Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.11UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.11UNLIKELY
Fear
0.1UNLIKELY
Joy
0.59LIKELY
Sadness
0.16UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.59LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.97LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.51LIKELY
Extraversion
0.67LIKELY
Agreeableness
0.3UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.77LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Background
Date: 50s
Provenance: Corinth - the letter mentions Gaius which was likely the same Gaius of Corinth whom Paul had baptized.
Author: Paul.
Of note is that says that Paul used Tertius as his amanuensis.
Purpose: The unity of both Jew-Gentile in the person of Jesus Christ through the power of the gospel.
Of note is that says that Paul used Tertius as his amanuensis.
Ancient Rome
Had the symbol of the eagle, just like we do.
The architecture and everything in the city was designed to proclaim its superiority and greatness before all the world.
Tradition says that Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus.
The Roman Republic was established in 509 BC.
Divided into Provinces that were governed by senatorial proconsuls.
Other areas were governed in Rome’s behalf by local dynasts, client kings actually subject to the Roman Senate.
Roman Culture
The Imperial Cult of Roman culture led to much of early Christian persecution.
Christian dissent in ancient Rome was not socio-political.
It was spiritual.
The Christians refused to worship the Emperor.
Greek philosophy occupied a place of prominence in Roman culture.
The pursuit and cultivation of wisdom was a common virtue in the ancient Mediterranean world.
The idea of a School of Philosophy: the term hairesis was used to describe someone who made the decision to subscribe to a particular school of philosophy, such as the Stoics or the Epicureans.
It also was used to denote sects.
It is used of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
It is also used to describe the Christian sect.
Six major Greco-Roman Philosophical Schools: Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, The Cynics, The Stoics, and the School of Pythagorus.
Slavery: it is estimated that 16-20% of the Roman empire were slaves.
There were differences between ancient slavery and 19th century western slavery.
For one thing, melanin had no bearing on one’s status as a slave.
Nevertheless, slaves were still regarded as property.
Slavery was melanin and ethnicity neutral.
Men became slaves as a result of becoming a POW.
Men became slaves as a result of debt they could not pay.
Men became slaves in order to live - day laborers could starve to death.
Men were born slaves - if parents were slaves.
Slavery was mostly temporary - released at age 30; could purchase your own freedom.
Historians have identified five societies in world history that have had true slave economies: Greece, Rome, Brazil, the Caribbean Islands, and America.
The most important thing to note about Greek Religion that distinguishes it from Christianity is that it was not exclusive and was without a conversion process.
The sexual ethic along with the sexual abuse that took place in Roman culture would make modern America blush.
Rom.
1:1-7
Read Romans 1:1-7
The Reality of Our Creatureliness
What is the significance of the word order Christ Jesus?
This order emphasizes the role of Jesus as the Messiah according to most commentators.
Christ Jesus 80x as compared to Jesus Christ 25x.
Why does Paul call himself a slave of Christ Jesus?
Probably patterned after the Hebrew expression ʿebed yĕhwâ, servant of the Lord.
Paul may be affirming that he stands in true succession of the prophets, since this term was applied to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and the OT prophets from the time of Amos (760 BC).
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Co 7:32
The term emphasizes total submission, commitment, obedience, and humility [AB, Ho, ICC2, NICNT], complete and utter devotion [Mor], as well as God’s absolute ownership [ICC2].
עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה
δοῦλος could be used in a pejorative sense or a positive sense.
Here is it used in a positive sense.
Paul is not engaging in false humility.
This isn’t an empty platitude.
A slave in this sense is one who is committed to another.
Slavery in NT Times
Self-Denial is an essential component of Christian living.
What are examples of denying oneself and following Christ?
Crucifying the flesh with its lusts and affections.
Not being ashamed of Christ before the world.
Not being tentative in proclaiming to sinners that God demands their complete submission to him and their acknowledgement that he is their God and they owe him everything.
What are some ways modern Christians compromise on the principle of self-denial?
We change the demands of the gospel to make it attractive.
The record of creation is intellectual offensive.
The exclusive claims of the Christ.
Gay Christianity.
Softening on male leadership.
Marriage - divorce is not treated as a sin and offenders subjected to discipline.
The culture dictates the morality of the church.
What are some ways the principle of self-denial can become legalism?
We become overly prescriptive in applying Christian praxis.
Loving your neighbor = adoption.
If you can and don’t, you’re unloving.
Demanding that the US open it’s borders/change it’s policies on immigration.
Introducing things like affirmative action into pastoral selection.
Prohibition against alcohol.
Abolition Human Abortion is a perfect example.
The Christian must be very careful in the application of Scripture and avoid taking principles too far.
When you claim that something is a sin that is not in fact a sin, you have imposed your own ethics on God’s ethics.
Why does Paul call himself an Apostle?
An Apostle is an authorized emissary.
He has a unique office and stands in a unique relationship of authority.
Why does Paul call himself an Apostle?
There were twelve.
Their authority was conferred by Christ himself.
They were responsible to set the authoritative message of the New Covenant in writing for the governance of the churches.
What is the significance of authority in the church?
The church represents the antithesis of man’s fall in the garden.
In the garden we see the grasp for radical autonomy, absolute independence.
In the church we see complete and total surrender to the authorities ordained by God:
Christ
Apostles and Prophets
Scripture
Elders
The church
What is the church to do with this authority?
Proclaim the gospel
Baptize converts
Make disciples
Maintain purity in the body
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9