I & II Corinthians

Romans

Paul's third missionary journey, the two epistles to the Corinthians and the epistle to the Romans.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, also written from Ephesus, has been lost [I Cor 5:9‑10]. I Corinthians was written ca 55‑57 AD. This letter is concerned primarily about certain church disorders, mainly a case of incest about which the church had done nothing. A delegation of leaders of the Corinthian church was

sent to Ephesus to consult Paul about these very serious problems which had arisen in the church.

This letter is also marked by three outstanding segments. The first has to do with the Lord's supper and Paul's instruction concerning it [I Cor 11:23‑34]. The second is Paul's great discourse on love [I Cor 13] "And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." The third is Paul's defense of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ [I Cor 15] "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept."

II Corinthians was written ca 56‑57 AD from Philippi or Thessalonica. Some in the church of Corinth had questioned Paul's authority. This letter is Paul's vindication of his apostleship and to remind the Corinthiansthat since he had founded the church, he did have a right to have a say in its management.

Paul's letter to the Roman Christians was written ca 56‑58 AD. In it Paul presents the essential elements of the gospel; the concept of salvation (justification) by faith alone, without good works. Man's justification before God rests fundamentally, not on the Law of Moses, but on the mercy of Christ. Both Jews and gentiles are guilty before God. By Christ's death and resurrection and through in him, heavens doors are opened for the redeemed. How it is obtained and the consequences are spelled out.

Chapter 8 is a moving and powerful description of the Holy Spirit and his works. In it Paul discusses six acts of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He then ends this Chapter with a moving assurance that our salvation iscertain and that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Chapter 12 is called Paul's sermon on the

mount. Here he insists that God's mercy, which forgives us our sins, is the very thing that gives us a powerful incentive to good works. He ends the chapter with a listing of Christian qualities. Circa 54 AD After spending some time in Antioch, at the end of his second missionary journey, Paul travels throughout Galatia and Phrygia visiting the churches. From Antioch to Antioch Pisidian to Laodicia [Acts 18:23].

Apollos preaches in Ephesus knowing only the baptism of John [Acts 18: 24‑25]. Pricilla and Aquila explain the way of God to Apollos [Acts 18: 27‑28] and convinced the Jews "showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

Paul travels through Phrygia to Ephesus.Here Paul meets 12 men who were baptized under John the Baptist, but had not heard of the Holy Ghost. Paul baptizes them in the name of Christ, lays his hands on them and "the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied" [Acts 19: 1‑7].

Paul preaches in the synagogue at Ephesus for three months [Acts 19: 8], but the Jews would not believe. He leaves them and teaches the disciples in the school of Tyrannus [Acts 19:9].

Paul continues at this school in Ephesus for two more years, teaching both Jews and Gentiles [Acts 19: 10] "so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks".(Note: I Corinthians was written while Paul was in Ephesus.)

Paul works many miracles [Acts 19: 11]. "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:"Handkerchiefs or aprons touched by Paul heal the sick [Acts 19: 12]. Seven sons of a Jewish high priesttried exorcism to drive out a devil using the name of Jesus. The devil doesn't know these men and the man in whom the devil resides defeats the seven. The word spreads throughout Ephesus [Acts 19: 13‑17]. Magicians who pretend to work miracles were so awed that they made a great bonfire of their books [Acts 19:18‑19]

Paul sends Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia. He stays in Ephesus for an additional season. [Acts 19:21‑22].

Demetrius, a silversmith, stirs up a crowd against Paul and starts a riot. The town clerk brings order out of chaos and disperses the crowd [Acts 19:23‑41].

Paul leaves Ephesus to go into Macedonia and visits the churches at Philippi and Thessalonia [Acts 20:1]. (Note: Here he writes II Corinthians and possibly Galations.) He then travels through Greece and on to Corinth [Acts 20:2], and remains three months. (Note: Paul's epistle to the Romans was written while in Corinth ca 56‑58 AD and carried to Rome by Phoebe, a Deacon of the church in Cenchreae).Paul was tosail from Corinth to Syria but the Jews laid in wait for him. Instead he decides to retrace his steps and return through Macedonia [Acts 20:3]

Several disciples leave Macedonia before Paul and wait for him in Troas [Acts 20:4‑5].Luke and Paul Leave Philippi and sail to Troas, where they remain seven days [Acts 20:6]. "these going before tarried for us at Troas" [Acts 20:5] and "and we sailed away from Philippi....." [Acts 20:6].

In Troas, Paul preached an all‑night long sermon. A man named Eutyches, sitting in a window, fell asleep and fell to his death. Paul embraces the dead body and brings it back to life. [Acts 20:7‑10]

Luke and others sail to Assos and await Paul who goes on foot. (We used to say this was traveling by shanks mare.) From Assos they sail to Mitylene, and from there to Chios. The next day they sailed to Samos, stopped off at Trogyllium and the next day arrived at Miletus [Acts 20:13‑16].

Paul gives a farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, whom he has called to Miletus [Acts 20:17‑38] "And now brethren I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up...".

Paul and Luke and others sail from Miletus and after several stops sail on to Tyre in Phoenicia. They remain in Tyre seven days [Acts 21:1‑4]. From Tyre they sail to Ptolemais in Phoenicia and stay one day [Acts 21:5‑7].

The next day Paul's company sails to Caesarea and stay with Philip many days [Acts 21:8‑10]. Here a prophet named Agabus foretells that Paul will be delivered to the Romans in chains. [Acts 21:11‑14].

ca 58 AD Paul travels to Jerusalem, stays at the house of a disciple named Mnason, and is received gladly by the elders [Acts 21:15‑17].

LTS November 1996