Status Updates From The Cradle, the Cross, and ...

"The letter to the Galatians is regarded as an authentic letter of the apostle Paul by all but the most radical critics. Acceptance of Paul's authorship is so widespread that extended discussion of the issue is unnecessary...As R. Longenecker noted, 'If Galatians is not by Paul, no NT letter is by him, for non has any better claim'" (484).

"Greek letter writers sometimes organized the thoughts in their works using the conventions of Greco-Roman rhetoric. An understanding of the various types of rhetoric and the major components of the different forms may help readers trace the argument of the letter" (477).

"A century and a half after Paul, Rabbi Judah ben Tema taught, 'At five years old [one is fit] for Scripture, at ten years for the Mishnah, at thirteen [for the fulfilling of] the commandments, at fifteen for the Talmud, at eighteen for the bride-chamber, at twenty for pursuing a calling, at thirty for authority'" (460).

"The New Perspective [on Paul] correctly emphasizes the Jewish context of early Christianity & the need to study the NT documents against the background of Second Temple Jewish literature. It rightly warns of presumptive & misleading caricatures of Judaism that are ungrounded in careful study of the primary documents...not all, probably not even most...depended on legalistic works-righteousness for salvation" (457).

"Although Paul's contributions to the Christian faith should not be underestimated, Paul should be recognized as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ rather than as the founder of a form of Christianity that deviated drastically from Jesus's teachings. Paul's teachings originated from his reflection on the life & teachings of Jesus, his study of the OT, & his contemplation on...his Damascus road experience" (448).

"The key point in salvation history is the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus. In the proclamation of the gospel, this cluster of significant events is the pivot point of history and the culmination of God's plan from long ago. This plan was commanded by God, predicted by the prophets, accomplished in Christ, and proclaimed by faithful witnesses" (433).

"...it is legitimate to see a theological unity throughout Luke-Acts. Theological unity can be embraced if the latter interprets or informs the former. As L. T. Johnson states, in Acts 'Luke provides the first authoritative interpretation of his Gospel'" (418).

"Ultimately, there is no substantial reason to doubt Luke's accuracy on empirical grounds. Where sources are available, Luke's information is shown to be reliable" (409)

"If the first generation of the Christian church proves anything, it is this: the power of God is infinitely greater than any human obstacles in its way. A humble Galilean craftsman, who suffered an untimely death and accumulated no earthly possession, wrote no books, and left behind nothing but a small band of disheartened followers, spawned a movement so powerful that it took the Roman Empire by storm" (397).