34
|
Following his
conversion on the Damascus Road, Paul preached in Damascus, spent some time
in Arabia, and then returned to Damascus. Next he traveled to Jerusalem where
he met briefly with Peter and James.
|
37-43
|
He then moved on
to Tarsus, which was evidently his base of operations and from which he
ministered for about six years.
|
43-48
|
In response to an
invitation from Barnabas he moved to Antioch of Syria where he served for
about five years.
|
48-49
|
He and Barnabas
then set out on their so called first missionary journey into Asia Minor.
|
49
|
Returning to
Antioch Paul wrote the Epistle to the Galatians to strengthen the churches
that he and Barnabas had just planted in Asia Minor.
|
50-52
|
After the
Jerusalem Council, Paul took Silas and began his second missionary journey
through Asia Minor and on westward into the Roman provinces of Macedonia and
Achaia.
|
51
|
From Corinth, Paul
wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians. He proceeded to Ephesus by ship and then on to
Syrian Antioch.
|
53-57
|
From there he set
out on his third missionary journey.
|
53-56
|
Passing through
Asia Minor he arrived in Ephesus where he labored for three years.
|
56
|
During this time
he wrote 1 Corinthians.
|
56
|
Finally Paul left
Ephesus and traveled by land to Macedonia where he wrote 2 Corinthians.
|
56-57
|
He continued south
and spent the winter in Corinth. There he wrote the Epistle to the Romans and
sent it by Phoebe (16:1-2) to the Roman church. The apostle then proceeded
from Corinth by land clockwise around the Aegean Sea back to Troas in Asia
where he boarded a ship and eventually reached Jerusalem.
|
57
|
In Jerusalem, the
Jews arrested Paul and imprisoned him.
|
60-62
|
He arrived in Rome
as a prisoner and ministered there for two years. During this time he wrote
the Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). The
Romans freed Paul, and he returned to the Aegean area.
|
66-68
|
There he wrote 1
Timothy and Titus, experienced arrest again, suffered imprisonment in Rome a second time, wrote 2 Timothy, and
died as a martyr under Nero in A.D. 68.
|
- Review: Historical review of Paul's ministry. Argument for writing of letter from Corinth (after the two letters) in the winter of AD 56-57.
- Author is Paul.
- Relationship to the church: Does not know the church. An early church father writes that it was not founded by an Apostle. Church is well known. Possible that Jewish Christians as far back as Pentecost started the church
- Purpose:
- Since does not know them, it appears to be a more general letter, dealing with things that any church might experience
- He does talk about visiting the church and then preceding to Spain
- This is also a transition point in his ministry. He knew he was going to Jerusalem and that danger awaited him there. It could be he wanted to make sure certain things were written down before he left
- Characteristics:
- Romans is the longest of Paul's letters
- It is one of the very best arguments for the gospel and Jew/Gentile need for salvation
Rom 1:1-7 (NIV) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised
beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who
as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit
of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection
from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name's sake, we
received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to
the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are
called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.
- In the salutation, Paul makes a number of important points up front, what are they?
- Paul is an apostle. This establishes Paul's authority
- Paul is called to be an apostle. That is, he is designated or set apart by God. He did not aspire to the honor, it was from God
- The gospel was promised beforehand in the scriptures
- Jesus is both man, a descendant of David, and God, through the Holy Spirit
- His position as Son of God is verified by the power of God through his resurrection from the dead
- As a result of his work, Paul's calling was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles
- The gospel seems to be the thesis statement of the letter. He will spend most of the letter discussing the gospel and its implication on Gentile (and Jew)
- How does Paul describe his mission?
- To call people (Gentiles) to obedience
- Obedience comes from faith
- The result of the gospel is "belonging" to Jesus Christ
- This is an important distinction. Our belonging is not the result of our obedience. And our obedience is not the result of our human effort
- Obedience comes from faith. Therefore as our faith grows, our obedience will also grow
- Our obedience identifies us with Jesus, and so we can know that we belong to God. But it is are faith that saves us
- APPLICATION: A lack of obedience is an indication of a lack of faith, not a need for more works. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If our life lacks obedience, what are we doing to help our faith to grow?
Rom 1:8-13 (NIV) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for
all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God,
whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my
witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray
that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual
gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged
by each other's faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I
planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until
now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among
the other Gentiles.
- The first thing to note is that their church is known all over the Roman world
- Argues for their establishment for some time
- Argues that doctrinally they are doing well since the report is good
- Paul is praying for them as he does for all the churches he knows and ministers to currently
- Paul remembers them in prayer
- Paul Is praying that, by God's will, a way will be opened to come to them
- What does Paul say more specifically about his coming to Rome?
- He has desired to do it
- He wants to impart some spiritual gift
- He has planned many times to come (but events and circumstances have prevented it)
- We learn a few principles here. When a person has a desire on their heart, is it from God or not from God?
- We really can't tell
- His reason was spiritual
- Paul does not assume that the desire equates to God's will
- Is there a spiritual reason or purpose for the desire?
- Yes, to impart a spiritual gift (teaching)
- Yes, to be mutually encouraged
- Yes, to have a spiritual harvest (to see people grow and come to the Lord)
- Does a spiritual reason to fulfill a desire guarantee that it will happen?
- Not at all. A desire and a spiritual reason for the desire does not mean it is the will of God
- Does that mean one cannot make plans based on a desire and a spiritual reason?
- No, but the plans suggest reasoned thought and not foolish decisions
- Paul's plans were curtailed many times (reasons not given)
- Paul never made a foolish decision because of a desire on his heart (and a spiritual purpose)
- At the point Paul is writing the letter, he is in Corinth, a short trip over land and sea to Rome (a month at the most). When will he actually get to Rome?
- About three to four years later
- He does fulfill his desire, but many years and many false starts later
- APPLICATION: A desire of the heart does not indicate the will of God nor is it assumed not to be the will of God. Having a spiritual purpose does not validate it as a "must do now thing." We are not to make foolish decisions on the basis of a heart desire and a spiritual reason. We are to pray (as Paul does), we are to plan (as Paul does), and we are to rationally act (as Paul does when circumstances prevent his fulfillment)
Rom 1:14-17 (NIV) I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks,
both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the
gospel also to you who are at Rome.
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of
God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the
Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a
righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:
"The righteous will live by faith."
- Paul's ministry was to Gentiles. Here he divides Gentiles into groups
- Greeks and non-Greeks (or barbarians) divides people by language and culture
- Wise and foolish divides people intellectually
- Why mention these different groupings of Gentiles?
- I think each required a different approach
- The gospel is always the same message but how we approach people will depend on language, culture, and intellectual background (or lack)
- Paul shares three attitudes toward the gospel
- Obligation
- Eagerness
- Unashamed
- Paul felt obligated to preach, why?
- A natural response to salvation is an obligation to share the truth
- Paul was eager to share the good news. Why?
- I think one of the things that can excite a person is seeing ministry change people's lives. When we are involved in ministry it excites us. When we are just a sponge, we grow rancid
- Paul was not ashamed. Why say that?
- Rome was a sophisticated environment
- The gospel was powerful. It changed lives. It still changes lives
- While the gospel was a gift, it requires that a person believe. Christianity is not universalism. Only those who believe are saved
- Paul practiced Jew first, then Gentile in all his ministry travels, even though he was called to minister to Gentiles
- As a personal application, I support a ministry to Jews
- I think it is a good idea to have some ministry to Jews as well
- Finally, verse 17 is the starting point and thesis statement for the rest of the letter
- In the Gospel (and only the Gospel)
- A righteousness from God is revealed (this is our problem, we don't have righteousness and we cannot stand before God)
- The righteousness comes from faith (first to last) or from the old covenant to the new covenant. Work can never save you. Works can be useful in identifying your salvation to others and yourself, but faith alone saves
- APPLICATION: Ministry can feed our desire to walk more closely with God. Focusing on self leads to a dreariness in ministry
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