. Matthew is a complete and well organized version of Jesus' life and teaching.
6. Isador took the Sermon on the Mount-Jesus' ordination charge to the twelve-and made it into a "new law and gospel" for the Christian church.
7. Matthew presents the law of the church-deals with divorce and other church regulations.
8. This is the only Gospel that uses the term "church"-two times.
9. It provides for church government and lays down the rules for excommunication of disorderly members.
10. Isador was especially interested in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
11. Isador goes out of his way to prove that Jesus was truly the Messiah.
12. Isador was at great pains to safeguard the doctrine of Jesus' divinity.
13. Jesus is no longer just a carpenter-but the "son of a carpenter."
14. Isador pays special attention to the genealogy of Jesus-to prove that he was a descendant of David.
15. Isador equates the "church" with the "kingdom of heaven."
16. This Gospel pays little attention to chronology. Many talks of Jesus are brought together as one long sermon.
V. FRAMEWORK
1. Matthew is a literary reorganization of Mark's chronological narrative.
2. Isador frequently expands Mark's editorial comments.
3. Matthew is an artistic combination of the topical and the chronological arrangement.
4. Matthew reproduces 90 per cent of Mark's material.
5. Most of the 55 verses of Mark which Matthew omitted were left out for doctrinal reasons.
6. The Matthew gospel is a great literary improvement upon the rather rough style of Mark.
7. In Matthew Jesus pays special attention to the Jews and always is respectful of the "Law of Moses."
8. Some features of Matthew are original-not found in Mark or elsewhere in earlier records:
Story of Jesus' birth.
Peter walking on the water.
The temple tax.
Fate of Judas.
Dream of Pilate's wife.
Pilate's washing of his hands.
Earthquake at Jesus' death.
Sealing of the tomb.
Appearance to women, etc.
9. Isador puts all of Jesus' teachings into five master discourses.
10. The five great discourses might be captioned as follows:
A. Sermon on the Mount.
B. The Great Evangelistic Charge.
C. Parables of the Kingdom.
D. Humility and Forgiveness.
E. The End of the Age.
11. Matthew tends to group all his work into threes, fives, and sevens.
VI. SELECTED TEXTS
1. The virgin birth. "'Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Enmanuel.'" 1:23. (Isa. 7:14)
2. The star of Bethlehem. "The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was." 2:9.
3. John's preaching. "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching...'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" 3:1,2.
4. Jesus' baptism. "And when Jesus was baptized...he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove...and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'" 3:16.
5. Ministry of angels. "Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him." 4:11.
6. Fishers of men. "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" 4:19.
7. The Beatitudes. "'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'" 5:3.
8. Light of the world. "'You are the light of the world.'" 5:14.
9. The perfection mandate. "'You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'" 5:48.
10. Secret charity. "'When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret.'" 6:3,4.
11. Verbose praying. "'And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.'" 6:7.
12. The Lord's Prayer. 6:9-13.
13. Two masters. "'No one can serve two masters.'" 6:24.
14. Seek first the kingdom. "'Seek first his kingdom...and all these things shall be yours as well.'" 6:33.
15. Judge not. "'Judge not, that you be not judged.'" 7:1.
16. Pearls before swine. "'Do not throw your pearls before swine.'" 7:6.
17. Nowhere to lay his head "'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.'" 8:20.
18. Authority to forgive. "'But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins-he then said to the paralytic-'Rise, take up your bed and go home.'" 9:6
19. Calling sinners. "'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'" 9:13.
20. Wisdom of the serpent. "'Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.'" 10:16.
21. Becoming like a child. "'Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" 18:3.
22. Paying taxes. "'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'" 22:21.
23. Being consistent. "'You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel.'" 23:24.
24. The second advent. "'But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.'" 24:36.
25. Stewardship. "'But from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'" 25:29.
26. To one of the least. "'"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."'" 25:40.
27. Passing of the cup. "He fell on his face and prayed, 'My father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.'" 26:39.
28. Twelve legions of angels. "'Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?'" 26:53.
29. Supreme sovereignty. "And Jesus...said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" 28:18.
30. Always with us. "'And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.'" 28:20.
2. MARK
I. OUTLINE-BRIEF
1. The Galilee Ministry. 1:1-8:26.
2. Messiah and Coming Passion. 8:27-10:45.
3. Passion Narrative. 10:46-15:47.
4. The Empty Tomb. 16:1-8.
5. Appended Conclusion. 16:9-20.
II. OUTLINE-COMPLETE
1. Introduction. 1:1-13 [13].
A. John the Baptist. 1:1-11.
B. Temptation of Jesus. 1:12,13.
2. Jesus in Galilee. 1:14-9:50 [14].
A. About the Sea of Galilee. 1:14-5:43.
Call of the First Disciples.
The Capernaum Synagogue.
At peter's House.
Picking Grain on the Sabbath.
Healing Withered Hand.
Appointing the Twelve.
Parable of the Sower.
Other Parables.
The Demoniac.
Jairus's Daughter.
Woman with Hemorrhage.
B. Wider Journeyings. 6:1-9:50 [15].
Visit to Nazareth.
Herod's Impressions.
Death of John the Baptist.
Feeding Five Thousand.
Walking on the Sea.
Syrophoenician Woman.
Healing Deaf and Dumb Man.
Feeding Four Thousand.
The Blind Man.
Peter's Confession.
The Transfiguration.
Coming of Elijah.
The Epileptic Boy.
Question of Greatness.
The Strange Exorcist.
3. Jesus in Jerusalem. 10:1-15:47 [16].
A. On Way to Jerusalem. 10:1-52.
Marriage and Divorce.
Blessing Children.
Meaning of Discipleship.
Rich Young Man.
Passion Announcement.
Request of James and John.
Bartimaeus.
B. In Jerusalem. 11:1-12:44 [17].
Entry into Jerusalem.
Cursing the Fig Tree.
Cleansing the Temple.
Parable of Wicked Husbandmen.
Tribute to Caesar.
The Great Commandment.
Not Son of David.
The Widow's Offering.
C. The Apocalyptic Discourse. 13:1-37 [18].
Fall of the Temple.
Persecutions.
The Parousia.
D. Passion Narrative. 14:1-15:47 [19].
Plot against Jesus.
Anointing at Bethany.
Judas's Treachery.
Prediction of Betrayal.
The Last Supper.
Prediction of Peter's Denial.
In Gethsemane.
The Arrest.
Flight of Young Man.
Before the High Priest.
Before Pilate.
Condemnation and Mocking.
The Crucifixion.
4. The Empty Tomb. 16:1-8 [20].
5. The Appendix. 16:9-20.
III. AUTHORSHIP
1. The book was written by John Mark. It is the earliest record of Jesus' life-except for the notes of Andrew.
2. It is really the Gospel according to the teachings of Peter and the oral traditions of the church at Rome.
3. It was completed soon after Peter's death-near the end of A.D. 68.
4. The record has been considerably changed. The latter one-fifth of the original Gospel was lost before the first manuscript was ever copied.
(The above facts come from the Urantia Book, (1341.2) 121:8.1 [12].)
5. Scholars believe the book was written by Mark sometime between A.D. 64 and 85, perhaps around A.D. 75.
QUESTION: How is it that so little of Mark's personal experiences got into this record?
ANSWER:
1. Peter had probably prepared some written notes which Mark used.
2. The oral traditions were carefully committed to memory-just like a creed or prayer would be.
3. Since Mark was writing at the request of the church at Rome, he felt under obligation to prepare a statement that would represent Peter's way of telling the story of Jesus and his teachings.
4. He was not writing either a history of Jesus' life or his own biography.
IV. JOHN MARK IN THE URANTIA BOOK
1. He first appeared as the "boy of all chores" assigned to the twelve apostles. Urantia Book, (1700.6) 152:2.5 [21].
2. Mark was only partially convinced about Peter's story about walking on the water, so he left part of it out of his record. (1703.4) 152:4.4 [22].
3. John Mark spent a whole day alone with Jesus in the hills. (1920.5) 177:1.1 [23].
4. John kept a watchful eye on Jesus and the twelve. (1963.1) 182:0.1 [24].
5. John watched over Jesus at the olive press, just before his arrest. (1971.5) 183:0.5 [25].
6. John lost his coat to the soldier when he escaped. (1975.2) 183:3.9 [26].
7. John followed the apostles into Galilee after the resurrection. (2045.4) 192:0.4 [27].
8. John recognized Jesus on the shores of Lake Galilee. (2046.2) 192:1.4 [28].
9. John served breakfast to the apostles. (2047.1) 192:1.8 [29].
10. John returned home upon the sudden death of his father, Elijah Mark. (2051.2) 192:4.5 [30].
11. John went forth to call the apostles and leading disciples to forgather at his mother's home for the Pentecost meeting. (2057.8) 193:6.1 [31].
V. MARK'S BIOGRAPHY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. John was the son of Mary Mark-a well-to-do Jerusalemite. Acts 12:12-17.
2. He was a kinsman of Barnabas. Col. 4:10.
3. He accompanied Barnabas and Paul to Antioch. Acts 12:25. 13:1.
4. He was an attendant on the first missionary journey. Acts 13:5.
5. He deserted the party at Perga. Acts 13:13.
6. Accordingly, Paul declined to take John on the second trip. Acts 15:38.
7. This caused trouble between Paul and Barnabas. Acts 15:36-41.
8. Barnabas took John with him to Cyprus. Acts 15:39.
9. Later on, Mark seemed to be on good terms with Paul. Col. 4:10. Philemon v. 24.
10. Mark made good on a visit to the Colossian church, and Paul wanted him to come to Rome. Acts 13:5.
11. Peter referred to Mark as his son. 1 Peter 5:13.
12. The anonymous "young man" (Mark 14:51) undoubtedly refers to John Mark.
13. Several early church fathers refer to John as interpreter for Peter.
14. Tradition claims that John Mark was the founder of the church at Alexandria.
15. There was a supposed transfer of Mark's body from Egypt to Venice A.D. 832. His bones are supposed to rest beneath the altar in St. Mark's Church in Venice.
VI. ANTECEDENTS
1. These Gospels are not histories or biographies. They are didactic and apologetic-evangelical writings. They describe a "way of life."
2. Mark seems to have been written for believers-people who were already Christians.
3. Mark sometimes telescoped his stories-one being inserted within the frame-work of another-as in 2:1-12; 5:21-43.
4. From a literary standpoint, Mark is the most inferior of all New Testament books. It is poorly organized and unpolished in rhetoric.
VII. MARK'S THEOLOGY
1. Mark's theology tends to be Hellenistic-in contrast with Matthew's Jewish theology.
2. Mark's theology is hardly his own-more a blend of Petrine and church of Rome theology.
3. Paul seems to have had little or no influence on Mark's theology. Mark talks about Jesus' "mighty work"-and Paul never once mentions Jesus' miracles.
4. Mark represents an era in which the theology of Christianity is in process of reinterpretation from the Jewish to the gentile.
5. In Mark, Jesus never fully, unequivocally, and unambiguously claimed to be the Messiah.
6. Paul's atonement doctrine "ransom" does appear here and there in Mark.
7. Mark clings to the "mystery" concept of Christian theology-the esoteric idea that the "inner circle" knew special things of which the rank and file of believers were wholly ignorant.
8. All Near East religions had this "mystery" idea-in fact, were known as "mystery cults."
9. The blindness and obtuseness of the Jewish people were not stupidity, but some sort of divine judgment which had overtaken them-like God hardening Pharaoh's heart.
10. There was an early trace of anti-Semitism-or rather, anti-Judaism in Mark's Gospel.
11. When all is said and done, you can't help feeling that Mark really knows that Jesus was the Messiah-not the Jewish, but the Christian.
12. Mark is one of the most "precious" books ever written, but it does not give us a full account of Jesus' life.
VIII. SELECTED TEXTS
1. John the Baptist appears. "John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin." 1:4.
2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit. "'I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" 1:8.
3. Fishers of men. "'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.'" 1:17.
4. The sundown healing. "That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons...And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons." 1:32,34.
5. Forgiving sins. "'Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say "Rise, take up your pallet and walk." But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins'-he said to the paralytic-'I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.'" 2:9-11.
6. Calling sinners. "'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'" 2:17.
7. Sabbath made for man. "And he said to them, 'The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.'" 2:27,28.
8. Speaking in parables. "He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything." 4:34.
9. Stills the waves. "And he...rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." 4-39.
10. Peculiar type of healing. "And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, 'Who touched my garments?'" 5:30.
11. Prophet and honor. "And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country.'" 6:4.
12. Feeding five thousand. "And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men," 6:44.
13. Dogs eat the crumbs. "But she answered him, 'Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.'" 7:28.
14. You are the Christ. "And he asked them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, 'You are the Christ.'" 8:29.
15. Gaining the whole world. "'What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?'" 8:36.
16. Help my unbelief. "The father of the child...said, 'I believe; help my unbelief.'" 9:24.
17. The little children. "'Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.'" 10:14.
18. Cursing the fig tree. "And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, 'May no man ever eat fruit from you again.'...As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots." 11:13,14,20.
19. Taxation problems. "Jesus said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'" 12:17.
20. Marriage in heaven. "'For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.'" 12:25.
21. The widow's mite. "'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury...she out of her poverty has put in everything she had.'" 12:43,44.
22. Anointing his feet. "'This ointment might have been sold...and given to the poor.'...But Jesus said, 'Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.'" 14:5,6.
23. Watch and pray. "'Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.'" 14:38.
24. John Mark's escape. "And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked." 14:51,52.
25. The empty tomb. "'He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.'" 16:6.
26. Deadly poisons. In a forged appendix appears the passage about snakes and drinking deadly poisons.
3. LUKE
I. OUTLINE-BRIEF
1. Early Years of Jesus. 1:1-2:52.
2. Preparation for Ministry. 3:1-4:13.
3. Ministry in Galilee. 4:14-9:50.
4. Journey to Jerusalem. 9:51-19:44.
5. Crucifixion and Resurrection. 19:45-24:53.
II. OUTLINE-COMPLETE
1. Preface. 1:1-4 [32].
2. Jesus' Birth and Boyhood. 1:5-2:52.
A. Word to Zechariah and Mary. 1:5-56.
B. Birth of John and Jesus. 1:57-2:20.
C. Infancy and Childhood. 2:21-52.
3. Introduction to Public Ministry. 3:1-4:13 [33].
A. John the Baptist. 3:1-20.
B. Prelude to Jesus' Ministry. 3:21-4:13.
4. The Galilean Ministry. 4:14-9:50.
A. Beginning Public Ministry. 4:14-30.
B. Ministry around Capernaum. 4:31-5:16.
C. Controversies with Pharisees. 5:17-6:11.
D. The Great Sermon. 6:12-49.
E. Healing Ministry. 7:1-17.
F. Jesus and John. 7:18-35.
G. Jesus and the Sinner. 7:36-50.
H. Teaching and Miracles. 8:1-56.
I. Jesus and His Disciples. 9:1-50.
5. The Journey to Jerusalem. 9:51-19:27 [34].
A. Decides to Go. 9:51-62.
B. Mission of Seventy. 10:1-24.
C. Answers Questions. 10:25-42.
D. Teaching on Prayer. 11:1-13.
E. Exorcism of Demons. 11:14-28.
F. Concerning Signs. 11:29-36.
G. Denunciations of Pharisees. 11:37-54.
H. On Discipleship. 12:1-13:9.
I. Sabbath in the Synagogue. 15:10-21.
J. Teaching on the way. 13:22-35.
K. Dining with the Pharisee. 14:1-24.
L. Conditions of Discipleship. 14:25-35.
M. God's Love for the Lost. 15:1-32.
N. Use and Abuse of Wealth. 16:1-31.
O. Faith and Grace. 17:1-19.
P. On the Kingdom. 17:20-37.
Q. Parables and Prayer. 18:1-14.
R. Entrance in the Kingdom. 18:15-34.
S. Jesus in Jericho. 18:35-19:27.
6. Ministry in Jerusalem. 19:28-24:12 [35].
A. Enters Jerusalem. 19:28-46.
B. Attempts to Incriminate. 19:47-21:4.
C. The End of the Age. 21:5-38.
D. The Last Supper. 22:1-23.
E. Farewell Discourse. 22:24-38.
F. The Arrest. 22:39-65.
G. Condemnation. 22:66-23:25.
H. Calvary. 23:26-56.
I. The Empty Tomb. 24:1-12.
7. The Risen Christ. 24:13-53 [36].
A. On the Road to Emmaus. 24:13-35.
B. Appearance in Jerusalem. 24:36-43.
C. Final Message to Disciples. 24:44-49.
D. Final Parting. 24:50-53.
III. AUTHORSHIP
1. Luke wrote more than one quarter of the whole New Testament-the book of Luke and the Acts.
2. Luke was an educated man, a physician, and a sometime companion of Paul.
3. He was with Paul on parts of both the second and third missionary tours.
4. He was undoubtedly Paul's private physician-as Paul suffered from several physical ailments. Paul called him the "beloved physician." Col. 4:14.
5. Luke was a good reporter and a fairly good historian. He talked with many eyewitnesses of Jesus' lifework.
6. As might be expected, Luke pays special attention to things of interest to a physician:
The great fever.
Jairus's daughter's eating meat.
The good Samaritan.
First aid.
Prayer miracles.
7. Luke had Matthew (Isador), Mark, and Q (Andrew's notes). About one-third comes from Mark. Along with Matthew he derives much from Q (252 verses), but almost half of Luke is original. He also had Paul's story and a brief record made in A.D. 78 at Antioch by one Cedes. See Urantia Book, (1342.3) 121:8.8 [37].
8. Apparently Luke got many verses from the Cedes manuscript; this document paid special attention to women.
9. The Cedes book was rich in parables: notably, good Samaritan, rich fool, rich man and Lazarus, and the Pharisee and tax collector.
10. Some things in Mark which Luke disregards:
Execution of John the Baptist.
Request of Zebedee sons.
Cursing of the fig tree.
Secretly growing seed.
Saying about greatness.
Question about great commandment.
Anointing at Bethany.
Jesus walking on the sea.
The Syrophoenician woman.
Healings by spittle.
Feeding of 4,000.
11. The original features of Luke are:
Birth narratives. 1:5-2:52.
Parable of the friend at midnight. 11:5-8.
Parables of lost coin and lost son. 15:8-10, 11-32.
Dives and Lazarus. 16:19-31.
Conversion of Zacchaeus. 19:1-10.
Thief on the cross. 23:40-43.
The walk to Emmaus. 24:13-35.
The ascension. 24:50-53.
(And many other minor features.)
12. Luke is the best organized book in the New Testament.
13. While Luke was not a classicist-writing in the international style of Greek-he did write the best literary work of the New Testament, except for the book of Hebrews.
14. Luke's literary skill is best shown in the way he polished up many of Mark's rather crude passages, for example:
Mark: "And at even, when the sun did set." Mark 1:32. (King James Version)
Luke: "Now when the sun was setting." Luke 4:40. (King James Version)
15. It was never intended that the book of Acts should be separated from Luke.
16. Luke wrote in A.D. 82 at Achaia. He planned to write three books on Christianity, but he died in A.D. 90 just before finishing Acts. Urantia Book, (1342.3) 121:8.8 [37].
17. In a general way, Luke may be said to be the Gospel according to Paul.
IV. HISTORY AND TRADITION IN LUKE
1. Jesus talked in Aramaic, but his followers wrote in Koine Greek.
2. In the times of Jesus, all Jews were bilingual.
3. Peter's Pentecost sermon seems to have set a pattern for all subsequent types of preaching.
4. Paul bases his belief in the resurrection on Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, Mark on the empty tomb, and Matthew on both.
5. Jesus' miracles made a great appeal to the populace.
6. The early spread of the gospel was by "lay preachers."
7. An early church father called Luke "the most beautiful book ever written."
8. The outstanding literary features of Luke are:
A. The Last Supper. 22:15-17.
B. Discourse of true greatness. 22:25-27.
C. Future judges. 22:28-30.
D. Prediction of desertion. 22:31,32.
E. Buying a sword. 22:36-38.
F. On the way to Calvary. 23:28-31.
G. On the road to Emmaus. 24:13-21.
H. Appearance in Jerusalem. 24:36-43.
9. The Marcion defection. Marcion was born A.D. 85 in Roman Pontus on the Black Sea. He visited most Christian churches and went to Rome about A.D. 139. He gave $30,000 to the Rome church (later returned) and made a big "stir." He rejected all of the Old Testament. Luke was his gospel -with some writings of his own. He also used some of Paul's letters. Later on, he rewrote Luke. He had Jesus come full-fledgedly from heaven with divine authority on earth. It was Marcion's new testament that forced the "fathers" to get busy with a real New Testament.
10. Luke's special motives:
A. To make a good literary production.
B. To make a universal appeal.
C. To be humanitarian (emphasis on the poor).
D. To put emphasis on prayer.
E. To magnify the Holy Spirit.
F. To make clear that Christianity was in no way a subversive religion- get it out of trouble with the Roman authorities.
G. To tell the story with little or no theology. There are few quotations from the Old Testament.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. The angel and Mary. "And the angel said to her. 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." 1:30.
2. Jesus' birth. "And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." 2:7.
3. Peace on earth and good will. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!'" 2:13,14.
4. About the Father's business. "And he said to them, 'How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?'" 2:49.
5. Jesus grows up. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man." 2:52.
6. The Holy Spirit and fire. "'I baptise you with water;...he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.'" 3:16.
7. Jesus' baptism. "And a voice came from heaven, 'Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.'" 3:22.
8. The forty days. "And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil." 4:1,2.9.
9. The sundown healing. "Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them." 4:40.
10. Catching men. "And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.'" 5:10.
11. Authority to forgive sins. "'But that you nay know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins.'" 5:24.
12. To call sinners. "'I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'" 5:32.
13. Lord of the sabbath. "And he said to them, 'The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.'" 6:5.
14. His prayer life. "In these days he went out into the hills to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God." 6:12.
15. Turn the other cheek. "'To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.'" 6:29.
16. Show mercy. "'Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.'" 6:36.
17. The log in your own eye. "'Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?'" 6:41.
18. The widow's son. "And he said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise.' And the dead man sat up, and began to speak." 7:14,15.
19. Someone touched me. "But Jesus said, 'Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.'" 8:46.
20. Net dead, but sleeping. "But he said, 'Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.'" 8:52.
21. Peter's confession. "'But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, 'The Christ of God.'" 9:20.
22. Looking back. "'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" 9:62.
23. The good Samaritan. "'Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?' He said, 'The one who showed mercy on him.' And Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'" 10:36,37.
24. Troubled about trifles. "'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.'" 10:41,42.
25He who seeks finds. "'For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.'" 11:10.
26. Neglecting weighty matters. "'But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God.'" 11:42.
27. Hairs of your head. "'Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.'" 12:7.
28. Needless anxiety. "'Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.'" 12:22.
"'Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.'" 12:27.
29. Gaining the kingdom. "'Fear not, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'" 12:32.
30. Good salt. "'Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?'" 14:34.
31. Joy in heaven. "'There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.'" 15:7.
32. One leper in ten. "Then said Jesus, 'Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?. 17:17,18.
33. Ought always to pray. "That they ought always to pray and not lose heart." 18:1.
34. The tax collector. "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinnerl'" 18:13.
35. Sojourn with Zacchaeus. "Jesus...looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.'" 19:5.
36The faithful servant. "'Well done, good servant ! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'" 19:17.
37. Paying taxes. "He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'" 20:25.
38. Watchful waiting. "'But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare.'" 21:34.
39. The terrible cup. "'Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.'" 22:42.
40. Following at a distance. "Then they...led him...into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance." 22:54.
41. Thief on the cross. "'Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power.' And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'" 23:42,43.
42. Jesus' spirit. "Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.'" 23:46.
43. Power from on high. "'But stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.'" 24:49.
44. The ascenaion. "Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them." 24:50,51.
4. JOHN
I. OUTLINE-BRIEF
1. Prelude. 1.
2. Christ's Glory and Power. 2-6.
3. Conflicts of Light and Darkness. 7-12.
4. Christ's Revelation to His Disciples. 13-17.
5. The Final Revelation. 18-20.
6. Appendix. 21.
II. OUTLINE-COMPLETE
1. Prologue. 1:1-18 [38].
2. Witness of the Baptist. 1:19-51.
3. Self-revelation of Jesus. 2:1-4:54 [39].
A. Marriage at Cana. 2:1-11.
B. Cleansing of Temple. 2:12-22.
C. At Passover. 2:23-25.
D. With Nicodemus. 3:1-21.
E. Testimony of Baptist. 3:22-30.
F. Witness from Above. 3:31-36.
G. Jesus and Samaritan Woman. 4:1-26.
H. The Samaritans. 4:27-42.
I. The Officer's Son. 4:43-54.
4. Signs and Controversies. 5:1-9:41 [40].
A. Sabbath Controversy. 5:1-18.
B. Unity of Son and Father. 5:19-47.
C. The Bread of Life. 6:1-71.
D. At Feast of Tabernacles. 7:1-14.
E. Controversies. 7:15-31.
F. Attempted Arrest. 7:32-36.
G. Last Day of Feast. 7:37-52.
H. Woman Taken in Adultery. 7:53-8:11.
I. Light of the World. 8:12-20.
J. Divine Commission. 8:21-59.
K. Healing-Man Born Blind. 9:1-41.
5. The Shepherd Life Giver. 10:1-11:57 [41].
A. Shepherd and Sheep. 10:1-18.
B. At Feast of Dedication. 10:19-42.
C. Raising of Lazarus. 11:1-57.
6. Close of Public Ministry. 12:1-50 [42].
A. Anointing at Bethany. 12:1-8.
B. False Popularity. 12:9-11.
C. Triumphal Entry. 12:12-19.
D. Jesus and the Greeks. 12:20-26.
E. Agony. 12:27-36.
F. Unbelief and Rejection. 12:37-43.
G. Judgement. 12:44-50.
7. The Upper Room. 13:1-17:26 [43].
A. The Last Supper. 13:1-30.
B. Farewell Discourse I. 13:31-14:31.
C. Farewell Discourse II. 15:1-16:33.
D. The Priestly Prayer. 17:1-26.
8. Gethsemane to Calvary. 18:1-19:42 [44].
A. The Arrest. 18:1-11.
B. Trial and Peter's Denial. 18:12-27.
C. Jesus before Pilate. 18:28-19:16.
D. Crucifixion and Burial. 19:17-42.
9. Appearances of Risen Lord. 20:1-21:25 [45].
A. The Risen Christ. 20:1-29.
B. Purpose of the Gospel. 20:30,31.
C. Epilogue. 21:1-25.
III. AUTHORSHIP
1. John was written in A.D. 101 by Nathan, a Greek Jew from Caesarea, under the direction of John. The book of 1 John was written by John himself as a covering letter. Urantia Book, (1342.5) 121:8.10 [46].
2. The fact that Nathan wrote the Gospel enabled John the more gracefully to refer to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved."
3. Nathan was probably a mild-mannered man, which would explain how the ambitious young "son of thunder" could have become the "apostle of love.- even in his old age.
4. It is difficult to regard the Gospel of John and Revelation as being written by the same person.
5. John's purpose:
A. To supply what the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke had left out.
B. To bring Christian theology up to date.
C. To control the growing cult of John the Baptist. Some even taught that John was the real Messiah.
D. To withstand Gnosticism, especially the Docetist cult-which denied the incarnation.
6. It is interesting to note what John omits:
A. Account of the baptism.
B. The transfiguration.
C. Agony in Gethsemane.
D. All reference to casting out demons.
E. All parables.
F. Miracles are not acts of compassion, but revelations of divine power.
7. In this book the statement that Jesus was sent by God is made 26 times directly, 18 indirectly. Jesus himself refers to "Him who sent me."
8. John was little influenced by the Old Testament, but greatly influenced by Paul and the book of Hebrews.
9. The appendix does not claim that John was the author.
10. There is some indication that John's manuscript got mixed up before our present-day versions were finally copied.
IV. CHIEF CONSIDERATIONS
1. John is the "crown of the New Testament." It is the most simple and yet the most profound of all the New Testament books.
2. It is the philosophical and theological Gospel-the story is subordinated to doctrine.
3. John recognizes the "humanity" of Jesus, but his divine traits largely overshadow his humanity.
4. In the Synoptics, Jesus gradually arrives at a comprehension of his divine mission. In John, he always knew of the divinity of his bestowal.
5. John plays down the work of John the Baptist and plays up his endorsement of Jesus.
6. John spreads Jesus' ministry over about three years. Mark appears to limit it to about one year.
7. John puts the Last Supper on the evening before the Passover.
8. As regards the chronology of the Last Supper, Paul agrees with John.
9. The Urantia Book agrees with John where he differs from the others on the times of the Last Supper and other events.
10. The Godhead is the center of the theology of John-then the Son (Logos) and the Spirit.
11. John is clearly trinitarian.
12. The high point- "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." 14:6.
13. John makes the only attempt in the Gospels to define God:
14. John smacks of determinism. There is much leaning toward predestination.
15. John talks like Paul about the new birth.
16. John does not say much about the "age to come." He seems to think that the "new age" is already here.
17. The author of John is something of a sacramental mystic. He recognizes a church and its ministry.
18. In a way, John is a drama-a conflict between light and darkness, something like the Persian philosophy.
V. CONTEMPORARY RELATIONSHIPS
1. The living Word is the whole concern of the fourth Gospel.
2. The Logos idea was, in part, borrowed from the Stoics.
3. The Logos concept shows Hellenistic influence in general, and Philo in particular.
4. Philo uses Logos to express the personified activity of God.
5. The Logos is "light and life"-even life eternal.
6. Forty years before John, Paul was fighting Gnosticism at Colossae.
7. John is silent about Simon's bearing the cross. One of the Gnostic beliefs was that it was Simon who went to death in the place of Jesus.
8. John was also combatting the "Hermes" cult. This cult produced a work on the "Shepherd of Men," but it was tainted with "speculative Egyptian mysticism." Wisdom is the womb of the "new birth."
9. Some of the Hermes literature was written long after John, but the ideas were early in circulation.
10. John also had in mind the mystery religions which were already in vogue at the time of the writing of his Gospel.
11. Mandaeism. Forty years ago there was discovered in the lower Euphrates a sect of John the Baptist's followers known as the Mandeaans. They are hostile to both Jews and Christians. Christ is alluded to as the "liar" and false Messiah.
12. They claim the true Messiah instigated the crucifixion of Jesus.
13. At the time of John's writing the "cult of the Virgin Mary" had not become widespread-accordingly John ignores the question.
VI. SELECTED TEXTS
1. The Word was God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 1:1.
2. The light of men. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 1:4.
3. The true light. "The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world." 1:9.
4. Becoming children of God. "But to all...who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." 1:12.
5. Word becomes flesh. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." 1:14.
6. John and Jesus. "He saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world'" 1:29.
7. Nathaniel and Nazareth. "Nathaniel said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?.'" 1:46.
8. Cleansing the temple. "And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple." 2:15.
9. His body temple. "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 2:19.
10. The new birth. "I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" 3:3.
11. God so loved the world. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." 3:16.
12. Jesus and baptism. "Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples." 4:2.
13. The water of life. "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water...will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" 4:14.
14. Spirit. "God is spirit." 4:24.
15. Confesses his divinity. "Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am he.'" 4:26.
16. Gather up the fragments. "He told his disciples, 'Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.'" 6:12.
17. The king episode. "Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew." 6:15.
18. The bread of life. "'I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.'" 6:35.
19. Eternal life. "'He who believes has eternal life.'" 6:47.
20. Come and drink. "Jesus stood up and proclaimed, 'If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink.'" 7:37.
21. Light of the world. "Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" 8:12.
22. Real freedom. "'If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.'" 8:36.
23. Never see death. "'If any one keeps my word, he will never see death.'" 8:51.
24. The blind man. "'One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.'" 9:25.
25. Abundant life. "'I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.'" 10:10.
26. Eternal security. "'I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.'" 10:28.
27. Thomas's courage. "Thomas...said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'" 11:16.
28. I am the resurrection. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.'" 11:25.
29. Jesus wept. "Jesus wept." 11:35.
30. Ever-present poverty. "'The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.'" 12:8.
31. Triumphal entry. "So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, 'Hosanna! Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" 12:13.
32. Parable of humility. "Then he...began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded." 13:5.
33. Disciple whom Jesus loved. "One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus." 13:23.
34. The new commandment. "'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you.'" 13:34.
35. Freedom from fear. "'Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.'" 14:1.
36. The many mansions. "'In my Father's house are many rooms.'" 14:2.
37. Perfect peace. "'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.'" 14:27.
38. Light and guilt. "'If I had not come...they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.'" 15:22.
39. Receptivity for truth. "'I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.'" 16:12.
40. Spirit of truth. "'When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.'" 16:13.
41. Worldly tribulation. "'In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,'" 16:33.
42. Creator glory. "'Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.'" 17:5.
43. Sanctity of truth. "'Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth.'" 17:17.
44. What is truth? "Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?'" 18:38.
45. Bears his cross. "So they took Jesus...bearing his own cross." 19:17.
46Jesus and John. "When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near...he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." 19:26,27.
47. The end. "'It is finished'; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." 19:30.
48. The empty tomb. "Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed." 20:8.
49. The morontia Jesus. "Jesus said to her, 'Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.'" 20:17.
50. Jesus visits the apostles. "Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" 20:19.
51. Breakfast with Jesus. "Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' ...Jesus...took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish." 21:12,13.
5. ACTS
I. OUTLINE-BRIEF
1. Introduction. 1:1-26.
2. Work in Jerusalem. 2:1-8:3.
3. In Judea and Samaria. 8:4-12:24.
4. Paul's Work. 12:25-28:31.
II. OUTLINE-COMPLETE
1. Jerusalem to Antioch. 1:1-12:25 [47].
A. Days of Expectation. 1:1-26.
B. Birth of the Church. 2:1-47.
C. Church at Jerusalem. 3:1-5:42.
D. Greek Christianity. 6:1-8:40.
E. Conversion of Saul. 9:1-31.
F. To the Gentiles. 9:32-11:30.
G. Persecution under Herod. 12:1-25.
2 Antioch to Rome. 13:1-28:31 [48].
A. First Mission. 13:1-14:28.
B. Gentile Controversy. 15:1-41.
C. Mission to Europe. 16:1-18:17.
D. Mission to Asia. 18:18-19:41.
E. Visit to Macedonia. 20:1-4.
F. Return to Jerusalem. 20:5-21:26.
G. Paul the Prisoner. 21:27-28:31.
III. AUTHORSHIP
1. Luke wrote the book of Acts, probably at Rome, about A.D. 90. He died just before finishing Acts. (See Urantia Book (1342.3) 121:8.8 [37].)
2. Luke was from Antioch of Pisidia.
3. He was a companion of Paul for several years-his private physician.
4. Paul refers to Luke as one of his fellow workers. Philemon v. 24.
5. The latter portion of Acts-the "we" sections-was based on Luke's diary.
6. The abrupt ending of Acts is explained by the author's death. Just how much is missing from what was planned, we will never know.
7. We have no knowledge as to when and by whose influence Luke became a Christian.
IV. LOOKING AT ACTS
1. Like the Gospel of Luke, Acts is a superb literary production.
2. Without Acts, we would know very little concerning the early days of Christianity.
3. Luke's book of Acts helps us to understand the real difference between the religion of Jesus and the religion about Jesus.
4. Like Luke, Acts shows sympathy for the poor and antipathy for the rich, along with the sanctity of "stewardship."
5. Luke is greatly interested in women's part in gospel work.
6. The fullest account of the ascension of Jesus is found in Acts.
7. As in Luke, so in Acts the author always shows special interest in all things having a health or medical aspect.
8. Luke shows great interest in Paul-as a person-but neither Luke nor Acts reflects any interest in Paul's epistles.
9. Luke was a physician and Christian historian-not a theologian.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Jesus' ascension. "As they were looking on he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight...behold, two men stood by them...and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'" 1:9-11.
2. Coming of the Comforter. "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place...And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." 2:1,4.
3. Speaking with tongues. "And they were amazed and wondered, saying, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?'" 2:7,8.
4. Gift of the Spirit. "'Having received from the lather the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.'" 2:33.
5. Three thousand baptized. "Those who received his ward were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." 2:41.
6. The message. "'Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the lord.'" 3:19.
7. Another harvest of souls. "Many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand." 4:4.
8. The saving name. "'And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'" 4:12.
9. All things in common. "The company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common." 4:32.
10. Falsehood of Ananias. "When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it." 5:5.
11. Peter's healing shadow. "They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them." 5:15.
12. Angel opens the prison. "An angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out." 5:19.
13. Gamaliel's advice. "'I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan...is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You Bright even be found opposing God!'" 5:38,39.
14. Stoning Stephen. "As they were stoning Stephen* he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'" 7:59.
15. Saul consents. "And Saul was consenting to his death." 8:1.
16. Philip and the eunuch. "They both went down into the water...and he baptized him...the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more." 8:38,39.
17. Saul' s conversion. "And he...heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'" 9:4,5.
18. Saul begins his work. "But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ." 9:22.
19. Barnabas fellowships Paul. "When he had come to Jerusalem...they were all afraid of him...But Barnabas...brought him to the apostles." 9:26,27.
20. Peter raises Dorcas. "But Peter...knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, '...rise.' And she opened her eyes." 9:40.
21. The keynote. "'How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were op-pressed by the devil, for God was with him.'" 10:38.
22. First called Christians. "In Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.'" 11:26.
23. Herod's persecutions. "Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword." 12:1,2.
24. Angel liberates Peter. "An angel of the lord...woke him, saying, 'Get up quickly.' And the chains fell off his hands," 12:7.
25. Ordination of Paul and Barnabas. "The Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" 13:2.
26. Healing the cripple. "There was a man...who had never walked...And Paul... said...'Stand upright on your feet.' And he sprang up and walked. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying...' The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!'" 14:8-11.
27. Paul stoned. "They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead." 14:19.
28. James frees the Gentiles. "'My judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.'" 15:19.
29. The Macedonian call. "A vision appeared to Paul...a man..saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'" 16:9.
30. The jail opens. "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying...and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the..prison...doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened." 16;25,26.
31. Turning the world upside down. "'These men who have turned the world up-side down have come here also.'" 17:6.
32. Aquila and Friscilla. "He stayed with them, and they worked, for by trade they were tentmakers," 18:3.
33. The aagic "hankies." "God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his
body to the sick, and diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them." 19:11,12.
34. Converted magicians. "Those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver." 19:19.
35. Breaking bread. "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them." 20:70.
36. Paul appeals to Caesar. "'I appeal to Caesar.'" 25:11.
37. Festus calls Paul mad. "Festus said...'Paul, you are mad; your great learning is turning you mad.'" 26:24.
38. Agrippa and Paul. "Agrippa said to Paul, 'In a short time you think to make me a Christian!'" 26:28.
39. Paul and the viper. "When a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand...He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm." 28:3,5.
40. Some freedom at Rome. "When we came to Borne, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him." 28:16.
41. Two years at Rome. "And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him." 28:30.
6. ROMANS
I. OUTLINE-BRIEF
1. God's Righteousness. 1:1-3:20.
2. Justification. 3:21-4:25.
3. Salvation. 5:1-8:39.
4. Righteousness and History. 9:1-11:36.
5. Christian Living. 12:1-15:13.
6. Epilogue. 15:14-16:27.
II. OUTLINE-COMPLETE
1 Introduction. 1:1-17 [49].
2. World Need of Salvation. 1:18-3:20.
3. Justification by Faith. 3:21-4:25.
4. The New Life. 5:1-8:39 [50].
A. Character Qualities. 5:1-5.
B. Reconciliation. 5:6-11.
C. Life in Christ. 5:12-21.
D. Release from Sin. 6:1-7:25.
E. Life in the Spirit. 8:1-27.
F. Assurance. 8:28-39.
5. Jew and Gentile. 9:1-11:36 [51].
A. Regard for Israel. 9:1-5.
B. Jewish Apostasy. 9:6-13.
C. God's Choice. 9:14-29.
D. Choice not Arbitrary. 9:30-10:21.
E. Apostasy not Final. 11:1-32.
F. Conclusion. 11:33-36.
6. Ethical Teaching. 12:1-15:13 [52].
A. Will of God. 12:1,2.
B. Love in the Church. 12:3-13.
C. Love for Men. 12:14-13:10.
D. Coming Crisis. 13:11-14.
E. Conscience. 14:1-23.
F. Conclusion. 15:1-13.
7. Personal Closing Remarks. 15:14-33 [53].
A. Explanation of Letter. 15:14-24.
B. Collection for the Poor 15:25-33.
8. Introduction of Phoebe. 16:1-23 [54].
9. Doxology. 16:25-27.
III. AUTHORSHIP
1. Paul wrote Romans. It is his longest and weightiest letter to the churches.
2. Some think Paul did not write the last two chapters.
3. Romans was written during Paul's longest period of rest and leisure- probably at Corinth in A.D. 58 during his third and last visit.
4. Romans may have been a general letter to all. the churches. The last two chapters might have been added to the Rome copy.
5. The heretic Marcion made the first collection of Paul's letters.
6. Purpose of the letter was to pave the way for his visit to Rome on the way to Spain.
7. Paul was not too sure of being well received at Rome. Jerusalem was the seat of conservative and Jewish Christianity. Rome was the center of the radical and gentile branch of Christendom.
8. We really do not know who founded the church at Rome. Peter has been credited, but we cannot be sure.
9. If Peter had been founder of the Rome church, Paul would undoubtedly have mentioned him.
IV. PAUL'S MESSAGE
1. Paul was not so much a theologian as a preacher and evangelist. But he was the leading theologian of all Christendom.
2. Romans is the most important theological book ever written. It is the only systematic statement of Paul's theology.
3. He preached the doctrine of salvation.
4. Paul All but personalized sin-and he believed in "original sin." As in Adam all died, so in Christ all are made alive.
5. By sin, man is estranged from God; by Christ he becomes reconciled.
6. It seems that Paul recognized three parts of man: body, soul, and spirit.
7. Christ pays a ransom for man's sin-enslaved soul.
8. Much of Romans has to do with LAW-how Christ takes man from being "under the law" and puts him "under grace."
9. The Christian church is a "colony of heaven."
10. Paul's theology is sunned up in: "Justification by faith."
11. Paul's attitude: "I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation." 1:16.
12. Romans shows that Paul is the propounder of the atonement doctrine.
Note: As concerns the great conflict between the flesh and the Spirit-see Urantia Book, (382.1) 34:7.1 [55].
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Paul's gospel. "I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith." 1:16.
2. Homosexuality. "The men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men." 1:27.
3. God's kindness. "Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" 2:4.
4. Universal sin. "Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 3:23.
5. Justification by faith. "We hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law." 3:28.
6. Abraham's faith. "'Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'" 4:3.
7. Christ's atonement. "Who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." 4:25.
8. Peace of justification. "Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 5:1.
9. Mission of suffering. "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts." 5:3,4.
10. God loves sinners. "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." 5:8.
11. Original sin. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous." 5:19.
12. Presumptuous sin. "Are we to continue in sin that grace may
abound?" 6:1.
13. Being dead to sin. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions." 6:12.
14. The wages of sin. "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 6:23.
15. The mortal conflict. "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me." 7:15-17.
16. Wretched man. "Wretched man that I ami Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Christ our Lord." 7:24,25.
17. Spiritual freedom. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death." 8:2.
18. The sons of God. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." 8:14.
19. Assurance of sonship. "It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." 8:16.
20. Reward of suffering. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us." 8:18.
21. Spirit help in prayer. "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." 8:26.
22. All to the good. "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." 8:28.
23. God for us. "If God is for us, who is against us?" 8:31.
24. Security in Christ. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or peril, or sword?" 8:35.
25. More than conquerors. "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." 8:37.
26. Zeal without knowledge. "They have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened." 10:2.
27. Salvation. "If you confess...that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." 10:9.
28. Call on his name. "'Every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.'" 10:13.
29. Divine infinitude. "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" 11:33.
30. Mental transformation. "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." 12:2.
31. Genuine love. "Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection." 12:9.
32. Fraternity. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." 12:15.
33. Dealing with enemies. "'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." 12:20.
34. Civil obedience. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." 13:1.
35. Personal opinions. "One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables." 14:2. "One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind." 14:5.
36. Socialization. "None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself." 14:7.
37. Meaning of the kingdom. "The kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." 14:17.
7. FIRST CORINTHIANS
I. OUTLINE
1. Introduction. 1:1-9 [56].
2. Problem of Factions. 1:10-4:21.
A. The Problem. 1:10-12.
B. Argument against. 1:13-3:23.
C. Conclusion. 4:1-21.
3. Moral Standards. 5:1-7:40 [57].
A. Sex and Property Problems. 5:1-6:20.
B. Marriage and Celibacy. 7:1-40.
4. Christian Freedom. 8:1-11:1 [58].
A. Food to Idols. 8:1-13.
B. Paul's Own Rights. 9:1-23.
C. Peril of the Strong. 9:24-10:22.
D. Conclusion. 10:23-11:1.
5. Christian Worship. 11:2-14:40 [59].
A. Veiling Women. 11:2-16.
B. Lord's Supper. 11:17-34.
C. Spiritual Gifts. 12:1-14:40.
6. Resurrection of the Dead. 15:1-58 [60].
A. Resurrection of Jesus. 15:1-19.
B. End of the Age. 15:20-34.
C. The Resurrection Body. 15:35-50.
D. Christian Confidence. 15:51-58.
7. Personal Matters. 16:1-24 [61].
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus in A.D. 54.
2. Paul sent four letters to the church at Corinth.
3. The first letter written from Ephesus has been lost, but a fragment (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) is thought to have been preserved.
4. The second letter is our 1 Corinthians.
5. Most of the third letter (referred to in 2 Cor. 2:4 and 7:8) is also lost. A fragment of it is believed to be 2 Cor. 10-13. It was written from Ephesus.
6. Paul's fourth letter is our 2 Corinthians 1-9 (except 6:14-7:1).
7. Paul spent eighteen months at Corinth. He wrote Romans and the two Thessa-Ionians.
III. OCCASION FOR THE LETTERS
1. Apollos, of Alexandria, did considerable work in Corinth, Priacilla and Aquila gave him advanced instruction.
2. Peter may have visited this church, since there was a three-way division. Some said they were of Apollos, some Cephas, others Paul.
3. Paul's letter deals with the following troubles:
4. Speaking with tongues made trouble at Corinth-as well as in other churches.
5. This is not a doctrinal letter-it deals with practical and daily living problems.
6. Paul advocated women's wearing veils in church.
7. A keynote in Paul's advice: "Let all things be done decently and in order."
8. Always remember: In these early years, Paul was expecting the second advent of Christ any day.
9. Paul was a bang-up evangelist and the leading theologian of his time, but he was not a profound philosopher.
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Church factions. "It has been reported to me...that there is quarreling among you...Each one of you says, 'I belong to Paul,' or 'I belong to Apollos,' or 'I belong to Cephas.'" 1:11,12.
2. Dedicated teacher. "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 2:2.
3. Co-operation. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 3:6.
4. We are temples. "You are God's temple and...God's Spirit dwells in you." 3:16.
5. Kingdom power. "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." 4:20.
6. Incest. "There is immorality among you...a man is living with his father's wife." 5:1.
7. Paul's marriage attitude. "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do." 7:8.
8. Marriage a compromise. "But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry." 7:9.
9. Vocational stability. "In whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God." 7:24.
10. Avoid being a stumbling block. "If food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat." 8:13.
11. Adaptation. "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 9:22.
12. Self-control. "But I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 9:27.
13. Over-self-confidence. "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." 10:12.
14. Measured temptation. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way to escape, that you may be able to endure it." 10:13.
15. Women and veils. "That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels." 11:10.
16. The remembrance supper. "And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" 11:24.
17. Love is paramount. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." 13:1.
18. Love is supreme. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 13:7.
19. Love the greatest. "So faith, hope, love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love." 13:13.
20. Woman's silence. "The women should keep silence in the churches." 14:34. "For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." 14:35.
21. Original sin. "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." 15:22.
22. Baptism for the dead. "Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?" 15:29.
23. Morontia body. "It is sown a physical body; it is raised a spiritual body." 15:44.
24. Second advent. "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet...The dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." 15:51,52.
25. The courageous life. "Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 16:13,14.
8. SECOND CORINTHIANS
I. OUTLINE
1. Introduction. 1:1-11 [62].
2. Recent Relation with Church. 1:12-7:16.
A. Change of Travel Plans. 1:12-2:13.
B. Apostolic Ministry. 2:14-6:10.
C. The Bond Renewed. 6:11-7:16.
3. The Jerusalem Collection. 8:1-9:15 [63].
A. Macedonian Liberality. 8:1-6.
B. Christ's Example. 8:7-15.
C. Titus and Other Leaders. 8:16-24.
D. Collection Appeal. 9:1-5.
E. The Liberal Giver. 9:6-15.
4. Rebuke of the Revolt. 10:1-13:10 [64].
A. Defense against Slander. 10:1-11:15.
B. Paul Boasts of His Labors. 11:16-12:10.
C. Merits of Paul's Work. 12:11-18.
D. Appeal for Repentance. 12:19-13:10.
5. Conclusion. 13:11-14 [65].
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. Second Corinthians is Paul's fourth letter. It was written in A.D. 55 from Macedonia.
2. This is the most personal of all of Paul's letters to the churches.
3. This 2 Corinthians-the fourth letter-has been called the "thankful" epistle.
4. Some have thought that 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 is a fragment from the first letter.
5. Paul's third letter (largely lost) was a severe rebuke-and seems to have been effective.
6. This stern letter was probably written from Ephesus and sent by Titus.
7. Some believe that 2 Cor. Chapters 10-13 are a fragment of the stem third letter. This is hardly an appropriate way to end a "thankful" letter to a reunited church.
III. CENTRAL THEMES
1. We do not have a very clear picture of Just what Paul's detractors were preaching. One thing certain, they were hard at work to undermine Paul's influence and status.
2. They accused Paul of being "tricky and insincere," weak in voice and appearance, having "visions," and being "mentally unbalanced."
3. Paul denounced his adversaries as being "domineering, arrogant, greedy, and brutal." He would hardly admit that they were "Christians."
4. Paul's collection for the Jerusalem church was a strategic move to promote Jewish-gentile unity.
5. Major theme-God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
6. He did not belittle Satan-called him "God of this world."
7. He presents the Christ, who "was rich," but for our sake "became poor."
8. The new order of God, through Christ, is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
9. Paul recognizes the Old Testament as "scripture," but Christ is its fulfillment.
10. He portrays the "mission of suffering." His power is "made perfect in weakness."
11. Hope is the twin of true faith.
12. Prayer is the mainstay of religion.
13. Christian giving-charity.
14. He admits his own afflictions and his "thorn in the flesh."
15. He glories in his infirmities.
16. Paul does not hesitate to make a bold and courageous defense of himself.
17. God lives and works in man. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
18. Jesus is a unique revelation of God.
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1. God of all comfort. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort." 1:3.
2. Spirit gives life. "The written code kills, but the Spirit gives life." 3:6.
3. Spiritual liberty. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 3:17.
4. Earthen vessels. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels." 4:7.
5. The eternal reward. "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." 4:17.
6. The morontia body. "We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 5:1.
7. The new creature. "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." 5:17.
8. Divine reconciliation. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself." 5:19.
9. Unbeliever marriages. "Do not be mismated with unbelievers." 6:14.
10. Temples of God. "For we are the temple of the living God." 6:16.
11. Clean living. "Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God." 7:1.
12. According to ability. "If the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not." 8:12.
13. Satanic disguise. "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." 11:14.
14. Paul's revelation. "This man was caught up into Paradise...and he heard things that cannot be told." 12:3.4.
15. The thorn in the flesh. "And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated," 12:7.
16. Power of grace. "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" 12:9.
17. Spiritual strength. "When I am weak, then am I strong." 12:10.
18. Self-examination. "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves." 13:5.
9. GALATIANS
I. OUTLINE
1. Paul's Declaration of Independence. 1:1-2:21 [66].
A. Proclamation. 1:1-5.
B. The Circumstances. 1:6-10.
C. Paul's Commission. 1:11-17.
D. Paul's Apostleship. 1:18-2:10.
E. Later Troubles. 2:11-14.
F. Affirmation of Faith. 2:15-21.
2. The Defense. 3:1-4:31 [67].
A. Personal Experience. 3:1-5.
B. Abraham's Faith. 3:6-18.
C. Function of Law. 3:19-25.
D. The New Status. 3:26-4:11.
E. Paul and His Children. 4:12-20.
F. Allegory of Freedom. 4:21-31.
3. The Responsibility. 5:1-6:18 [68].
A. Right Use of Freedom. 5:1-15.
B. Spirit vs. the Flesh. 5:16-21.
C. Sons of God. 5:22-24.
D. Co-operative Spirit. 5:25-6:6.
E. Agriculture of the Spirit. 6:7-10.
F. Conclusion. 6:11-18.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. Galatians was not written to a single church. It was sent to all the churches in Galatia-Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
2. Galatians, written by Paul, is probably our oldest Christian document.
3. We cannot be sure as to whether it was written at Ephesus or at Antioch in Syria.
4. The date of Galatians is uncertain.
A. If Galatians is Paul's first letter, it was probably written at Antioch in A.D. 49.
B. If it is his third letter and written at Ephesus, the date is probably A.D. 52.
5. Galatians was Luther's favorite epistle.
III. THE PURPOSE
1. Galatians is Paul's declaration of religious independence.
2. In some respects, Galatians is the most important theological document ever written.
3. Of all Paul's writings, Galatians is the shortest, most rigorous and forthright statement of his theology.
4. Galatians is the Magna Charta of the Christian faith.
5. In Galatians "LAW" means the "whole scheme of living"-social, ceremonial, moral, and theologic-the religion of works.
6. Paul makes clear that liberty is not license.
7. The "Judaizers" attacked Paul's credentials as well as his Gospel.
8. There were two groups of mischief makers:
A. Judaizers-those who said you must become a Jew-be circumcised, etc. -before you could become a Christian.
B. Those who went Paul one better, saying, since Christians were free from the law, they could indulge in all sorts of immorality.
9. Justification by faith was Paul's basic concept of the Gospel.
10. Christ is the sole sufficiency of salvation-no intermediaries.
11. Paul had trouble defending his apostleship-already "apostolic succession" had sprung up.
12. Paul shifted validity of his credentials from religious tradition to personal religious experience. (This is the teaching of the Urantia Book.)
13. But the new Gospel was not an easy way-instead of license it involved great responsibility.
14. Paul taught over-all Christian UNITY-no struggle for power, honor, or influence.
15. He said the Lord's Supper forbade divisions and separatists.
16. But he demanded a "church" for growth, worship, and "missions."
17. Paul was a master organizer and fair administrator.
IV. PAULINE CHARACTERISTICS
1. Paul was "dead to the world"; he had "risen with Christ." He was living in the "new age."
2. It was revolutionary to teach that salvation could be had without "merit" -that faith alone could save.
3. Paul claimed that Christ's death had redeemed all men.
4. Faith delivers mortal man from guilt and sin. Salvation is God's free gift.
5. Paul acknowledges his infirmities, but glories in his weakness-that the strength of "grace" may be made manifest.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Prenatal aspects. "But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called 'me through his grace." 1:15. (Here again is the idea of Thought Adjusters' having forecasts of human beings.)
2. Justified by faith. "We have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith." 2:16.
3. The new life. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God." 2:20.
4. The atonement. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us." 3:13.
5. Sonship. "In Jesus Christ you are all Sons of God, through faith." 3:26.
6. Spirit of sonship. "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts." 4:6.
7. Paul's eye trouble. "If possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me." 4:15.
8. Freedom in Christ. "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." 5:1.
9. Our hope. "Through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness." 5:5.
10. Misuse of freedom. "You were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another." 5:13.
11. Love your neighbor. "The whole law is fulfilled in one word, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" 5:14.
12. The Spirit life. "Walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh." 5:16.
13. Fruits of the Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law," 5:22,23.
14. Burden bearing. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." 6:2.
15. Sowing and reaping. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." 6:7.
10. EPHESIANS
I. OUTLINE
1. Doctrinal. 1:1-3:21 [69].
A Salutation. 1:1,2.
B. Thanksgiving. 1:3-14.
C. Prayer for the Ephesiane. 1:15-2:10.
D. Unity. 2:11-22.
E. Mission and Message. 3:1-13.
F. Another Prayer. 3:14-19.
G. Doxology. 3:20,21.
2. Hortatory. 4:1-6:24 [70].
A. Church Unity. 4:1-16.
B. Abandon Pagan Ways. 4:17-5:20.
C. Subordination. 5:21-6:9.
D. God's Armor. 6:10-18.
E. Appeal for Prayer. 6:19.20.
F. The Bearer. 6:21,22.
G. Benediction. 6:23,24.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. Paul wrote Ephesians, The doctrinal half is Paul's theology; the philosophical half is Paul's teaching.
2. But the polished literary style throughout is not Paul's. After Paul wrote the epistle, some well qualified Christian editor rewrote the letter -making it one of the most polished pieces of literature to be found in either the Old or the New Testament.
3. The letter was not written just to the church at Ephesus. It was a general epistle addressed to all the churches. (The Revised Standard Version leaves off "Ephesus" in the introduction.)
4. There are 82 words in Ephesians not to be found in any of Paul's other letters.
5. The chief topics of this letter conform to Paul's teaching, but there are at least four secondary ideas that seem foreign to Paul's thinking.
A. Paul's mission. He did not claim to be the only missionary to the gentiles. There were earlier teachers-see Acts 11:20.
IV. THEOLOGY OF EPHESIANS
1. It cannot be denied that this book is strongly "tainted" with predestination.
2. The brotherhood concept gains its chief support from Ephesians.
3. Ephesians is up to date. Its battle cry-"Unite or perish."
4. The goal is unity-"in the fullness of time."
5. The theme-all creation moving toward ultimate unity in Christ.
6. All the time Ephesians preaches unity-"till we all come into the unity of the faith."
7. It presents a picture of a sort of "Christian imperialism," all mankind united in the service of Christ.
8. The Fatherhood of God is a chief thought. He is a universal Father-"one God and Father of all."
9. The "mystery of God" is openly revealed "in Christ."
10. In Ephesians the church has fully displaced the "kingdom."
11. The letter fully upholds all of Paul's preaching about "Christ and him crucified."
12. The Jewish Messiah is displaced by a transcendental and cosmic Messiah of infinite attributes.
13. The letter is true to Paul's doctrine of the atonement.
14. The theology of Ephesians is interspersed with prayers that border on grandeur and beauty.
Note: Predestination is the Christian analogue of the "chosen people" doctrine of the Jews.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Foreordination. "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." 1:4.
2. The eternal plan. "According to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." 1:9,10.
3. The supremacy of Christ. "And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all." 1:22,23.
4. Free salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God." 2:8.
5. Christ our peace. "For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility." 2:14.
6. Fellowship with the saints. "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." 2:19.
7. The eternal purpose. "This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord." 3:11.
8. Spiritual strength. "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man." 3:16.
9. The fullness of God. "And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God." 3:19.
10. The divine omnipresence. "One God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all." 4:6.
11. The new nature. "And be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." 4:23,24.
12. Marriage relationships. "Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord." 5:21,22.
13. Marriage love. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." 5:25.
14. Parental obedience. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." 6:1.
15. Subjection of slaves. "Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ," 6:5.
16. Spiritual strength. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." 6:10,11.
17. Effective armor. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." 6:17.
11. PHILIPPIANS
I. OUTLINE
1 Introduction. 1:1-11 [71].
A. Salutation. 1:1,2.
B. Thanksgiving. 1:3-11.
2. Paul's Life in Prison. 1:12-30 [72].
3. The Christian Life. 2:1-18 [73].
A. Self-effacement. 2:1-4.
B. Humility. 2:5-11.
C. Christian Obligations. 2:12-18.
4. Timothy and Epaphroditus. 2:19-30 [74].
5. Paul's Apologia. 3:1-21 [75].
A. Warning against Judaism. 3:1-3.
B. Paul Looks Backward. 3:4-16.
C. Moral Consistency. 3:17-21.
6. Final Admonitions. 4:1-9 [76].
7. The Gift from Philippi. 4:10-20.
8. Final Salutation. 4:21-23.
II. PURPOSE AND OCCASION
1. The church at Philippi had sent a gift of money to Paul by Epaphroditus, who was stricken with a grave illness, and on recovery brought Paul's letter back to the church at Philippi.
2. This epistle was a letter of thanks for their gift-the only one of its kind Paul ever accepted from one of his churches.
Note: It is thought that Paul got an inheritance from a wealthy relative about the time of his first imprisonment.
3. Here at Philippi Paul made his first effort in Europe, and this became the first Christian church in Europe.
4. He was accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and Luke.
5. The best account of Paul's visit to Philippi is Luke's record in Acts.
6. Paul's imbroglio with the mediumistic slave girl got him in prison and scourged; but his Roman citizenship got him out of trouble.
7. A nocturnal earthquake helped to get Paul and Silas out of jail.
8. Arguments have been presented to show that this letter came from Ephesus or Caesarea, but most authorities agree that it came from Rome.
9. The date is from A.D. 60 to 62.
III. A LOOK AT THE LETTER
1. Phil. 3:8-14 is probably the most moving and elevated passage Paul ever wrote.
2. The rhythmical trend of 2:5-11 suggests that it may have originally been a hymn.
3. Women were prominent in the church at Philippi, notably Lydia. Paul knew about the small cliques and petty rivalries in the church.
4. Paul no longer expected to see the Lord come any day in "the clouds of heaven." He was becoming reconciled to the idea of death.
5. There is little theologic argument in this letter-and it ends differently from his other epistles. The end (see 4:8) is followed by the postscript.
6. The cheerful tone of this letter suggests that Paul was expecting to get out of prison soon.
7. This has been called the "joy" epistle-because the word is so frequently used.
8. This is the most personal and touchingly beautiful of all Paul's letters.
9. Of all Paul's writings this is more like a "letter"-just a friendly message to his flock at Philippi.
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Paul's wish for us. "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." 1:9,10.
2. Paul's imprisonment. "And most of the brethren have been made confident of the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear." 1:14.
3. The sure profit. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." 1:21.
4. True humility. "Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves." 2:3.
5. The incarnation. "And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." 2:8.
6. Working out salvation. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." 2:12.
7. Sharing the Christ life. "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." 3:10.
8. The forward look. "But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." 3:13,14.
9. Peace of God. "Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 4:6,7.
10. The Christ life. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." 4:3.
11. Contentment. "I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content." 4:11.
12. Divine strength. "I can do all things in him who strengthens me." 4:13.
13. Supplying our needs. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." 4:19.
12. COLOSSIANS
I. OUTLINE
1. Introduction. 1:1-14 [77].
2. Polemic against Angelic Mediators. 1:15-3:4.
A. Primacy of Christ. 1:15-23.
B. The Apostle's Ministry. 1:24-2:5.
C. Center of Christian Life. 2:6-15.
D. Alien Ritual. 2:16-23.
E. The Christian Life. 3:1-4.
3. Moral Instruction. 3:5-4:6 [78].
A. Christian Transformation. 3:5-17.
B. Household Duties. 3:18-4:1.
C. Prayer. 4:2-4.
D. Relation to Pagans0 4:5,6.
4. Personal Greetings. 4:7-18 [79].
A. Introduction. 4:7-9.
B. Greetings from Paul's Associates. 4:10-14.
C. Final Instructions. 4:15-18.
II. AN OVER-ALL LOOK
1. Paul writes this letter from prison-most likely from Rome, although some have thought the letter might have been written from Caesarea or Ephesus.
2. Paul was living in his own rented house at Rome. It is believed that he received an inheritance from a relative about this time.
3. Epaphras was probably one of Paul's Ephesian converts. It was he, not. Paul, who founded the church at Colossae.
4. There is some evidence that the slave-philosopher, Epictetus, may have met Epaphras. Epictetus was a Stoic, but his teachings show many traces of Paul's teaching.
5. In Colossians the center of interest shifts from the work of Christ to the person of Christ.
6. The doctrine of "justification by faith" is presented in a new setting in this epistle.
7. There is much in this letter that sounds like Ephesians. This is one of the strongest reasons for believing that Paul was the author of the original Ephesians.
8. The date is probably A.D. 59 to 61.
III. THE COLOSSIAN "HERESY"
1. The Colossians were being subjected to the forerunners of early Gnosticism.
2. Some of the errors of the Colossians:
A. Heresy about angels. "The elemental spirits of the universe." 2:8.
B. A celestial hierarchy. 1:16.
C. Asceticism.
D. Legalisms.
E. Docetic restrictions.
F. Sabbath cult. 2:16.
G. Taboos. 2:21.
H. Circumcision. 2:11.
I. Aspects of the mystery cults.
J. Greek philosophy.
K. Probably some doctrines of Plato and Philo.
Note: While there may have been some truth in the concept of angels, the basic error was that they were objects of worship-displacing Christ.
3. The chief error of this teaching was the doctrine of "angelic mediators"- many features are reflected in later doctrines of the Roman Catholic church.
4. Paul sets forth Christ as the sole mediator. And he stands far above all others. 1:16,17,18, 19.
5. Paul wants them to shun "elemental spirits" and put Christ at the head of all. 2:9.
6. Worst of all-there was a moral laxity associated with all these claims of "advanced truth."
7. Paul's answer to all this was the doctrine of the "fulness of Christ." 2:9,10.
8. Paul warned them against the "mystic visions" of the leaders of the new cult.
9. Colossians in some respects foreshadows the theology of the Gospel of John and Hebrews.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. The divine strength. "May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy." 1:11.
2. The transcendent life. "He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." 1:13,14.
3. Infinite cohesion. "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." 1:17.
4. The incarnation. "For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell." 1:19.
5. The divine mystery. "God chose to make known how great...are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." 1:27.
6. God's mystery. "To have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 2:2,3.
7. Deceptive doctrines. "See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily." 2:8,9.
8. Religious liberty. "Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath." 2:16.
9. Living in Christ. "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." 3:1.
10. Life hid with Christ. "And your life is hid with Christ in God." 3:3.
11. The new nature. "And have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." 3:10.
12. Supremacy of love. "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." 3:14.
13. Gracious speech. "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one." 4:6.
14. Paul's fetters. "I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. Grace be with you." 4:18.
13. FIRST AND SECOND THESSALONLANS
I. OUTLINE
1 THESSALONLANS
1. Address and Greeting. 1:1 [80].
2. Personal Thanksgiving. 1:2-3:13.
A. Review of Apostolic Work. 1:2-2:12.
B. Gratitude. 2:13-16.
G. Desire to Revisit. 2:17-20.
D. Sending Timothy. 3:1-10.
E. Apostle's Prayer. 3:11-13.
3. Exhortation and Instruction. 4:1-5:28 [81].
A. Mission of Love. 4:1-12.
B. Concerning the Dead. 4:13-18.
C. The Day of the Lord. 5:1-11.
D. Exhortations. 5:12-22.
E. Prayer for Church. 5:23,24.
F. Benedictions. 5:25-28.
2 THESSALONIANS
4. Greeting. 1:1,2 [82].
5. Thanksgiving. 1:3-12.
A. Faith and Love. 1:3,4.
B. Judgment of God. 1:5-7.
C. Revelation of Jesus. 1:8-10.
D. Prayer for Blessing. 1:11,12.
6. Revelation of Man of Lawlessness. 2:1-17 [83].
A. Error about Day of the Lord. 2:1-3.
B. Man of Lawlessness. 2:4-10.
C. Lovers of Error. 2:11,12.
D. Thanksgiving. 2:13-15.
E. Prayer for Firmness. 2:16,17.
7. Closing Appeals. 3:1-16 [84].
A. Request for Prayer. 3:1,2.
B. Confidence. 3:3-5.
C. Concerning Idlers. 3:6-15.
D. Prayer for Disciples. 3:16.
8. Benediction. 3:17,18.
II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. Silas and Timothy were Paul's companions in the founding of this church.
2. Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother.
3. These letters are peculiar in that Paul does not characterize himself as an apostle, etc., as in his other letters.
4. These letters were probably written from Corinth A.D. 50 or 51.
5. 1 Thessalonians is Paul's first letter to any of his churches.
6. Thessalonica (modern Salonica) was the provincial capital and was on the great travel route of East and West.
III. THE MESSAGE
1. The first letter is warm-hearted, personal, and contains but little theology.
2. The second letter is much like the first, but is more formal, and has more theology.
3. Some have thought that there must have been two churches-1 Thessalonians written to the gentiles, 2 Thessalonians to the Jews.
4. The first letter has more to say about the immediate coming of Christ than any of the other Pauline epistles.
5. In the first letter Paul seems to look for the second coming "any day." In the second letter, a whole line of events is to precede the second coming.
6. Maybe Paul's first letter had led to over-expectation about the second advent and he tries to quiet them down in his second letter.
7. Thinking Christ was coming so soon, some of the church members had quit work.
8. Paul defends himself against accusations made by his enemies.
9. Expecting the early return of Christ, they had worried about some of their number who had died.
10. Paul explains that they will be resurrected to "share in his glory."
11. The message of these letters is "thanksgiving" and a plea for the Christian virtues.
12. In the case of the gentiles, there was always some trouble in these early churches regarding sex morality.
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1 THESSALONIANS
1. Their faith well known. "Tour faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything." 1:8.
2. Their conversion. "And how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God." 1:9.
3. Mutual affection. "Being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." 2:6.
4. The divine call. "To lead a life worthy of God» who calls you into his own kingdom and glory." 2:12.
5. Abounding in love. "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you." 3:12.
6. True marriage. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from immorality; that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor." 4:3,4.
7. Ideal living. "To aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody." 4:11,12.
8. Resurrection of believers. "We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." 4:13,14.
9. The second coming. "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord." 4:16,17.
10. Comes like a thief. "For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 5:2.
11. Spiritual armor. "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation." 5:8.
12. Christian living. "Admonish the idle, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit." 5:14-19.
2 THESSALONIANS
13. The second advent. "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." 1:7-9.
14. The son of perdition. "Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." 2:3,4.
15. The great deception. "The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2:9-12.
16. The divine safeguard. "But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil." 3:3.
17. Self-support. "We did not eat any one's bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you." 3:8.
18. Idleness penalty. "If any one will not work, let him not eat." 3:10.
19. Persist in good. "Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing." 3:13.
14. FIRST AND SECOND TIMOTHY, TITUS
I. OUTLINE
1 TIMOTHY
1. Salutation. 1:1,2 [85].
2. The Charged. 1:3-7.
3. Christians and Law. 1:8-11.
4. Paul, the Preacher. 1:12-17.
5. Timothy. 1:18-20.
6. Christian Faith. 2:1-7 [86].
7. Rules of Worship. 2:8-15.
8. Bishops. 3:1-7 [87].
9. Deacons. 3:8-13.
10. Christian Mystery. 3:14-16.
11. False Teachers. 4:1-5 [88].
12. Minister as Example. 4:6-16.
13. Conduct of Minister. 5:1,2 [89].
14. Widows. 5:3-16.
15. Elders. 5:17-25.
16. Slaves. 6:1,2 [90].
17. Doctrine and Contentment. 6:2-10.
18. Obedient Christian. 6:11-16.
19. True Riches. 6:17-19.
20. Conclusion. 6:20,21.
2 TIMOTHY
21. Salutation. 1:1,2 [91].
22. Timothy the Minister. 1:3-14.
23. Personal Appeal. 1:15-18.
24. The Christian Soldier. 2:1-13 [92].
25. Keeping the Faith. 2:14-19.
26. Good Doctrine. 2:20-26.
27. Warning against Heresy. 3:1-9 [93].
28. Paul's Devotion. 3:10-13.
29. The Scriptures. 3:14-17.
30. The Ministry. 4:1-5 [94].
31. Paul as Minister. 4:6-18.
32. Conclusion. 4:19-22.
TITUS
33. Salutation. 1:1-4 [95].
34. Elders and Bishops. 1:5-8.
35. Sound Doctrine. 1:9-16.
36. Duties of Ministers. 2:1-10 [96].
37. Working and Waiting. 2:11-15.
38. Christian Conduct. 3:1-7 [97].
39. Faith and Works. 3:8-11.
40. Conclusion. 3:12-15.
II. TIMOTHY AHD TITUS
1. Timothy, son of a Greek father and Jewish mother, was probably converted under Paul at Lystra.
2. Timothy carried out many missions to the churches for Paul. He joined Paul at Rome, then went to Ephesus.
3. We know but little of the gentile Titus. Later he became Bishop of Crete.
4. Timothy was Paul's "beloved child." 2 Tim. 1:2.
III. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
1. These letters present a picture of a highly complex ecclesiastical church organization.
2. They are concerned with the work of church officials and all orders of church administrators.
3. Apostles and prophets have been succeeded by bishops and archbishops.
4. Worship must be regulated. Heresy must be resisted. Discipline must be maintained.
5. Worship must be supervised-ministers regulated and supported.
6. These letters deal with "proud, arrogant, and abusive men," "deceitful spirits and doctrine of demons," "imposters and deceivers."
7. Theology is recognized-"workmen...rightly dividing the word of truth."
8. The purpose of preaching is practical-not speculative.
9. Ministers are to be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." Says Paul; "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 4:7.
10. Activities of women in the church are greatly restricted.
11. Eighteen characteristics of the false teacher. 2 Tim. 3:2-5.
12. The epistles denounce the "craving for controversy and for disputes about words," "Godless chatter."
13. The church is contending with two types of heresy:
A. Jewish doctrines.
B. Hellenic heresy.
14. These epistles are combating:
A. Jewish teaching-"the circumcision party."
B. Magic-Eastern charms and hypnotism.
C. Asceticism-Essene errors.
D. Hellenism and Gnostic teachings.
E. Harcion and his heresy.
F. Docetism-rejection of the second advent.
IV. LANGUAGE AND STYLE
1. These epistles use hundreds of words not found in Paul's other letters; 175 not found in all of the New Testament.
2. The word "doctrine" occurs 15 times in these pastorals-6 times in all the rest of the New Testament.
3. The vocabulary of these epistles is more like that of the early Christian writers than Paul.
4. There are some passages in these letters that are undoubtedly Pauline- but on the whole the language is foreign to Paul.
5. There is much non-Pauline theology and church organization in these epistles.
6. Paul was a "mystic"-the author of the pastorals is an "ecclesiastic."
7. These pastorals are decidedly more. Jewish than Paul's writings.
8. Attitude towards marriage, wine, and society is largely Jewish.
9. Paul's free "spirit" leadership has become a ritual of "laying on of hands."
10. Paul's "faith" in these pastorals becomes the "creed."
11. These are the only books of the New Testament addressed to individuals- ministers.
12. These letters sound like those of Ignatius and Polycarp written from A.D. 110 to 117.
V. PLACE AND DATE
1. These letters have been dated all the way from A.D. 61 to 180, but were probably written between 110 and 140.
2. The unknown author of these epistles has Paul write from prison, and does his best to make it appear that Paul really wrote these letters to Timothy and Titus.
3. It seems likely that these three epistles were based on fragments of messages to Timothy and Titus, but fifty years later were rewritten by an admirer and follower of Paul.
VI. SELECTED TEXTS
1 TIMOTHY
1. Sound doctrine. "That you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the divine training that is in faith." 1:3,4.
2. To save sinners. "The saying is sure...that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1:15.
3. Universal salvation. "Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2:4.
4. Christ as mediator. "There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all." 2:5,6.
5. Restrictions on women. "I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent." 2:12.
6. Family discipline. "For if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church." 3:5.
7. Qualification for deacons. "Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain; they mist hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." 3:8,9.
8. The falling away. "In the latter times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." 4:1.
9. Plea for maturity. "Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourselves in godliness." 4:7.
10. Youthful rights. "Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." 4:12.
11. Attend to your gift. "Do not neglect the gift you have." 4:14.
12. Family obligations. "If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 5:8.
13. Female deportment. "They learn to be idlers, gadding about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not." 5:13.
14. Advice to young widows. "So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, rule their households, and give the enemy no occasion to revile us." 5:14.
15. About wine. "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." 5:23.
16. Religious contentment. "There is great gain In godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content." 6:6-8.
17. Love of money. "For the love of money is the root of all evils." 6:10.
2 TIMOTHY
18. Spiritual endowment. "God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control," 1:7.
19. Life and immortality. "And now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 1:10.
20. Dedication. "No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him." 2:4.
21. Skilled workmen. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." 2:15.
22. High aims. "Shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels," 2:22, 23.
23. The last days. "In the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people," 3:1-5.
24. Persecution. "All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 3:12.
25. Inspiration of scripture. "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 3:16, 17.
26. False teachers. "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate fbr themselves teachers to suit their own likings, md will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths." 4:3,4.
27. The final reward. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 4:7.
TITUS
28. Qualifications for elders. "Men who are blameless, married only once, whose children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate." 1:6.
29. Spiritual purity. "To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted." 1:15.
30. The Christian life. "Bid the older men be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited." 2:2-5.
31. The civil life. "To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all men." 3:2.
32. The reward. "So that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life." 3:7.
15. PHILEMON
1. This is the story of a converted runaway slave-his conversion and return to his master.
2. This is one of the shortest books of the Bible [98], and the only one dealing wholly with the affairs of one individual.
3. Paul wrote to Philemon, the master of the slave Onesimus, tactfully pleading for forgiveness.
4. This letter was probably written from Rome, about A.D. 59-61.
5. Onesimus carried the letter to Philemon and was accompanied by Tychicus who also carried Paul's letter to the Colossians.
6. It appears that Paul sought forgiveness for the runaway slave and hoped that his master would send him back to be with Paul.
7. We do not know whether or not the slave was returned to Paul.
8. Early in the second century Ignatius writes about one Onesimus, bishop of Ephesus. There is every reason to believe that this bishop was the runaway slave.
9. It seems strange that nowhere does Paul make a frontal attack upon Roman slavery.
10. In those days slavery was very different as compared with later centuries. Many able persons often found themselves enslaved.
16. HEBREWS
I. OUTLINE
1. Theme. 1:1,2 [99].
2. Argument-Son and Priest. 1:3-10:18 [100].
A. Personality of Son. 1:3-4:13.
B. Work of Personality. 4:14-10:18.
(1) Melchizedek Priest. 4:14-5:10.
(2) Attend on Teaching. 5:11-6:20.
(3) Melchizedek Priesthood. 7:1-28.
(4) Jesus as High Priest. 8:1-10:18.
3. The Application. 10:19-12:29 [101].
A. Access to God. 10:19-31.
B. Confidence. 10:32-39.
C. Faith. 11:1-40.
D. Running the Race. 12:1,2.
E. Discipline. 12:3-11.
F. Warnings. 12:12-29.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. Hebrews was not attributed to Paul until the end of the second century. In A.D. 225 Origen thought that Paul was the author of the material, but that someone else put it in written form. He said: "The thoughts are those of the apostle, but the diction and phraseology are those of someone who remembered the apostolic teachings."
2. Other suggested authors: Barnabas, Timothy, Aquila, Priscilla, Luke, Clement, and Apollos.
3. Some have thought Paul's friend Silvanus (Silas) wrote Hebrews.
4. There is some literary resemblance to 1 Peter, which Silvanus might also have written.
5. The author was familiar with the teachings of Plato, Philo, and Paul.
6. The last chapter is like Paul's writings.
7. The book has been dated from A.D. 85 to 110.
8. 1 Clement, written A.D. 96, quotes from Hebrews. Some think Hebrews was written in the late seventies.
9. In all probability the book was written in Italy.
10. Several of Paul's doctrines, like "justification by faith," are not found
11. Paul does not present Christ as priest in any of his writings, but Hebrews does.
12. Hebrews is one of the most erudite books of the Bible.
13. We are forced to conclude that Hebrews was rewritten one or more times. It may have originated as a Pauline letter to one of the churches and then, like Ephesians, was subjected to much editorial rewriting.
14. The Council of Trent (1546) included Hebrews among the letters of Paul.
15. The Urantia Book speaks of Paul as author- (539.5) 47:10.3 [102]. On p. 1024 Paul is referred to as "one of the authors." Quotations from Hebrews are ascribed to Paul on (539.5) 47:10.3 [102] and (542.4) 48:1.7 [103] in the Urantia Book.
III. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. Hebrews begins like a treatise and ends like a letter.
2. This so-called epistle to the Hebrews is the least Hebrew of all New Testament writings.
3. Hebrews is in many ways the most "modern" of all New Testament writings.
4. An outstanding feature is the discussion of Melchizedek, original with this author. Nowhere else in all the New Testament do we find such allusions.
5. Jesus as "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" is the theme of Hebrews.
6. The purpose was to prevent Jewish Christians from backsliding-so they would not "fall away from the living God." 3:12.
IV. THEOLOGY OF HEBREWS
1. Christ is the final and complete revelation of God.
2. The dominant idea: "We have such a high priest at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven."
3. And all this is "the new and living way."
4. The idea of making Christ a priest is unique-the only book in the New Testament to do so. This priesthood concept presents a new and unique philosophy of Christology.
5. The Melchizedek idea is the essence of the author's philosophy, faith has to do with "things hoped for" and "things not seen."
6. Philo equates Melchizedek with the Logos; Hebrews compares it to the eternal mediatorship of the glorified Christ.
7. There is close kinship to the thinking of Philo of Alexandria.
8. Christian convictions are presented in an atmosphere of Platonic idealism.
9. Hebrews utterly ignores the whole idea of the Messiah.
10. Hebrews is like Paul's writing in that it avoids use of the title "Son of Man" for Christ.
11. For some reason but little is said about the resurrection and the sacraments.
12. Hebrews is sound doctrine in the equal recognition of the humanity and divinity of Jesus.
13. "He was tempted in all points" as we are-yet without sin.
14. But we miss Paul's concept of the "radical change" by the Spirit-conversion.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Attributes of the Son. "He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power." 1:3.
2. Ministering spirits. "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?" 1:14.
3. Man's status. "'What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of man, that thou hearest for him? Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou has crowned him with glory and honor.'" 2:6,7.
4. Christ's humanity. "Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God." 2:17.
5. Understanding high priest. "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning." 4:15.
6. Melchizedek priesthood. "As he says in another place, 'Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.'" 5:6.
7. Learning obedience. "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." 5:8.
8. High priest ministry. "A hope that enters into the inner shrine
behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." 6:19,20.
9. Melchizedek's relationship. "He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever." 7:3.
10. The new covenant. "This is the covenant that I will make...I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts.'" 8:10.
11. Missions of Christ. "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." 9:28.
12. Provoking virtue. "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." 10:24.
13. Presumptuous sin. "For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." 10:26.
14. Judgment. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." 10:31.
15. What is faith? "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." 11:1.
16. The heavenly city. "For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." 11:10.
17. The saving race. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." 12:1,2.
18. The goal of living. "Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." 12:14.
19. Hospitality. "Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." 13:1,2.
20. Avoid love of money. "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have." 13:5.
17. JAMES
I. OUTLINE
1. Greeting. 1:1,1 [104].
2. Trials and Joy. 1:2-4.
3. Answer to Prayer. 1:5-8.
4. Curse of Riches. 1:9-11.
5. Reward of the Righteous. 1:12.
6. Temptation and Trial. 1:13-15.
7. Good Comes from God. 1:16-18.
8. Self-control. 1:19-21.
9. Hearing and Doing. 1:22-25.
10. Control the Tongue. 1:26.
11. True Religion. 1:27.
12. Sin and the Rich. 2:1-13 [105].
13. Faith and Works. 2:14-26.
14. Sin of the Tongue. 3:1-12 [106].
15. True Wisdom. 3:13-18.
16. Wrong Desires. 4:1-10 [107].
17. Speak No Evil. 4:11,12.
18. Sinful Self-confidence. 4:13-16.
19. Sins of Omission. 4:17.
20. Judgment of the Rich. 5:1-6 [108].
21. Patience. 5:7-11.
22. Swearing. 5:12.
23. Consecration. 5:13.
24. Sickness. 5:14-18.
25. Save the Erring. 5:19,20.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. For many reasons it is difficult to accept James, the Lord's brother, as the author of this epistle.
2. Jesus' brothers were slow to accept his divine mission; at the crucifixion he committed his mother to the care of the apostle John.
3. Nothing in this epistle even hints at an intimate association of the author with Jesus.
Note: If James did write it, it may be that he was hesitant to refer to the family relationship with Jesus because of the peculiar circumstances of the aborted meeting of the family with Jesus at Capernaum-when Jesus uttered those words which so shocked his family-"I have no mother; I have no brothers." (Urantia Book, (1722.1) 154:6.5) [109]
4. This book of James was written by a learned writer-it is high class Hellenistic literature.
5. This epistle was written in Greek. James was probably proficient only in Aramaic.
6. There is one item of evidence which demands attention. Many of the 230 words used by James in Acts 15:13-30 do appear in the epistle of James.
7. The early fathers assigned the book to James-the Lord's brother.
8. If James wrote it, then the epistle is among the early writings-since James was martyred in A.D. 62.
9. One theory is that it was written by an unknown Christian teacher about A.D. 90.
10. It is doubtful if James can be dated before A.D. 80. It might be even as late as 100.
11. James was written after Romans, because it refers to Rom. 4. (The probable date for Romans is A.D. 58.)
12. The sum of all the evidence would suggest that this book was not written by James, the Lord's brother, and the original was probably most thoroughly rewritten.
III. JEWISH CHRISTIANITY
1. While early Christianity had its center in the Jerusalem council of which James was chairman, Paul refused to recognize it as a final authority.
2. But James and the elders regarded themselves as inheritors of "apostolic authority."
3. When Paul wrote that "Christ is the end of the law" (Rom. 10:4), he taught what Peter said was something "hard to understand." 2 Peter 3:16.
4. Their trouble arose from failure to distinguish the two laws-moral law, like the Ten Commandments, and the whole mass of ceremonial law, regarding sacrifices, foods, and scores of other trifling details of living.
5. James seems to have been written to provide a middle-of-the-road document- avoiding Paul's extreme "justification by faith" and the Jewish teaching of "obedience to the law."
6. For twenty years James did preside as head of the church at Jerusalem. It is difficult to understand his addressing this epistle to the 12 tribes.
7. The author is influenced by two apocryphal books-Ecclesiasticus and the Wisdom of Solomon.
8. The epistle seems to teach that action is more important than faith. It is mildly controversial as regards Paul's "justification by faith."
IV. SPECIAL NOTES
1. The sources of James are more Jewish than Christian. Some editor has made it more Christian than it was in the original.
2. Admonitions are given to most of the 12 sons of Jacob to carry out the "scheme" of the epistle.
3. In many early versions of James, it appears as a "letter to Jacob."
4. In the third century both Origen and Eusebius recognized James as "scripture."
5. Church organization was well advanced when James was written. But the elders had not become priests.
6. James presents a definite plan for "anointing the sick," This is the former practice of the disciples of John the Baptist. (See Urantia Book, p. 1678.)
7. This anointing of the sick with pure olive oil is still practiced by a branch of the Greek Orthodox Church.
8. Most likely it was from this "unction" of anointing the sick that the later rite of anointing the dying-"extreme unction"-was derived.
9. Even today many "divine healers" anoint their subjects with oil.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Getting wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him." 1:5.
2. Gaining the crown. "Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of lire which God has promised to those who love him." 1:12.
3. Nature of temptation. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." 1:14.
4. Good endowments. "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." 1:17.
5. Speech control. "If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain." 1:26.
6. Heirs of the kingdom. "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him." 2:5.
7. Faith and works. "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?" 2:14.
8. Dead faith. "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." 2:17.
9. Faith and works. "But some one will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith." 2:18.
10. Justified by works. "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." 2:24.
11. Dead faith. "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead." 2:26.
12. Untamable tongue. "But no human being can tame the tongue-a restless evil, full of deadly poison." 3:8.
13. Wisdom. "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity ." 3:17.
14. Submission to God. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." 4:7.
15. True humility. "Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you." 4:10.
16. What is sin? "Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." 4:17.
17. Patience. "You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." 5:8.
18. FIRST PETER
I. OUTLINE
1. Salutation. 1:1,2 [110].
2. Blessing of the Redeemed. 1:3-2:10 [111].
A. Doxology. 1:3-9.
B. The Prophets. 1:10-12.
C. Exhortations. 1:13-2:3.
D. The Living Cornerstone. 2:4-10.
3. Christian Duties. 2:11-4:11 [112].
A. Believers and Unbelievers. 2:11,12.
B. Christians and the State. 2:13-17.
C. Duty of Slaves. 2:18-20.
D. The Christ. 2:21-25.
E. Husbands and Wives. 3:1-7.
F. Recapitulation. 3:8-12.
G. Persecution. 3:13-17.
H. Christ Our Example. 3:18-22.
I. Pure Living. 4:1-6.
J. Ethics for Crises. 4:7-11.
4. Trials of Christians. 4:12-5:11 [113].
A. Call to Christians. 4:12-19.
B. To Elders. 5:1-5.
C. Conclusion. 5:6-11.
5. Blessings. 5:12-14.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. There can be little doubt that Peter wrote this letter. Terse 12 of Chapter 5 suggests that Silas (Silvanus) might have written as Peter dictated. This would account for the classic Greek style.
2. Polycarp, Eusebius, and Irenaeus all ascribed the authorship to Peter.
3. This letter shows knowledge of both Ephesians (A.D. 59-60) and Romans (A.D.58).
4. The letter was written from Rome, but Peter used "Babylon" to so disguise it that hostile authorities would not be aroused.
5. The allusion to "feeding the flock" is reminiscent of Jesus' instruction to Peter. John 21:17.
6. The date is somewhere between A.D. 62 and 65-certainly before 67.
III. IN GENERAL
1. The epistle is a gem of both doctrine and ethics.
2. This epistle is one of the finest pieces of work in all of the New Testament. It is profound in both its courage and its piety.
3. The passage (3:19-22) about preaching to the spirits in prison is a reference to a story in the book, of ..Enoch. This, with the reference to preaching to them that are dead (4:6), constitutes the most difficult of all New Testament writings to comprehend. It was, an early belief that Jesus preached in Hades between his death and resurrection.
4. The Apostles' Creed alludes to this passage-"He descended into hell."
5. The Urantia Book alludes to the activities of Jesus during the time of the tomb-see p. 2015.
6. This epistle seems to be sort of a circular letter-like Ephesians-addressed to a group of churches.
7. Peter discusses Christian duties, civic life, married life, and the trials of Christian living.
8. The epistle breathes the spirit of the exuberant Simon Peter.
IV. THEOLOGY
1. The doctrine is the theology of primitive Christianity.
2. The theology of Peter:
A. Old Testament promises are fulfilled.
B. The Messiah has come.
C. He is Jesus of Nazareth.
D. He went about doing good.
E. He was crucified.
F. He was raised from the dead.
G. He" was elevated to God's right hand.
H. He will come again in judgment.
3. The book teaches Paul's atonement.
4. These teachings are parallel with the Gospels:
A. 1:13. Luke 12:35.
B. 1:17. Luke 11:2.
C. 2:12. Matt. 5:16.
D. 3:9. Luke 6:28.
E. 3:14. Matt. 5:10.
F. 4:5. Matt. 12:36.
G. 4:14. Matt. 5:11.
H. 5:6. Luke 14:11.
I. 5:7. Matt. 6:25.
5. The doctrine of God is modern-Creator, Father, and Judge.
6. The doctrine of Christ is thoroughly Pauline.
7. The doctrine of the Spirit is according to the times.
8. The second coming and heaven are also Pauline.
V. SELECTED TEXTS
1. The imperishable inheritance. "And to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1:4,5.
2. Saving joy. "Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy." 1:8.
3. Controlled minds. "Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1:13.
4. Holiness. "'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" 1:16.
5. Spiritual nutrition. "Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." 2:2,3.
6. God's own people. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 2:9.
7. The sacrifice. "By his wounds you have been healed." 2:24.
8. The divine oversight. "'For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer." 3:12.
9. Spirits in prison. "Being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison." 3:18,19.
10. Grace to the humble. "'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" 5:5.
19. SECOND PETER
I. OUTLINE
1. Salutation. 1:1,2 [114].
2. Saving Faith. 1:3-21.
A. Knowing Christ. 1:3-11.
B. Apostolic Message. 1:12-21.
3. Destructive Teachings. 2:1-22 [115].
A. Heretics. 2:1-3.
B. Lawlessness of Heretics. 2:4-22.
4. Prophecy and Tradition. 3:1-17 [116].
A. Orthodox Christianity. 3:1-10.
B. Christian Living. 3:11-17.
5. Benediction. 3:18.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. Style and every other criterion suggest that Peter did not write this epistle.
2. Second Peter really belongs with such other books as "Gospel of Peter," "Acts of Peter," "Teaching of Peter," and the "Preaching of Peter."
3. The author knew about the four Gospels and Paul's letters. He knew about Jude and 1 Peter.
4. He knew about the false gospels of Marcionism and Gnosticism.
5. The date is uncertain, but may be well into the second century.
6. It was written from Rome.
III. PURPOSE
1. To combat false teachings; to uphold the adventist doctrine.
2. To keep free from all "worldly pollutions."
3. "Knowledge" is the key word of this epistle.
4. Stress is put upon the very great and precious promises. 1:4.
5. The keynote is to arouse faith in the immediate second coming of Christ.
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1. Growth in grace. "Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." 1:5-7.
2. Inspiration. "No prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." 1:21.
3. False liberty. "They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved." 2:19.
4. The advent faith. "And saying, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.'" 3:4.
5. Length of one day. "With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 3:8.
6. The divine grace. "The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 3:9.
7. The day of the Lord. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up." 3:10.
8. New heavens. "But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 3:13.
9. Grow in grace. "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 3:18.
20. FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD JOHN
I. OUTLINE
1 JOHN
1. Prologue. 1:1-4 [117].
2. Test of Fellowship. 1:5-2:17.
3. Faith and Truth. 2:18-27.
4. Children of God. 2:28-3:24.
5. True and False Spirits. 4:1-6.
6. God's Love. 4:7-5:12.
7. Epilogue. 5:13-21.
2 JOHN
8. Greeting. v. 1-3 [118].
9. Love. 4-6.
10. Warnings. 7-11.
11. Conclusion. 12,13.
3 JOHN
12. Greeting. v. 1,2 [119].
13. The Missionaries. 3-8.
14. Diotrephes. 9-11.
15. Demetrius. 12.
16. Conclusion. 13-15.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. The Urantia Book (1342.5) 121:8.10) [46] says 1 John was a covering letter for the Gospel of John, written by Nathan.
2. Most critics agree that the three epistles have the same author.
3. There is little doubt that the three letters were written by the apostle John around the turn of the first century, from a province in Asia.
4. The style, in general, is that of the fourth Gospel.
5. Slight differences between the epistles and the Gospel of John may be explained by the fact that the epistles were personal letters written by John, while the Gospel of John was really written by Nathan at John's direction.
III. BACKGROUND AND MESSAGE
1. The epistles are distinct from both Jewish Christianity and Paulinism.
2. All of John's writings are to safeguard the "incarnation" from Docetic error-that Jesus was not to be identified with Christ.
3. There is a distinction between the "world" and the "new life" in Christ.
4. The theme song of the three epistles is "fellowship."
5. The epistles combat heresy-Docetic and Gnostic.
6. The heart of the first epistle is "God is love," 1 John 4:8.
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1 JOHN
1. The message. "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all." 1:5.
2. Certain forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness," 1:9.
3. Love not the world. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him." 2:15.
4. Abiding life. "The world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever." 2:17.
5. Eternal life. "And this is what he has promised us, eternal life." 2:25.
6. Sons of God. "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called the children of God." 3:1.
7. Our future. "Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is." 3:2.
8. Brotherly love. "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." 3:14.
9. Testing the spirits. "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God." 4:1.
10. Brotherly love. "Let us love one another; for love is of God." 4:7.
11. God is love. "He who does not love does net know God; for God is love." 4:8. "God is love." 4:16.
12. Perfect love. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." 4:18.
13. Motivation. "We love because he first loved us." 4:19.
14. Obedience. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." 5:3.
15. Victorious faith. "And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith." 5:4.
16. Eternal life. "God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 5:11.
2 JOHN
17. Orthodoxy. "If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting." v.10.
3 JOHN
18. Good health. "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul." v.2.
21. JUDE
I. OUTLINE
1. Introduction. v. 1-4 [120].
2. Doom of Heretics. 5-16.
3. True Faith. 17-23.
4. Benediction. 24,25.
II. AUTHOR AND THE TIME
1. Jude is a letter designed to combat heresy.
2. The author of 2 Peter knew Jude and quoted him.
3. This Jude claims kinship with James. Some authorities believe he was a brother of Jesus-a son of Joseph and Mary.
4. Jude quotes from the apocalyptic books of Enoch and the Assumption of Moses.
5. The trouble with Jude (the brother of Jesus) as the author is that he could hardly have lived to the times of the heresies he combats.
6. The date of writing was perhaps around A.D. 125.
7. The book of Jude was probably written from Home.
III. THE MESSAGE
1. Defense of the faith once delivered to the saints.
2. Denunciation of the deceptive teachings of ungodly persons.
3. An appeal to return to the early apostolic teachings.
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1. True faith. "To contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." v.3.
2. Troublemakers. "'In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.'" v.18.
3. Eternal security. "Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing," v.24.
22. REVELATION
I. OUTLINE
1. Preface. 1:1-3 [121].
2. Covering Letter. 1:4-20.
3. Letters to the Seven Churches. 2:1-3:22 [122].
4. Introductory Visions. 4:1-5:14 [123].
5. Seven Seals. 6:1-8:5 [124].
6. Seven Trumpets. 8:6-11:19.
7. The Seven Visions. 12:1-13:18.
8. Seven Visions of Worshippers. 14:1-20.
9. Seven Forms of God's Wrath. 15:1-16:21.
10. Seven Views of Babylon's Fan. 17:1-19:10.
11. Seven Visions of Satan's Fall. 19:11-21:8.
12. The New Jerusalem. 21:9-22:5.
13. Epilogue. 22:6-21.
II. AUTHORSHIP
1. The Urantia Book says the apostle John wrote Revelation, but that it has suffered many revisions and rewritings. (1555.7) 139:4.14 [125].
2. The following Revelation references are assigned to John by the Urantia Book. (608.3) 53:7.7 [126] (Rev 12:4 [127]), (599.7) 52:7.11 [128] ( Rev 21:1,2 [129]), (378.5) 34:4.11 [130] (Rev 4:4-6 [131]), and (539.4) 47:10.2 [132] (Rev 15:2 [133]).
3. Original Revelation had much of John-even more than the Gospel of John written by Nathan.
4. The astrology of Revelation was not the work of John, but the addition of the third reviser of Revelation.
5. Of all New Testament books, the text of Revelation is the most confused.
6. Among different manuscripts of Revelation there are 1,650 variants.
7. Biblical authorities believe there was one author, but probably not the same as the author of the Gospel of John. They are uncertain as to who it was and when the book was written.
8. The early Christian fathers regarded the apostle John as author of Revelation.
9. Revelation was late in being accepted as canonical.
10. It was written during the latter part of the first century.
11. The present form of Revelation probably dates from the third or fourth century.
III. IN GENERAL
1. The book was written at a time of fiery persecution.
2. Revelation is one of the most difficult of all the books of the Bible to decipher.
3. Revelation depicts the origin, history, and end of evil.
4. The author thought the end of the world was impending.
5. Revelation presents the sudden and dramatic end of the present evil age- the rule of Satan.
6. The new Jerusalem comes down to earth from heaven.
7. The term Babylon always refers to Rome.
8. The chronology of Revelation:
IV. SELECTED TEXTS
1. The second advent. "He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him." 1:7.
2. Safe in Paradise. "'"To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."'" 2:7.
3. The new name. "'"I will give him a white stone, with a new name."'" 2:17.
4. Conquerors. "'"He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God."'" 3.12.
5. The lukewarm. "'"So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth."'" 3:16.
6. Standing at the door. "'"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."'" 3:20. (Urantia Book, (1765.4) 159:3.2 [134], (1829.4) 166:3.7 [135])
7. Paradise broadcasts. "From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God." 4:5. (Urantia Book, (378.5) 34:4.11 [130])
8. Twenty-four elders. "The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever." 4:10.
9. The harps. "The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp." 5:8.
10. The seven trumpets. "Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them." 8:6.
11. The seventh trumpet. "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.'" 11:15.
12. War in heaven. "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven." 12:7,8 (Urantia Book, (606.2) 53:5.6 [136])
13. The blessed dead. "'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.' ...'that they may rest from their labors.'" 14:13.
14. The harps of God. "And those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands." 15:2. (Urantia Book, (539.4) 47:10.2 [132])
15. Binding Satan. "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended." 20:1-3.
16. The end of Satan. "And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for the battle...but fire came down from heaven and consumed them." 20:7-9.
17. The new heavens. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." 21:1,2. (Urantia Book, (599.7) 52:7.11 [128])
18. Paradise light. "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light." 21:23.
19. The tree of life. "On either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit...and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." 22:2.
20. The water of life. "And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price." 22:17.
Links:
[1] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/1-1.htm
[2] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/8-1.htm
[3] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/9-35.htm
[4] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/11-2.htm
[5] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/13-1.htm
[6] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/14-1.htm
[7] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/18-1.htm
[8] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/19-3.htm
[9] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/24-1.htm
[10] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/26-3.htm
[11] https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/28-1.htm
[12] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-121-times-michaels-bestowal#U121_8_1
[13] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/1-1.htm
[14] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/1-14.htm
[15] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/6-1.htm
[16] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/10-1.htm
[17] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/11-1.htm
[18] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/13-1.htm
[19] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/14-1.htm
[20] https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/16-1.htm
[21] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-152-events-leading-capernaum-crisis#U152_2_5
[22] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-152-events-leading-capernaum-crisis#U152_4_4
[23] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-177-wednesday-rest-day#U177_1_1
[24] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-182-in-gethsemane#U182_0_1
[25] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-183-betrayal-and-arrest-jesus#U183_0_5
[26] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-183-betrayal-and-arrest-jesus#U183_3_9
[27] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-192-appearances-in-galilee#U192_0_4
[28] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-192-appearances-in-galilee#U192_1_4
[29] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-192-appearances-in-galilee#U192_1_8
[30] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-192-appearances-in-galilee#U192_4_5
[31] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-193-final-appearances-and-ascension#U193_6_1
[32] https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/1-1.htm
[33] https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/3-1.htm
[34] https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/9-51.htm
[35] https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/19-28.htm
[36] https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/24-13.htm
[37] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-121-times-michaels-bestowal#U121_8_8
[38] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/1-1.htm
[39] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/2-1.htm
[40] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/5-1.htm
[41] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/10-1.htm
[42] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/12-1.htm
[43] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/13-1.htm
[44] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/18-1.htm
[45] https://biblehub.com/niv/john/20-1.htm
[46] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-121-times-michaels-bestowal#U121_8_10
[47] https://biblehub.com/niv/acts/1-1.htm
[48] https://biblehub.com/niv/acts/13-1.htm
[49] https://biblehub.com/niv/romans/1-1.htm
[50] https://biblehub.com/niv/romans/5-1.htm
[51] https://biblehub.com/niv/romans/9-1.htm
[52] https://biblehub.com/niv/romans/12-1.htm
[53] https://biblehub.com/niv/romans/15-14.htm
[54] https://biblehub.com/niv/romans/16-1.htm
[55] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-34-local-universe-mother-spirit#U34_7_1
[56] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/1-1.htm
[57] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/5-1.htm
[58] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/8-1.htm
[59] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/11-2.htm
[60] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/15-1.htm
[61] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/16-1.htm
[62] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_corinthians/1-1.htm
[63] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_corinthians/8-1.htm
[64] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_corinthians/10-1.htm
[65] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_corinthians/13-11.htm
[66] https://biblehub.com/niv/galatians/1-1.htm
[67] https://biblehub.com/niv/galatians/3-1.htm
[68] https://biblehub.com/niv/galatians/5-1.htm
[69] https://biblehub.com/niv/ephesians/1-1.htm
[70] https://biblehub.com/niv/ephesians/4-1.htm
[71] https://biblehub.com/niv/philippians/1-1.htm
[72] https://biblehub.com/niv/philippians/1-12.htm
[73] https://biblehub.com/niv/philippians/2-1.htm
[74] https://biblehub.com/niv/philippians/2-19.htm
[75] https://biblehub.com/niv/philippians/3-1.htm
[76] https://biblehub.com/niv/philippians/4-1.htm
[77] https://biblehub.com/niv/colossians/1-1.htm
[78] https://biblehub.com/niv/colossians/3-5.htm
[79] https://biblehub.com/niv/colossians/4-7.htm
[80] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_thessalonians/1.htm
[81] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_thessalonians/4-1.htm
[82] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_thessalonians/1-1.htm
[83] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_thessalonians/2-1.htm
[84] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_thessalonians/3-1.htm
[85] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_timothy/1-1.htm
[86] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_timothy/2-1.htm
[87] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_timothy/3-1.htm
[88] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_timothy/4-1.htm
[89] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_timothy/5-1.htm
[90] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_timothy/6-1.htm
[91] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_timothy/1-1.htm
[92] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_timothy/2-1.htm
[93] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_timothy/3-1.htm
[94] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_timothy/4-1.htm
[95] https://biblehub.com/niv/titus/1-1.htm
[96] https://biblehub.com/niv/titus/2-1.htm
[97] https://biblehub.com/niv/titus/3-1.htm
[98] https://biblehub.com/niv/philemon/1.htm
[99] https://biblehub.com/niv/hebrews/1-1.htm
[100] https://biblehub.com/niv/hebrews/1-3.htm
[101] https://biblehub.com/niv/hebrews/10-19.htm
[102] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-47-seven-mansion-worlds#U47_10_3
[103] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-48-morontia-life#U48_1_7
[104] https://biblehub.com/niv/james/1-1.htm
[105] https://biblehub.com/niv/james/2-1.htm
[106] https://biblehub.com/niv/james/3-1.htm
[107] https://biblehub.com/niv/james/4-1.htm
[108] https://biblehub.com/niv/james/5-1.htm
[109] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-154-last-days-capernaum#U154_6_5
[110] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_peter/1-1.htm
[111] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_peter/1-3.htm
[112] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_peter/2-11.htm
[113] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_peter/4-12.htm
[114] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_peter/1-1.htm
[115] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_peter/2-1.htm
[116] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_peter/3-1.htm
[117] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_john/1-1.htm
[118] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_john/1.htm
[119] https://biblehub.com/niv/3_john/1.htm
[120] https://biblehub.com/niv/jude/1.htm
[121] https://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/1-1.htm
[122] https://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/2-1.htm
[123] https://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/4-1.htm
[124] https://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/6-1.htm
[125] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-139-twelve-apostles#U139_4_14
[126] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-53-lucifer-rebellion#U53_7_7
[127] https://biblehub.com/revelation/12-4.htm
[128] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-52-planetary-mortal-epochs#U52_7_11
[129] https://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/21-1.htm
[130] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-34-local-universe-mother-spirit#U34_4_11
[131] https://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/4-4.htm
[132] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-47-seven-mansion-worlds#U47_10_2
[133] https://biblehub.com/revelation/15-2.htm
[134] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-159-decapolis-tour#U159_3_2
[135] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-166-last-visit-northern-perea#U166_3_7
[136] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-53-lucifer-rebellion#U53_5_6