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