The Epistles

&
the Practical Christian Life
Introduction
© John Stevenson, 2008
Dr. John T. Stevenson
http://JohnStevenson.net

JohnStevenson@Bellsouth.net

Jstevens@mail.tiu.edu

BI 318E 2.2
 Course Outline
Week Week Week Week Week
One Two Three Four One
Intro to Paul’s Epistles & Theology
Paul; The
Epistles Life & Doctrinal Pastoral General
as a Death Epistles Epistles Epistles
genre
 Session 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 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
what the Prophets are to the Torah

Torah Prophets

Gospels Epistles
 Develop & Present a 1st Person
Biographical Sketch of the
Apostle Paul
Group 1 Group 3
From the From the
perspective of perspective of
Paul Timothy
Group 2
From the
Basic perspective of Personality
Facts Barnabas Insights
  Damascus


Jerusalem
 
Tarsus

 Antioch

Seleucia

 Salamis
 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
Tarsus
…the Antioch

proconsul, 
Sergius Seleucia
Paulus, a
man of  Salamis
intelligence 

(Acts 13:7) Paphos

 Psidian
 Antioch

 Perga 
Syrian
Tarsus
Antioch


Seleucia

 Salamis

Paphos
Antioch in
Psidia
Temple of Augustus
Pisidian
 Antioch
 Iconium

Lystra 
 Derbe
 Perga 
Syrian
Tarsus
Antioch


Seleucia

 Salamis

Paphos
Pisidian
 Antioch
 Iconium

Lystra 
 Derbe
 Perga 
Syrian
Tarsus
Antioch


Seleucia

 Salamis

Paphos
 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.
Asia Galatia
Pisidia


Syrian
Antioch
 Titus Timothy

Was Greek Was half-Jewish

and half-Greek

Was not Was

circumcised circumcised
The issue was The issue to avoid
over the clarity of that which would
the gospel distract attention
from the gospel
 Bythinia

Mysia
Troas

Asia Galatia
Pisidia


Syrian
Antioch
 Acts 16:9-10
9 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.
  Philippi

 Thessalonica

Berea 
Troas

 Athens

Corinth
  Philippi

 Thessalonica

Berea 
Troas

 Athens

Corinth
  Philippi

 Thessalonica

Berea 
Troas

 Athens

Corinth
  Philippi

 Thessalonica

Berea 
Troas

 Athens

Corinth
  Philippi

 Thessalonica

Berea 
Troas

 Athens


Corinth Ephesus
Artamis
Ephesus


Antioch



Caesarea
 Paul purposed in the
spirit to go to Jerusalem
Ephesus after he had passed

through MacedoniaAntioch
and
Achaia, saying, “After I
have been there, I must
also see Rome.” (Acts
19:21)


Caesarea

3rd Missionary
Journey
 Ephesus


Antioch



Caesarea

3rd Missionary
Journey
 Ephesus


Antioch
Miletus 


Caesarea

3rd Missionary
Journey
Malta

Caesarea 
 Acts 28:30-31
And 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.