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

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

LUKE PART 2

Main Point: Luke, an educated Gentile historian, chose to write an orderly account of the story of the life of Jesus the Messiah

From last time...

- Luke most likely joined up with Paul in Acts 16 during Paul's second missionary journey.

- Luke wrote to a Gentile named Theophilus ("lover of God") who was likely a patron who financially supported Luke's work as a theological historian.

- Luke utilized sources (Mark? Matthew? Q?) and eyewitnesses to construct his account. One very notable possible eyewitness is Mary, which would explain how Luke had so much detail concerning the Christmas account in Luke 1-2.

- Luke focused on the theme of Jesus coming for the poor and outcast. This theme is proclaimed by Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth in Luke 4 (Reciting Isaiah 61 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.") But it is also seen in how Luke focused on the plight of the poor, the outcast, the orphan, the sick, the Samaritan, the women, and other isolated, oppressed groups.

- Luke also shows the reader how Jesus is the Christ but that this would come about through suffering.

(Confer especially Luke 9:18-27)

Texts to Consider:

Luke 9:51

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Luke 11:1-3

Luke 13:1-5

Luke 16:19-31

Luke 24:22-27; 44-49

Main Point: Mark wrote to encourage and challenge believers to follow Jesus and to proclaim Him as the Messiah, the Son of God.

Outline

1. Galilee - Mark 1-8:26

2. On the Way to Jerusalem - Mark 8:27-10:52

3. Jerusalem - Mark 11:1-16:8?

Texts to Consider:

Mark 1:1

Mark 1:14-15, 17

Mark 1:29

Mark 4:35-41

Mark 8:27-33; 9:1-13

Mark 11:12-25

Mark 15:33-39

Main Point: Matthew wrote to a largely Jewish audience to show how Jesus is the Promised Messianic King in the line of David and from the family of Abraham. Jesus established himself as King over God's Kingdom by suffering and dying on the cross and then being resurrected in power and glory.

An interesting Parallel... Jesus as the New Moses

Texts to Consider:

Matt. 1:1-16

Matt. 2:17; 3:3; 4:1-11; 12-14

Matt. 9:35-38

Matt. 23:1-36

Matt. 28:11-15

Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Zephaniah

-       Where and when? Judah in the days of King Josiah (c. 640–609 BC)

-       To whom? Judah

-       What’s the big deal? Impending judgment on Jerusalem and Judah and the nations, Day of the LORD, hope for Jerusalem and the nations 

-       Text to Consider: Zeph 3:9–13

Haggai

-       Where and when? Jerusalem, after return from Babylonian exile (c. 520 BC). Ezra 5:1–2

-       To whom? Exiles who have returned to Jerusalem

-       What’s the big deal? Temple rebuilding, but not what they had hoped.

-       Text to Consider: Haggai 2:1–23 

Zechariah

-       Where and when? Jerusalem, after return from Babylonian exile, same time as Haggai (Ezra 5:1–2)

-       To whom? Exiles who had returned to Jerusalem

-       What’s the big deal? Call to Repentance 

-       Text to Consider: Zech 1:1–6; Zech 9:9–17

Malachi

-       Where and when? Even later than Haggai and Zechariah

-       To whom? The people of God in Israel

-       What’s the big deal? Covenant unfaithfulness through polluted offerings and withheld tithes. Coming Day of the LORD. 

-       Text to Consider: Mal 3:6–15; Mal 4:1–6

In today's service we will be focusing on The Lord's Supper. Bro. Derrick will be preaching from 1 Corinthians 11:23-32.

Hosea/Joel/Amos/Obadiah/Jonah/Micah/Nahum/Habakkuk

Hosea

-       Where and when? Northern Kingdom, before the fall to Assyria in 722 BC.

-       To Whom? Hosea’s prophecies are mostly in the form of poems directed toward the people of the Northern Kingdom. 

-       What’s the big deal? Idolatry. The people were worshipping the Canaanite god, Baal. The relationship of Hosea and Gomer serves as a visual lesson from the content of the prophetic sermons. 

-       Text to Consider: Hosea 14:1–9

Joel

-       Where and when? Judah, Unknown – look at Joel 2:20

-       To Whom? Inhabitants of the land of Judah

-       What’s the big deal? Destruction through a vicious army was coming, but Joel called on the people to repent.

-       Text to Consider: Joel 2:12–19, 2:28–3:3, 3:11–16

Amos

-       Where and when? From Tekoa (Judah), but prophesied to Israel Northern Kingdom before the fall to Assyria

-       To Whom? Northern Kingdom (Israel)

-       What’s the Big Deal? Oppression of the poor and needy, Day of the LORD 

-       Text to Consider: Amos 5:18–24

Obadiah

-       Where and when? Most likely Judah following exile to Babylon in 587 BC. 

-       To Whom? Judah, about Edom

-       What’s the Big Deal? Edom, ancient kinsman of Israel, had taken advantage of Judah during the exile to Babylon (Ezekiel 35, Ps 137:7). Day of the LORD (Obad 15)

Jonah

-       Where and when? Northern Kingdom of Israel during 700’s BC in reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14:25)

-       To Whom? The people of God

-       What’s the Big Deal? Chance for repentance for all nations

Micah

-       Where and when? Judah, c. 742–687 BC.

-       To Whom? Israel and Judah (both Northern and Southern Kingdoms)

-       What’s the Big Deal? Idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness

-       Text to Consider: Micah 5:1–5a

Nahum

-       Where and when? Unknown, but Assyria fell to Babylon in 612 BC.   

-       To Whom? For the benefit of the people of God about the fall of Assyria (Nineveh) 

-       What’s the Big Deal? Assyria’s cruelty returned upon itself because of God’s wrath

Habakkuk

-       Where and when? Before the exile of Judah to Babylon 

-       To Whom? The people of God concerning that exile

-       What’s the Big Deal? God was doing a redeeming and purifying work through the Babylonians