Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons

Technical Notes

A New Testament Greek Commentary       The following link print-friendly study pages provide introductions for each New Testament book along with links to exegetical studies on the original Greek. Matters covered in the introductory studies include: an outline of the book, language, style, authorship, purpose of writing, background, theology, sources, date, ...... The link exegetical studies provide interpretive notes and syntactical analysis for the pew-level Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons set to cover the Revised Common Lectionary three year series of readings.   GUIDING THESIS       A person's Christian life progresses by the same means with which it began, namely, by God's sovereign grace operative in Christ, through the instrument of faith, apart from law obedience.         The linked exegetical studies on this site are guided by the central Pauline text, "the righteous out of faith will live", Habakkuk 2:4, expounded by the apostle in the following terms:         faith = justification = life = works.       As opposed to:         faith = justification + works = life. Nomism;         faith + works = justification = life. Legalism.           "faith" = reliance on the grace of God operative in the faithfulness of Christ;           "justification" = judged righteous, right, covenant compliant before God / set in the right before God;           "works" = submission to the law of Moses / God's law in general, which law serves the following ends:             i] to expose sin and so reinforce a reliance on divine grace;             ii] to guide the life of a child of God.           "life" = the promised Abrahamic blessings / the fullness of new life in Christ;         The Pauline formula, faith = justification = life = works, is established in Romans and Galatians, and to a lesser extent his other letters, as Paul addresses the issue of nomism. Nomism (nomistic / pietistic Christianity), the heresy promoted by the members of the circumcision party, is the belief that, although a person is justified on the basis of Christ's faithfulness appropriated through faith, law-obedience is essential both to restrain sin for the maintenance of a believer's standing before God, and to shape holiness (sanctify) to advance that standing for the full appropriation of God's promised blessings. Against this, Paul contends that "the righteous out of faith will live", and this "apart from works of the law", Rom3:28.       It is assumed in these notes that Paul functions as the inspired exegete of Jesus, such that to properly understand the teachings of Jesus it is necessary to interpret them in line with Pauline theology, ie. to understand the gospels, particularly the synoptic gospels, it is necessary to read back the above Pauline formula, particularly as it relates to the Law. It is also assumed that the authors of the synoptic gospels, although faithful to the received tradition, in varying degrees edit and arrange that tradition in line with Paul's perspective. cf. The Bias of Grace.         See New Testament Expositions for simplified expository studies and sample sermon outlines.       The Greek font used in these notes is TekniaGreek. Go to teknia.com for a free download, Mac/PC.       These notes and link studies are print-friendly. Adjustments may be necessary for screen viewing. Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation

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Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons
www.lectionarystudies.com