Early Years © John Stevenson, 2010

Dr. John T. Stevenson Family Life Academic Life

Family Life Academic Life Professional Life Dr. John T. Stevenson

Family Life Academic Life Professional Life Spiritual Life Ministry Life Dr. John T. Stevenson

Group Introductions Your name Your home church Where are you in the TIU process? What is your current ministry within the Kingdom?

Dr. John T. Stevenson BI 318E 2.2

Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Week Five Early years Paul the Bishop Church planter & overseer Paul’s Gospel Paul the Theologian Birth to Greece Corinth Epistle to the Romans The Prison Epistles The Pastoral Epistles

Textbook Paul & His Letters. John Polhill, 1999 TIU Article Packet

The World at the Opening of the New Testament The World at the Close of the Old Testament

The World at the Opening of the New Testament World Rulers Language Culture The World at the Close of the Old Testament

Amos Old Testament completed 400 BC Birth of Jesus 5 BC? Malachi? 400 Silent Years

Amos Old Testament completed 400 BC Alexanderconquers the Persian Empire 331 BC Birth of Jesus 5 BC? Persian Empire Malachi? Alexander the Great

Ptolemy Seleucids

Ptolemy

Amos Hasmonean kings Old Testament completed 400 BC Alexanderconquers the Persian Empire 331 BC MaccabbeeRebellion 167 BC Birth of Jesus 5 BC? Persian Empire Malachi? Hellenistic Kings Ptolemies Ptolemies Seleucids Seleucids Rome Alexander the Great

Commissioned to clear the seas of piracyCommissioned to clear the seas of piracy Conquests in SyriaConquests in Syria Conquest of JerusalemConquest of Jerusalem JudeaJudea

40 – 4 B.C.

Zerubbabel’s Temple Seleucid Addition Hasmonean ExpansionHerod’s Temple

The PhariseesThe Pharisees The SadduceesThe Sadducees The EssenesThe Essenes The ZealotsThe Zealots

What do we know of Paul’s early life?

When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:58).

Acts 8:3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Acts 9:1-2 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Damascus Jerusalem As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him (Acts 9:3)

Damascus Jerusalem …and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4)

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” (Acts 9:5-6).

And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized (Acts 9:18).

…and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:19-20).

Acts 9:21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”

Acts 9:23-25 When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

Damascus Jerusalem When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. (Acts 9:26)

Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:28-29 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. (Acts 9:30). Tarsus Jerusalem

Antioch Tarsus Seleucia But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus (Acts 11:20). Cyprus

Antioch Tarsus Seleucia And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21). Cyprus

Antioch Tarsus Seleucia The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. (Acts 11:22). Cyprus

Antioch Tarsus Seleucia And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26a).

Antioch Tarsus Seleucia And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26b).

Acts 11:27-28 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

Acts 11:29-30 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders (Acts 11:29-30).

Acts 13:1 Now 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 13:2 While 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 13:3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Syrian Antioch Tarsus Salamis Seleucia Paphos …the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence (Acts 13:7)

Syrian Antioch Tarsus Salamis Seleucia Paphos Psidian Antioch Perga

Antioch in Psidia

Temple of Augustus

Syrian Antioch Tarsus Salamis Seleucia Paphos Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Perga

Syrian Antioch Tarsus Salamis Seleucia Paphos Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Perga

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.

Acts 15

Our Freedom in Christ

Galatia

The Question How does one become right with God? Faith in Christ alone Faith in Christ plus circumcision

Key Points in Paul’s Purpose To establish his apostleship as being independent of Jerusalem and the other apostles. To demonstrate that a man is justified through faith alone. To establish the method of Christian living that is not according to the keeping of the Law, but through the Spirit’s work in our lives as we live in faith and in love.

Style of Writing I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him (1:6). If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (1:9). You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? (3:1). Are you so foolish? (3:3). I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves (5:12). This epistle is short and to the point. Its style is abrupt, passionate and full of strong emotion.

Chapters 1-2Chapters 3-4Chapters 5-6 History Vindication Paul’s apostleship & vindication come from the Lord

Galatians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…

Galatians 1:6-9 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Paul and Jerusalem Paul’s Gospel did not come from Jerusalem (Chapter 1) Paul’s Gospel did not change in Jerusalem (2:1-10) Paul’s gospel was not changed by Jerusalem when they came to Antioch (2:11-16) Jerusalem Antioch

Chapters 1-2Chapters 3-4Chapters 5-6 HistoryDoctrine VindicationExposition Paul’s apostleship & vindication come from the Lord Man is justified through faith alone

Who has Bewitched You? Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain? Does God give the Spirit and Miracles by the Law or by Faith?

Salvation is through faith Appeal to of Abraham Appeal to the Law Appeal to the Tutor Appeal to Adoption Appeal to the Covenant Promise Appeal to friendship Appeal to Scripture

Chapters 1-2Chapters 3-4Chapters 5-6 HistoryDoctrinePractice VindicationExpositionApplication Paul’s apostleship & vindication come from the Lord Man is justified through faith alone We are to walk by faith and love

If you are free… Don’t be entangled in a yoke of bondage Don’t turn your Freedom into an Opportunity for The flesh Walk by the Spirit Bear one another’s Burdens Share all good things Do good to all men

Galatians 6:14-16 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Galatians Our Freedom in Christ John Stevenson