December 11, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor
Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians
Romans
· Written by Paul before he ever visited Rome.
· Written to generate support for his desire to carry the Gospel to Spain.
· Written as a more detailed (more detailed than Galatians) explanation of the gospel and of his theology
· Texts to Consider: Rom 1:8–17; Rom 3:21–26; Rom 15:17–29
1 Corinthians
· Written by Paul from Ephesus after he had visited Corinth.
· Written to correct and rebuke the Corinthians over division, toleration of sin, eating food sacrificed to idols, abuse of the Lords Supper, asking for financial support for church in Jerusalem, and other factors.
· Texts to Consider: 1 Cor 1:10–31; 1 Cor 13:1–13
2 Corinthians
· Written by Paul following the reception of his first letter and a “painful visit.”
· Written to defend his own ministry in light of the disparagement from the Corinthians and the “Super-Apostles”
· Written to press the importance of completing the offering for the hurting church in Jerusalem
· Texts to Consider: 2 Cor 2:1–4; 2 Cor 2:12–3:3; 2 Cor 10:7–18; 2 Cor 11:4–6
Galatians
· Written by Paul after his first missionary journey, but before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) in 48 AD. This, if accurate, would make Galatians Paul’s earliest letter.
· Written to rebuke the Galatian churches (probably the churches of Lystra, Derbe, etc.) for their forsaking the true gospel of justification by faith alone in Christ alone to try to live out the faith by adherence to the law.
· Paul’s shared some details of his first meetings with Peter and James. He makes the point strongly that the gospel that saved them is the same gospel that kept them saved.
· Texts to Consider: Gal 1:6–10; Gal 2:15–3:6
Ephesians
· Written by Paul from Roman imprisonment (the one described at the end of Acts) in 60–62 AD. Along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon called the Prison Epistles.
· Possibly a circular letter, meaning it went to more than just one church or one region. Some manuscripts don’t include “in Ephesus” (Eph 1:1), and this book does not have many personal references.
· Written to encourage believers to remember who they are positionally in Christ, and live that out practically in a broken world.
· Texts to Consider: Eph 1:19–2:10; Eph 2:11–22; 4:1–7; Eph 4:22–5:2; Eph 5:31–33
Life & Letters of Paul
December 4, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor
LIFE & LETTERS OF PAUL
Conversion of Saul/Paul
Acts 7:54-8:3 - First mentions of Saul/Paul and his activity in Jerusalem
Acts 9:1-31 - Saul/Paul's conversion and early ministry
Paul's Commissioning and 1st Missionary Journey
Acts 12:25-13:3 - Setting apart by the church at Antioch, sent out with Barnabas for 1st missionary journey
Paul's Trip to Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Council (c.48-49 AD)
Acts 15 - Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Council, then go back to Antioch. They split up over John Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia. Paul chose Silas and embarked on his 2nd missionary journey.
Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey
Acts 16-18 - Paul and Silas encounter Timothy and Luke (implied) and eventually travel to Macedonia (Philippi, Thessaloniki, Berea) and Achaia (Athens and Corinth). Paul stayed in Corinth for 1.5 years (Acts 18:11).
Acts 18:18 - Paul encounters Priscilla and Aquila and leaves them in Ephesus before returning back to Antioch. Apollos begins preaching there, is taught more completely by Priscilla and Aquila, and sent to Corinth.
Paul's 3rd Missionary Journey
Acts 19-29 - Paul returns to Ephesus as part of his 3rd missionary journey. According to Acts 19:8-10 and Acts 20:31, Paul probably remained in Ephesus for close to 3 years.
Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem, Holding in Caesarea, and Voyage to Rome
Acts 21-28 - Paul goes to Jerusalem and is arrested. For the remaining chapters in Acts, the Jews in Jerusalem seek to kill Paul but he remains in Roman custody. He appears before Felix (Roman governor of Judea). Festus (Roman governor of Judea who succeeded Felix in office), and Jewish dignitaries Agrippa and Bernice. All of this took place over a period of more than two years in Caesarea. In all of this, Paul utilized his Roman citizenship and appealed to Caesar. Thus, he would be given the opportunity to travel to Rome and appeal his case to Caesar. The latter chapters of Acts focus on Paul's journey through shipwreck to Rome.
Possible chronological listing of Paul's letters and suggested date of writing
Galatians - c.48 AD (before the Jerusalem Council)
1 and 2 Thessalonians - c.51 AD (after the and missionary journey and meeting back up with Silas and Timothy, Paul mentions Timothy's encouraging report in 1 Thessalonians)
1 and 2 Corinthians - c.56-57 (after arrest in Jerusalem)
Romans - c.58-59 AD (while imprisoned in Caesarea, before he had ever gone to Rome)
Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians - c.60-62 AD (while imprisoned in Rome)
1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy - c.63-67 AD (after Paul was released from prison, to traveled possibly to Spain, arrested again)
Paul was martyred at the hands of Nero's persecution in c.66-67 AD
