The Epistles The Epistles &&

the Practical Christian Lifethe Practical Christian Life

Introduction

© John Stevenson, 2008

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

http://JohnStevenson.net

JohnStevenson@Bellsouth.net

Jstevens@mail.tiu.edu

BI 318E 2.2

Course OutlineCourse OutlineWeek One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week One

Intro to Paul;

Epistles as a

genre

Paul’s Epistles & TheologyThe

General Epistles

Life & Death

Doctrinal Epistles

Pastoral Epistles

Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

• To become acquainted with the life and ministry of Paul.

• To become familiar with the genre of the Epistle.

• Identify basic hermeneutical principles for interpreting and applying epistles.

• Summarize the basic content of the Epistle to the Galatians.

Epistle as a GenreEpistle as a Genre

• What is an Epistle?

• What is the basic form of an Epistle?

• What was involved in sending a letter in the First Century?

The Epistles are to the Gospels The Epistles are to the Gospels what the Prophets are to the Torahwhat the Prophets are to the Torah

Torah

EpistlesGospels

Prophets

Develop & Present a 1st Person Biographical Sketch of the

Apostle PaulGroup 1From the

perspective of Paul

Group 3From the

perspective of Timothy

Group 2From the

perspective of Barnabas

BasicFacts

PersonalityInsights

Damascus

Jerusalem

Antioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Acts 13:1Acts 13:1Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:2Acts 13:2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:3Acts 13:3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

…the proconsul,

Sergius Paulus, a

man of intelligence (Acts 13:7)

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

Psidian Antioch

Perga

Antioch inPsidia

Temple of Augustus

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

Pisidian Antioch

Iconium

Lystra Derbe

Perga

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

Pisidian Antioch

Iconium

Lystra Derbe

Perga

Acts 14:26-28 Acts 14:26-28 From there they sailed to

Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.

SyrianAntioch

GalatiaPisidia

Asia

Timothy

Was half-Jewish and half-Greek

Titus

Was Greek

Was not circumcised

Was circumcised

The issue was over the clarity of

the gospel

The issue to avoid that which would distract attention from the gospel

SyrianAntioch

GalatiaPisidia

Asia

Mysia

Bythinia

Troas

Acts 16:9-10Acts 16:9-109 And a vision appeared to Paul

in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Ephesus

Artamis

Ephesus

Caesarea

Antioch

Ephesus

Caesarea

Antioch

3rd MissionaryJourney

Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem

after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts

19:21)

Ephesus

Caesarea

Antioch

3rd MissionaryJourney

Ephesus

Caesarea

Antioch

3rd MissionaryJourney

Miletus

Caesarea

Malta

Acts 28:30-31Acts 28:30-31And he stayed two full years

in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.