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diff --git a/31350-8.txt b/31350-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0a5405 --- /dev/null +++ b/31350-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4561 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Bible Studies in the Life of Paul, by Henry T. Sell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bible Studies in the Life of Paul + Historical and Constructive + +Author: Henry T. Sell + +Release Date: February 22, 2010 [EBook #31350] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIBLE STUDIES IN THE LIFE OF PAUL *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + +BIBLE STUDIES + +IN THE LIFE OF PAUL + + +HISTORICAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE + + + +BY + +REV. HENRY T. SELL, D.D. + + +Author of "Supplemental Bible Studies," "Bible Study by Books," + "Bible Study by Doctrines," "Bible Study by Periods," + and "Bible Studies in the Life of Christ." + + + + +CHICAGO NEW YORK TORONTO + +FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY + +LONDON & EDINBURGH + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1904 + +BY FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY + + + Chicago: 63 Washington Street + New York: 158 Fifth Avenue + Toronto: 27 Richmond Street, W. + London: 21 Paternoster Square + Edinburgh: 30 St. Mary Street + + + + +PREFACE + +The book of Acts shows in a very graphic way the +rapid growth and marvelous progress of Christianity in +the midst of great opposition. We see in process of +fulfillment the promise of Jesus Christ to his disciples that +they should receive power after the Holy Ghost had come +upon them and that they should be witnesses unto Him +"both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and +unto the uttermost part of the earth." Those were +earnest times and full of stirring events, when men went forth +to conquer a hostile world not with swords, but by the +preaching of a gospel of peace and good will. As soon as +this proclamation was made in Judea and Samaria a new +instrument was chosen by Jesus Christ, in Paul, to carry +His message to the uttermost part of the earth. He +thus became at once the chief character in the larger work +of planting and developing churches outside of Palestine. +The study of Paul's life shows the difficulties encountered, +the doctrines taught, and the organization perfected in the +early churches. "We here watch the dawn of the gospel +which the Savior preached as it broadens gradually into +the boundless day." + +Bible Studies in the Life of Paul is designed to follow +the author's Bible Studies in the Life of Christ and to +show the work of the Great Apostle in carrying the +gospel to a Gentile world. The aim is to present the work +of Paul in a constructive and historical way. While there +has been a careful consideration, on the part of the author, +of disputed questions, only conclusions upon which there +is a general agreement amongst scholars, and which can be +consistently held, are presented. The great main facts of +Paul's life and work stand forth unchallenged and the +emphasis is placed upon them. This book is divided into +three parts, Paul's preparation for his work, his missionary +journeys, and his writings. This is a text book, and, +with the analysis of each study and questions, is prepared +for the use of normal and advanced Sunday-school classes, +teachers' meetings, schools, colleges, and private study. +This is the sixth book of the kind which the author has +prepared and sent forth. The large favor with which the +other books have been received, and the desire, first of all, +of making the life and work of Paul even better known, +have been the motives which have led to its preparation. + +CHICAGO, ILL. + +HENRY T. SELL. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. PAUL'S PREPARATION + +STUDY + + I. Early Life + II. Conversion + + + II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + + III. First Missionary Journey + IV. Second Missionary Journey + V. Third Missionary Journey + VI. Jerusalem to Rome + + + III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + VII. The Future of Christ's Kingdom + VIII. The Old Faiths and the New + IX. The Supremacy of Christ + X. Pastoral and Personal + + + + +I. PAUL'S PREPARATION + + +STUDY I + +EARLY LIFE + + +ANALYSIS + ++The Place of Paul+--The Man. The Work of the Apostle. The +Leading Thought. + ++Birth+--Place. Time. Family. + ++Training+--Home. Mental, Moral and Religious. Industrial. + ++The World as Paul Saw It+--The World. Political. Religious. +The Difficulties. + + + + +Bible Studies in the Life of Paul + + +I. PAUL'S PREPARATION + + +STUDY I + +EARLY LIFE + +THE PLACE OF PAUL + ++The Man, Paul,+ judged by the influence he has +exerted in the world, is one of the greatest characters in +all history. He is pre-eminent not only as a missionary, +but as a marvelous thinker and writer. "He was +a personality of vast power, force, and individuality." There +are some men who seem to be born and prepared +to do a large work for the world; Paul makes the impression +upon those who carefully read the record of his life +that he stands first in this class of men. + ++The Work of the Apostle.+--As John the Baptist +preceded Christ and prepared the way for His coming, so +Paul succeeded Christ and went throughout the heathen +world proclaiming that the Christ had come, and calling +upon all men, Jews and Gentiles, to repent and accept +Him as their Lord and Savior. So wide was his work as +a missionary of the cross, and an interpreter of the Christ, +that a certain class of critics have sought to make him the +creator of Christianity, as we know it; a position which +Paul would be the first to repudiate. He sought of +himself, before he was apprehended by Christ on the way to +Damascus, to drive Christianity from the face of the +earth. + ++The Leading Thought+ in Paul's mind, after his +conversion, was personal devotion to Christ; this was the +mainspring of every act. He said, "I am crucified with +Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth +in me": (Gal. 2:20). "For me to live is Christ" +(Phil. 1:21). In his letters to the churches which he founded, +there are found no picturesque descriptions of cities or of +scenery; his one thought is to make known the Christ. +He says, writing to the Corinthian church, "and I, +brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of +speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of +God. For I determined not to know anything among +you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:1, +2). In the evangelization of the heathen world, for +which task he had been set apart by the Holy Spirit +(Acts 13:2) and which he had accepted with all his heart, +it is not only his leading, but his only thought to make +known Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. + +To miss this supreme purpose of Paul in the study of +his life is to miss its whole significance (Phil. 2:1-11; +Col. 1:12-20). + + +BIRTH + ++Place.+--The world is interested in the birthplaces of +its great men. Some of these birthplaces are in doubt. +There is no doubt about the place in which Paul was +born. He says, in making a speech to the Jews, "I am +verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in +Cilicia" (Acts 22:3). This city was the capital of +Cilicia and was situated in the southeastern part of Asia +Minor. It was but a few miles from the coast and was +easily accessible from the Mediterranean sea by a navigable +river. A large commerce was controlled by the +merchants, on sea and on land. Tarsus, while one of three +university centers of the period, ranking with Athens and +Alexandria, was an exceedingly corrupt city. It was the +chief seat of "a special Baal worship of an imposing but +unspeakably degrading character." + ++Time.+--The date of Paul's birth is nowhere recorded, +but from certain dates given in the Acts, from which we +reckon back, it is thought that he was born about the +same time as Jesus Christ. + ++Family.+--We are left, in this matter, without any +uncertainty. Paul says, "I am a Pharisee, the son of a +Pharisee" (Acts 23:6). I was "circumcised the eighth +day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an +Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee" +(Phil. 3:5). Paul's father and mother were Jews +of the stricter sort. The expression which Paul uses, "An +Hebrew of the Hebrews" is very significant. The Jews +of the Dispersion were known at this time as Hebrews +and Hellenists. The Hebrews clung to the Hebrew +tongue and followed Hebrew customs. The Hellenists +spoke Greek by preference and adopted, more or less, +Greek views and civilization. Paul had a married sister +who lived in Jerusalem (Acts 23:16) and relatives in Rome +(Rom. 16:7, 11). + + +TRAINING + ++Home.+--The instruction received in the home has often +more influence and is more lasting than any other. Paul +received the usual thorough training of the Jew boy +accentuated in his case, in all probability, by the open iniquity +which was daily practised in his native city. We never +hear him expressing any regret that he received such +thorough religious instruction at the hands of his parents. + ++Mental, Moral, and Religious.+--Good teachers were +employed to instruct the boy, who was afterwards to make +such a mark in the world. After going through the +school, under the care of the synagogue at Tarsus, he +was sent to Jerusalem to complete his education. Paul, +speaking in this chief Jewish city, says, I was "brought +up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught +according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers" +(Acts 22:3). It is very evident that He had a profound +knowledge of the Scriptures from the large use he makes +of them in his Epistles. He seems also to have been +quite well acquainted with Greek philosophy and +literature. He quotes from the Greek poets, Aratus, +Epimenides, and Menander. No man ever studied men and the +motives which actuate them more than he. His inward +life was pure (Acts 23:1; 24:16). Paul differed from +Christ in that he was a man who sought the cities and +drew his illustrations from them, while Christ was much +in the country and drew his illustrations from country life. +But in this study of and work for the city Paul was but +carrying out the commands of Christ. + ++Industrial.+--It was required of every Jew father that +his boy should learn some trade by which he might +support himself should necessity require it. It was a +common Jewish proverb that "he who taught his son no trade +taught him to be a thief." Paul was taught the trade of +tent making. "The hair of the Cicilian goats was used +to make a cloth which was especially adapted for tents for +travelers, merchants, and soldiers." He afterwards +found this trade very useful in his missionary work +(Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8). + + +THE WORLD AS PAUL SAW IT + ++This World+ was very different from the world as we +see it to-day. This makes it difficult for us to appreciate +his work at its full value. Now, Christianity is the great +religion of the world; then it was unknown, outside a very +limited circle of believers. The state and society were +organized upon a different basis and were in strong +opposition to the new religion. + ++Political.+--The world was under the dominion of the +Romans. They, in conquering it, broke down the +barriers that had separated tribe from tribe and nation from +nation. Yet it was a comparatively small world for all +interests centered about the Mediterranean Sea. Before +the Romans the Greeks had been in possession of a part +of this world and had permeated and penetrated the whole +of it, with their art, language, and commerce. With the +upheavals of war and the tribulations that had befallen +the Jews, they were everywhere scattered abroad and had +their synagogues in most of the cities. + ++Religious.+--For the Romans, Greeks, and conquered +nations and tribes, it was an age of scepticism. While the +gods and goddesses in the great heathen temples still had +their rites and ceremonies observed yet the people, to a +large degree, had ceased to believe in them. The Roman +writers of the period are agreed in the slackening of +religious ties and of moral restraints. Yet it was the policy +of the state to maintain the worship of the gods and +goddesses. Any attack upon them or their worship was +regarded as an offense against the state. + ++The Difficulties+ of the situation were threefold: (a) +To seek to overturn the religion of the state constituted +an offense which was punishable by stripes and imprisonment; +(b) To rebuke men's sins and the evils of the times +stirred up bitter opposition on their part; (c) To proclaim +a crucified and risen Christ as the Messiah to the Jews, +when they expected a great conquering hero, often excited +and put them in a rage. + +That Paul could preach Christ and establish churches, +under all the opposition that he encountered, shows how +fully and implicitly he believed in his Lord. + + +QUESTIONS + +What impression has the man, Paul, made upon the world? +What was his work as an apostle? What his leading thought? +Where is the place of his birth? What can be said of his family? +How was he educated and trained, in the home, in school, and for +a trade? What was the political and religious condition of the +world as Paul saw it? What were the three difficulties in the way +of his work in preaching Christ? + + + + +I. PAUL'S PREPARATION + + +STUDY II + +CONVERSION + + +ANALYSIS + ++Paul the Persecutor+--Order of Events. The Inevitable Conflict. +Cruelty of the Persecutor. + ++Conversion+--Cause. Effects (physical, mental and spiritual, +penalty, relief to the Christians, triumph of Christ, and estimates +of the results). + ++Period of Waiting+--Retirement of Paul. Reasons. The Gospel +for the Gentiles. Paul Brought to Antioch. + + + + +I. PAUL'S PREPARATION + + +STUDY II + +CONVERSION + +PAUL, THE PERSECUTOR + ++Order of Events.+--It seems to be quite evident, when +Paul finished his studies in Jerusalem, that he left the city +and engaged in work somewhere else, during the years +when John the Baptist and Jesus were preaching and +teaching. In all probability he did not return until after +the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. + +Paul first appears in the narrative of the Acts, under +the name of Saul, at the martyrdom of Stephen, where he +takes charge of the clothes of the witnesses (Acts +7:58, 59). + +From the Ascension of Christ to the martyrdom of +Stephen is an important period in the history of the infant +church. On and after the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the +apostles and followers of the risen Lord assumed a very +bold attitude. They did not hesitate to speak openly in +the temple (Acts 3:12-16) of the crime of putting "The +Prince of Life" to death and asserted that He was risen +from the dead. The priests and Sadducees strongly +objected to this kind of preaching (Acts 4), laid hands upon +the preachers, and put them in prison. When they were +examined the next day before (Acts 4:5-13) the Jewish +tribunal, the apostles spoke even more boldly of Jesus and +his resurrection and refused to be silenced (Acts 4:13-20, +33). Again an attempt was made to stop the preaching +of the apostles, but they refused to keep still (Acts +5:16-33). A remarkable prison deliverance by the "Angel +of the Lord" (Acts 5:19, 20) gave them great courage in +proclaiming "all the words of this life." + +At this point Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-42) proposes in the +Jewish council a new policy, which was to let the followers +of Christ alone, arguing that then they would speedily +give up their preaching. This policy was adopted (Acts +5:40). But with the election of Stephen as a deacon +(Acts 6:1-8) the followers of Christ began to multiply +with great rapidity and it was soon seen that "the +let-alone policy" was a mistake (Acts 6:9-15). Persecution +again breaks out which results in the death of Stephen +(Acts 7), the bringing out of Saul as the arch persecutor, +and the scattering of the church (Acts 8:1-4). + ++The Inevitable Conflict.+--Had the early Christians +been content to have proclaimed Jesus Christ to be but a +great teacher and prophet, they would in all probability +have become a Jewish sect and been speedily lost to sight. +But extraordinary claims were put forth that Jesus Christ +was the promised Messiah (Acts 2:25-40), the Son of +God (Acts 3:26), the Forgiver of sins (Acts 2:38; 5:31), +that He was risen from the dead (Acts 4:33), that +obedience to Him was above that to the Jewish rulers (Acts +4:18-20), that the Jews had wickedly slain Christ (Acts +3:14, 15), and that salvation was only through Him +(Acts 4:12). Further than this they wrought miracles in +the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:2-8, 16; 2:43; 5:12). + +It was very soon plainly seen that Christianity could +keep no truce, and proposed to keep no truce, which +called in question or denied the supremacy of Christ. + ++The Cruelty of the Persecutor.+--To a man of Paul's +temperament and zeal there could be no half way measures +in a case like this. He could not be content to bide his +time. Either the claims of Christ were true or false. If +false, then they were doing harm and His doctrine and +teaching must be eradicated at any cost. All the aggressive +forces of the Jews found a champion in this Saul of +Tarsus. Drastic measures were at once inaugurated. +There was to be no more temporizing. The cruelty and +thoroughness of the persecutor, in his work, are shown in +his instituting a house to house canvass seeking for the +Christians and sparing neither age nor sex (Acts 8:1, 3). + +In the first persecutions the Jews had been content to +arrest and imprison those who publicly preached Christ, +but now the policy was changed and Christianity was to +be exterminated root and branch. All believers in Christ +were to be hunted out. + +The character of Saul, the arch persecutor, is shown +in the characterization of him by Luke, when he +represented him as breathing out, "threatenings and slaughter +against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1). + + +CONVERSION + ++Cause.+--The book of the Acts, opened at one place, +shows a fierce hater and persecutor of the Christians (8:3), +opened at another place it shows this same persecutor as +an ardent and enthusiastic preacher of the faith in Jesus +Christ (13:16-39) We seek for the cause of this +remarkable change. Luke tells us that Saul was on his way to +Damascus, seeking victims for his persecuting zeal, when +Jesus suddenly appeared to him and Saul was changed +from a persecutor to a believer in Christ (Acts 9:3-7). +The account is very brief. For an event which has had +such tremendous results, the narrator is very reticent; a +light from heaven, a voice speaking, and a person +declaring that He is Jesus. Paul gives us two accounts of his +conversion and how it took place (Acts 22:6-15; +26:12-18). The men who were with Paul saw a light +and heard a voice, but not what was said. It is +impossible to describe or exaggerate what took place in Paul's +mind in those brief moments while Jesus talked to him; +but his beliefs, and his whole life plan were radically +changed. It had been well if no explanation of this +conversion had been attempted and the great fact had been +left to stand as it does in the Acts. Attempts, however, +have been made to minimize the power of this conversion +and the marvelous and sudden change it wrought in the +character and life of Paul. Some critics seeking a natural, +rather than a supernatural, cause have attributed to Paul +certain compunctions of conscience and misgivings about +his persecution of the Christians, together with a hot day +and a certain temperament, which led him to have a +subjective experience, which he thought was real. But there +is no recorded evidence forthcoming that Paul ever had +any compunctions of conscience about persecuting the +Christians. Paul was an honest man to the very core of +his being; in the two accounts he gives us of this +conversion, and in incidental references to it, he never even +hints at any such state of mind. The expression used by +Jesus, "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" +(Acts 9-5), of which so much has been made, means no +more than that Saul's opposition and hard work against +the Christians (Acts 8:3; 9:1), would be of no avail. In +doing what he did Paul thought he was doing God's +service. Again the language which Paul uses and the +references which he makes to this appearance of Christ forbid +us to think that it was only a mere vision of Christ which +he saw. "He ranks it as the last of the appearances of +the risen Savior to His disciples and places it on the same +level as the appearances to Peter, to James, to the eleven, +and to the five hundred" (1 Cor. 15:1-8). In these +appearances Jesus had eaten with his disciples and been +touched by them (John 20:24-31; Luke 24:36-43), +appearing as a real being, according to the narrative. + +"It was the appearance to Paul of the risen Lord, +which made him a Christian, gave him a gospel to preach, +and sent him forth as the apostle of the Gentiles." + +The time of Paul's conversion was about 36 A.D. + ++Effects.+--There is no question as to the very marked +results which followed the appearance of the risen Lord +to Saul on the way to Damascus. + +1. Physical. He was smitten with blindness (Acts +9:8), and was without food for three days (Acts 9:9). +His sight was restored by Ananias at the command of the +Lord (Acts 9:15-18). + +2. Mental and spiritual. His whole outlook upon life +and its significance was changed. He received baptism +and was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). From +being a persecutor he became an enthusiastic witness for +Christ (Acts 9:20-22). + +3. Penalty. The consequences of his former course +of action were visited upon him; for the Jews sought to +kill him and the disciples of Christ were at first afraid of +him (Acts 9:23-26). But Barnabas vouched for his +sincerity (Acts 9:27). + +4. The relief to the Christians at Damascus, when +Saul was converted, was very great. They had looked +forward to his coming with dread. + +5. The triumph of Christ. In Paul Christianity won +its most efficient missionary and, next to Christ, its +greatest thinker, preacher, and teacher. + +6. The estimates of the results of this conversion of +Saul cannot be too large; they are world wide. + + +PERIOD OF WAITING + ++Retirement of Paul.+--From the conversion of Paul +(Acts 9:3-7) to his call to the missionary work (Acts +13:2) is a period of about ten years. During this time +we have only incidental notices of him and what he was +doing. When we think of it there is nothing strange in +this retirement. It is the divine method, as in the case of +Moses, when a man is to do a very large work for God +that he should be well prepared for it. The chief +scripture notices of this period of retirement are found in +Acts 9:19-30; Gal. 1:15-24; (Acts 11:25-30; 12:25). +From these notices it is quite plain: (a) That Paul retired +into Arabia. (b) That he preached in Damascus and +Jerusalem, but was compelled to flee from both cities on +account of the persecutions of the Jews, who sought his +life. (c) That he went to Tarsus and "into the regions of +Syria and Cilicia." (d) That he came to Antioch, where +there was a great revival (Acts 11:25-30), at the +solicitation of Barnabas. Luke in his account (Acts 9:19-30) +does not mention the trip to Arabia spoken of by Paul in +his epistle to the Galatians (1:15-24). It must be +remembered however that each is writing from a +different point of view. Luke is a historian recording only the +most salient facts and passing over the mention of many +events. We see this in the compression in eight and a +half short chapters of the events of the three missionary +journeys. Paul writing to the Galatians is anxious to +establish the fact that he received his commission, as an +apostle, not from man, but from Christ himself (Gal. 1:1); +hence he enters more into details and we get from him the +inside view. The accounts of Luke and Paul if read +carefully, keeping in mind all the circumstances, are seen not +to be in any way antagonistic, but to supplement each other. + ++Reasons.+--Many reasons have been given for the +retirement of Paul to Arabia, and what seems to be the +period of comparative inactivity that followed it. + +1. Fierce opposition on the part of the Jews whenever +Paul attempted to preach, as in the cities of Damascus +and Jerusalem. + +2. A preparation of mind and heart for his great +work. As a thinker he needed to look upon all sides of +the gospel, which he was afterwards to preach so +effectively to the Gentiles. + +3. A careful rereading of the Old Testament. As a +Jew he had read the Scriptures in one way, now he reread +them seeing Christ there. + +4. System of doctrine. He may at this time have +wrought out that magnificent system of Christian doctrine +which he afterwards presented to the churches in his +Epistles. + ++The Gospel for the Gentiles.+--While Paul was waiting +for the call to his great missionary work there came a +new crisis in the history of the early church, and a new +era was inaugurated. In the tenth and eleventh chapters +of the book of Acts Luke tells us of the conversion of the +Gentile Cornelius, "a centurion of the band called the +Italian band" (Acts 10:1-8), and of the instructions given +to Peter to receive him (Acts 10:9-44). + +Cornelius was the first Gentile convert and we note +here the beginning of the preaching of the gospel to the +Gentiles, which was to have such large results. "The +day of Pentecost, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the +call of Cornelius and the foundation of the Gentile church +at Antioch are, if we are to pick and choose amid the +events related by Luke, the turning points of the earliest +ecclesiastical history." How great and epoch making was +this new departure of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, +and receiving them into the church, is shown in the +eleventh chapter of the Acts (11:1-18) where, when Peter +goes up to Jerusalem, he is put on the defensive and +compelled to explain why he received Cornelius into the +church. When however the matter was fully explained +the early disciples rejoiced over the fact that to the +Gentiles was granted by God repentance unto life (Acts 11:18). + ++Paul Brought to Antioch+ by Barnabas, on account of +the revival that had broken out in that city, is another +step which he takes up to his work as the great missionary +to the Gentiles (Acts 11:25-26). It was here that the +disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). It +was from this city that Paul went forth on his missionary +journeys and it was here that he returned (Acts 13:1-3; +14:26; 15:24-41; 18:22; 18:23). + +"Antioch was the capital of the Greek kingdom of +Syria, and afterwards the residence of the Roman +governor of the province. It was made a free city by Pompey +the Great, and contained an aqueduct, amphitheater, +baths, and colonnades. It was situated on the Orontes +about twenty miles from the mouth of the river. Its +sea-port was Seleucia. It was intimately connected with +apostolic Christianity. Here the first Gentile church was +formed" (Acts 11:20, 21). + + +QUESTIONS + +Give the order of events which led to the persecution in +which Paul was so prominent. Why was the conflict between +Christianity and Judaism inevitable? What can be said of the +cruelty of Paul, the persecutor? Give the cause of Paul's +conversion. What were some of the effects? What can be said of the +period of waiting; the retirement of Paul? What are some of +the probable reasons for this retirement? What can be said about +the beginning of the gospel to the Gentiles? By whom was Paul +brought to Antioch and for what purpose? In what relation does +Antioch stand to the missionary journeys of Paul? + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Acts 13:1-28:31_ + + +STUDY III + +FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 13:1-14:26_ + +ANALYSIS + ++Introduction to the Three Missionary Journeys+--The call. The +Significance. Extent and Time. The Record. Other Long +Journeys. Method of Work and Support. The Message. + ++The First Journey+--Preparation. Companions. Paul Comes to +the Front. Time and Extent. Rulers. + ++The Itinerary+--Salamis. Paphos. Perga. Antioch. Iconium. +Lystra and Derbe. The Return Journey. + ++The Jerusalem Council+--One Problem of the Early Church. The +Decision of the Council. + + + + +[Illustration: Outline map illustrating the first and second +missionary journeys of Paul.] + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Acts 13:1-38:31_ + + +STUDY III + +FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 13:1-14:26_ + +INTRODUCTION TO THE THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS + +Before taking up the study of the first missionary +journey, attention is called to certain points which should be +considered in regard to all three of them (Acts 13:1-21:17). + +We have now arrived at what we might call the watershed +of the Acts of the Apostles. Hitherto we have had +various scenes, characters, personages to consider. +Henceforth Paul, his labors, his disputes, his speeches, occupy +the entire field, and every other man who is introduced +into the narrative plays a subordinate part. + +Our attention is now turned from the Jewish world, +considered so largely in the first twelve chapters of the +Acts, to the heathen world and the struggle which Paul +and his fellow laborers had with it, in bringing it to Christ. + ++The Call+ to this work was by the Holy Ghost in the +city of Antioch (Acts 13:1-4). Luke says, "As they +ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, +separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I +have called them" (Acts 13:2, 4). Contrast this with +the beginning of the work in Jerusalem which was also +inaugurated by the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost +(Acts 1:14; 2:1-4). This call was in accordance with +what Jesus had told his disciples before His ascension +(Acts 1:8). + +The agency of the Holy Ghost in directing and +promoting this missionary work is very manifest (Acts +13:2, 4, 9, 52; 15:8, 28; 16:6; 19:2, 6; 20:23, 28; +21:11; 28:25). + ++The Significance+ and importance of these journeys +cannot be overestimated. It is probable, when the call +came, that Paul had but little idea of their magnitude and +that in the end they would result in changing not only the +religion, but the philosophy and civilization of the world. + ++Extent and Time.+--It is estimated that the first +journey was 1,400 miles long, the second 3,200, and the +third 3,500, making 8,100 miles traveled by Paul. +The time occupied for the three journeys was about +ten years. + ++The Record+ of the three missionary journeys, is briefly +comprised in eight and a half chapters (Acts 13:1-21:17), +and it does not profess to be a complete one. Only the +most striking incidents and events, and probably not all +of these, are given. There were side trips not recorded +by Luke; Paul speaks of one to Illyricum (Rom. 15:19), +and of others in which he underwent great perils (2 +Cor. 11:24-27). + +The purpose of Luke seems to be to show how, in +accordance with the command and promise of Christ, the +knowledge and power of the gospel was spread, beginning +in Jerusalem, through Judea, and Samaria, throughout +the heathen world (Acts 1:8); everything seems to be +made to bend to this purpose. Certainly there could be +no more graphic and concise account of these epoch +making events than that given us by this wonderful +narrator. + ++Other Long Journeys.+--1. Paul's voyage to Rome as +a prisoner. Luke gives a full account of this voyage, its +many interesting incidents (Acts 27:1-28:16), and of the +circumstances which led up to it (Acts 21:17-27:1). + +2. There is every reason to believe that Paul was +released at the end of his two years imprisonment in +Rome (Acts 28:30) and that he made an Eastern journey +as far as Colossæ and a Western journey as far as Spain. + +NOTE.--These last journeys are considered in chapter ten. + ++Method of Work and Support.+--Paul and his companion, +or company, when they entered into a city would +first seek for a lodging and then for work, going from one +tent maker's door to another until finally a place was +found. Then upon the following Sabbath they would +seek the Jewish synagogue and after the reading of the +Scriptures, when an opportunity was given, Paul would +arise and begin to speak, (Acts 13:14-16) leading up +through the Old Testament message (Acts 13:17-43) to +the great topic of Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah +and closing with an exhortation to believe on Him. Such +a speech would naturally excite great interest coming from +the lips of one, who by his speech and the handling of the +Old Testament, would be recognized as a cultivated +Jewish Rabbi. Paul would be asked to speak again the next +Sabbath (Acts 13:44-52), the synagogue would be full of +people and he would set forth Jesus Christ more plainly +as the Savior both of Jew and Gentile. This would +generally be a signal for the Jews to contradict and oppose +Paul, but some Jews would believe with a number of +Gentiles. This would be the starting point of the +Christian church in that community. The Jews, however, who +were untouched by what Paul preached, and who looked +upon him as the destroyer of their religion, would raise a +cry against him and seek to have him expelled from the +city. This experience was frequently repeated. There +were great difficulties also to be encountered when the +heathen thought that their worship was in danger (Acts +19:20-30). + ++The Message+ which Paul bore to Jew and Gentile was +the moving force of all his work. The starting point was +the memorable day when Jesus Christ appeared to him on +his way to Damascus. Paul believed that he received his +commission as an apostle directly from Jesus Christ +(Gal. 1:1-24). The four main positions of Paul, set +forth so plainly in his Epistle to the Romans, are: (a) +All are guilty before God (Jew and Gentile). (b) All +need a Savior. (c) Christ died for all. (d) We are all +(through faith) one body in Christ. Paul leaves us in no +doubt as to how he regards Jesus Christ. He is to him +the Son of God, through whom God created all things +and who is the Divine Savior of man (Eph. 3:9-21; +Phil. 2:9-11; Rom. 9:5). There is no doubt, no +hesitation on Paul's part in delivering his message. He is a +witness, testifying to the glory of his Divine Lord. He +is a messenger who cannot alter or tamper with that which +has been entrusted to him. To the rude inhabitants of +the mountain regions of Asia Minor, to the philosophers +in Athens, to the Roman governors in Cæsarea, to the +dwellers in Corinth and in Rome the purport of the +Message is always the same. + + +THE FIRST JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 13:1-14:28_ + ++Preparation.+--First, on the part of Paul. About ten +years have passed since his conversion. During this time +we have few notices of him, but he was undoubtedly +making ready for this very important work of a missionary. +Second, on the part of the church. The first step +had already been taken, in the conversion of Cornelius, in +the giving of the gospel to the Gentile world. Third, +Paul was brought to Antioch by Barnabas to assist the +church in the great revival which broke out in that second +early center of Christian work and teaching (Acts 11:21-26). +Fourth, the large success of the disciples who went +throughout Judea and Samaria, preaching the gospel, after +the death of Stephen (Acts 7:5-8:4; 11:19-21) made +possible this new aggressive movement to the regions +beyond. Fifth, the Christian prophets and teachers at +Antioch "ministered to the Lord and fasted." They +desired to know the will of the Lord and it was made +known to them by the Holy Ghost. "And when they +had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they +sent them away." "So they being sent forth by the +Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia (Acts 13:3, 4). + ++Companions of the Journey+, Barnabas and Saul (Acts +13:2) and John Mark (Acts 13:5). Barnabas has been +called the discoverer of Saul. He was probably a convert +of the day of Pentecost. He was a land proprietor of the +island of Cyprus and early showed his zeal for Christ by +selling his land and devoting the proceeds to the cause in +which he so heartily believed (Acts 4:36, 37). He +early sought out and manifested, in a very practical way, +his friendship for Paul (Acts 9:27; 11:22, 25, 30; +12:25). John Mark, who started on this journey with +Barnabas and Saul, was a nephew of Barnabas (Acts +13:5, 13; 12:25; Col. 4:10). + ++Paul Comes to the Front+ when his company leave +Paphos and ever after he has the first place (Acts 13: +13). Here also he is called Paul for the first time, a +name which he retains. + ++Extent and Time+--This was the shortest of the three +journeys (about 1,400 miles). It extended over the island +of Cyprus and a part of Asia Minor. In time it occupied +about three years, 47-50 A.D. + ++Rulers+--Claudius was the emperor of Rome, since +41 A.D. Herod Agrippa was king of Chalcis, Ananias +was high priest in Jerusalem. + + +THE ITINERARY + +NOTE.--The cities, which Paul visited in this and the other +journeys, should be located upon the map by the student. It will +greatly increase the interest to consult some good Bible dictionary +and get well acquainted also with the history of the places. + + ++Salamis+, on the island of Cyprus, was the first place +reached, after sailing from Seleucia (Acts 13:4, 5) the +sea-port of Antioch. It was the natural thing to go first to +this island as it had been the home of Barnabas and many +Jews had settled there; it was about eighty miles to the +southwest of Seleucia. + ++Paphos.+--After passing through the island from east +to west the missionaries came to Paphos. This city was +the seat of the worship of Venus, the goddess of love. +This worship was carried on with the most degrading +of immoralities. + +The chief incidents in the ministry here were the +smiting of the Jewish sorcerer, Elymas, with blindness for his +persistent opposition and the conversion of the deputy of +the country, Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6-12). Saul is +filled with an unusual power of the Spirit for his work in +this city and takes the name of Paul. It is now no longer +Barnabas and Saul, but Paul and Barnabas. + ++Perga in Pamphylia+--(Acts 13:13, 14). The missionaries +take ship from Paphos and sail in a north-easterly +direction across the Mediterranean Sea to this city of Asia +Minor. John Mark, doubtless appalled by the difficulties +which had already been experienced and now that the +journey seemed to promise still greater hardships, left the +company and returned to Jerusalem. + ++Antioch in Pisidia+ (Acts 13:14-52) was about ninety +miles directly north of Perga. It was a good-sized city +with a large Jewish population. Luke's account of this +visit is notable in that we have the chief points in Paul's +speech in the synagogue set down. This address is worth +study from the fact that it is the first sermon of Paul of +which we have any record, and is probably the usual way +in which he began his work in a great many Jewish +synagogues. Paul is asked to speak to the assembled Jews. +He begins upon the common ground of the history of +Israel. He declares the promise of a Savior. This +Savior is to be of the seed of David. Then Paul sets +forth that Jesus is the promised Savior. He reminds +them of the testimony of John and of those who had seen +Jesus before and after His resurrection. He declares +unto them the glad tidings of a Savior. He warns them +of their peril in rejecting Jesus Christ. Paul is invited to +speak upon the next Sabbath, but there is a division and +those who oppose Paul try to drive him out of their city +which they finally succeed in doing. But the Word has +fallen into good soil and there is the beginning of a +Christian church. + ++Iconium in Lycaonia+ (Acts 14:1-5) is over one +hundred miles distant from Antioch. The missionaries were +now in a country of a people with strange ways. They +remained here for some time and their ministry was +attested by "signs and wonders." But again some of +the Jews opposed them and stirred up the multitude. A +plan was made by the ringleaders of the opposition to +stone them, but being made aware of it Paul and Barnabas +"fled unto Derbe and Lystra." They had, however, the +satisfaction of leaving behind "a great multitude of +believing Jews and Greeks" (Acts 14:1). + ++Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia+ (Acts 14:6-21).--"And +there they preached the gospel." There is no +mention of any Jewish synagogue at either of these cities. +The inhabitants were worshippers of the heathen gods. +The healing of a lame man at Lystra brought Paul and +Barnabas directly into touch with the heathen priests and +populace. When they saw this miracle of healing, they +thought that the gods had come down to earth in the +likeness of men. Barnabas was called Jupiter "and Paul +Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker." When +Paul and Barnabas sought to restrain the priests and +people from doing sacrifice to them, it is interesting to +note what words Paul uses in addressing them. As with +the Jews he here seeks first of all a common ground. He +says, "We are men of like passions with you and preach +unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto +the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the +sea, and all things that are therein; who in times past +suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. +Nevertheless He left not Himself without a witness, in that He +did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful +seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts +14:15-17). We find the same earnestness the same desire +to preach the gospel to the heathen here as to the Jews +elsewhere. But the Jews who had made trouble in +Antioch and Iconium for the missionaries came to Lystra and, +forming a plot against Paul, persuaded the people and +stoned him so that he was drawn out of the city, they +"supposing he had been dead." But he was not dead, he +soon rose up and came back into the city and the next +day departed with Barnabas to Derbe, where they +preached the gospel and taught many. + ++The Return Journey+ is very briefly recorded (Acts +14:21-28). The missionaries returned through the same +cities, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, and so back to Perga. +But from the last city they did not sail to the island of +Cyprus, but took a different course, westerly along the +coast to Attalia in Pamphylia and from thence they sailed +to Antioch, the starting point of their trip. During this +return journey they proved to their friends and enemies +that, in departing from the cities where mobs threatened +them, it was through no cowardice on their part, but for +other reasons and for the purpose of preaching the gospel +in the regions beyond. They "confirmed the souls of the +disciples exhorting them to continue in the faith." They +also further perfected the organization of the churches, +ordaining elders in every church. They prayed with and +for the disciples and commended them to the Lord. + +When the missionaries at last entered the city of +Antioch, "they rehearsed all that God had done with them, +and how He had opened the door of faith unto the +Gentiles." There must have been great rejoicing over this +happy return of Paul and Barnabas. + + +THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL + +_Acts 15:1-35_ + ++One Problem of the Early Church+ was how to +reconcile the commandments of Moses with the new law of +liberty in Jesus Christ. Ought the Gentile Christians to +observe the law of Moses? Ought they to become Jews +before they became Christians? Were there to be two +churches? One for Jewish and another for Gentile +Christians? These questions are obsolete now, but then they +were burning ones and hotly debated. Hence this Jerusalem +Council, where the matter was debated and settled, +was exceedingly important and fraught with great and +grave consequences for the future welfare of the church. +Because certain of the Jewish brethren came to Antioch +and began to teach that it was necessary to salvation +that a certain Jewish ordinance and the law of Moses be +kept, it was determined to send Paul and Barnabas to +Jerusalem. + +A council of "the apostles and elders came together +for to consider of this matter" (Acts 15:6). At this +council in Jerusalem, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James +were the chief speakers. All matters were carefully gone +over. Of all the speeches made, Luke records only the two +made by Peter (Acts 15:7-12) and James (Acts 15:13-2l), +which must have embodied the sense of the meeting +in that both spoke for liberty, from the Mosaic yoke, in +Christ. + ++The Decision+ of the council was for the freedom of the +Gentile Christians and that they should not be obliged to +become Jews before they became Christians. Thus was +one of the grave crises of the early church safely passed. +Paul and Barnabas went back happy in that great victory +for Gentile Christianity to their brethren at Antioch. + +It should be borne in mind, however, that while the +question of the relation of the Gentile Christians to the +law of Moses was decided at this council, it was one +which came up again and again to hamper and bother +Paul in his missionary work. + + +QUESTIONS + +What is to be considered in the introduction to the three +missionary journeys? By whom was the call to this work? What is +the significance of the journeys? The extent and time? What +can be said of the record? Were there other long journeys by +Paul? What was the method of work and support? What was +the message? The first journey; what was the preparation for it? +Who the companions? Time and extent? Rulers? Give some +of the incidents that took place upon the Itinerary, at Salamis, +Paphos, Perga, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe? What +can be said of the return journey? Why was the Jerusalem +Council necessary, and what was decided by it? + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Acts 13:1-28:31_ + + +STUDY IV + +SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 13:36-18:32_ + +ANALYSIS + ++Second Missionary Journey+--The Inception. The Companions. +The Wide Scope. Value to the World. Time and Rulers. +Epistles to the Churches. + ++The Itinerary+--Through Asia Minor. In Europe (Philippi. +Thessalonica. Berea. Athens. Corinth). + ++The Return Voyage+--Ephesus. Cæsarea. Antioch. + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Scripture, Acts 13:1-28:32_ + + +STUDY IV + +SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 15:36-18:22_ + ++The Inception+--After the Jerusalem Council Paul +returned to Antioch where he spent some time, "teaching +and preaching the Word of the Lord with many others +also." "And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, +Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where +we have preached the Word of the Lord, and see how +they do" (Acts 15:35, 36). He felt that he must be +advancing the work of Jesus Christ. + ++The Companions+ (Acts 15:37-40).--Barnabas +proposed to take John Mark, his nephew, with them on this +second journey. But Paul strenuously objected, basing +his objection on the ground that this young man had +deserted them (Acts 13:13) at a very important juncture +in the first journey. We are told that the contention was +very sharp between Barnabas and Paul over this matter. +It was finally settled by Barnabas taking John Mark and +sailing for the island of Cyprus and Paul choosing Silas +for his companion. When Paul came to Derbe and +Lystra Timotheus was invited to join him, which he did +(Acts 16:1-4). Luke, the author of the Acts, goes with +this company into Macedonia (Acts 16:10). We can +trace Luke's connection with the missionaries by the +"we" passages. + +That Paul was afterwards reconciled to Barnabas and +John Mark is shown by his kindly mention of them in his +Epistles (1 Cor. 9:6; Col. 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11; +Philem. 24). + ++The Wide Scope+ is a marked feature of this journey of +about 3,200 miles. + +The first journey was through Cyprus, where Barnabas +was well acquainted, and through that section of Asia +Minor roundabout the province of Cilicia, where Paul was +practically at home. Paul was born in Tarsus in Cilicia +and it was to this region that he went for some part of +the time between his conversion and his call to the +missionary work (Acts 9:30; Gal. 1:21). + +The second journey carries Paul into entirely, to him, +new provinces of Asia Minor and into Macedonia and +Achaia. He comes into close contact not only with the +rough native populations of the Asian provinces but with +the cultivated philosophers of Greece and the effeminate +voluptuaries of the heathen temples. Here are new tests +for this missionary and the gospel which he preaches, but +he meets them all. This journey had a large significance +for the spread of Christianity. Had the gospel failed to +meet the wants of all sorts and conditions of men, there +would have been no further triumphs for it. + ++Value to the World.+--"This journey was not only the +greatest which Paul achieved but perhaps the most +momentous recorded in the annals of the human race. In +its issues it far outrivalled the expedition of Alexander the +Great when he carried the arms and civilization of Greece +into the heart of Asia, or that of Cæsar when he landed +on the shores of Britain, or even the voyage of Columbus +when he discovered a new world." + +To Paul's turning westward, instead of eastward, +through the guidance of the Spirit, and his entering upon +his work in Macedonia (Acts 16:7-11) Europe to-day +owes her advancement and Christian civilization. It is +stating a sober fact when it is asserted that without +Christianity Europeans would now be worshipping idols, the +same as the inhabitants of other sections of the world +where the gospel of Christ has not been made known. + ++Time and Rulers.+--In time this journey extended over +about three years, 51-54 A.D. The rulers were: Claudius, +Emperor of Rome (Nero became Emperor in 54 A.D.); +Herod Agrippa II., King of Chalcis (who also gets +Batanea and Trachontis); and Gallio, Procurator of +Achaia. + ++Epistles to the Churches.+--Upon this journey Paul +makes a new departure. With the multiplication of the +churches and the impossibility of visiting them often, +when occasions demanded it, Paul begins the writing of +special and circular letters to the churches. The two first +Epistles, of which we have any record, were those to The +Thessalonians from Corinth, written probably in the +winter of 52-53 A.D. + +NOTE.--For an account of and an analysis of these Epistles +see study 7. + + +THE ITINERARY + ++Through Asia Minor+ (Acts 15:40-16:8).--It was +Paul's custom to revisit the churches which he had +organized, and to care for them. Following out this plan he +went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches, +then to Derbe and Lystra, where he found Timotheus +who joined his company. After visiting the churches +founded on the first missionary journey, Paul and his +company turned northward and "went throughout +Phrygia and the region of Galatia" (Acts 16:6) though +there is no record of any church having been founded in +these regions. "After they were come to Mysia, they +assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them +not" (Acts 16:7). + +It is important to note that the Holy Ghost now forbade +Paul, at this time, to further preach the word in Asia +(Acts 16:7). Paul and his company tried after this to go +into Bithynia but they were prevented from doing so by +the Spirit, and came down to Troas (Acts 16:8-12). +Of this long journey through Asia Minor, of its perils and +difficulties, of the rejoicings of the former Christian +converts, when they saw Paul again, and of the many +interesting facts and incidents we have only a glimpse. + ++In Europe+ (Acts 16:9-18:18).--Paul, following +what was to him a clear indication of the guidance of the +Holy Ghost (Acts 16:6-11), left Troas and set out by +ship, by way of Samothracia, for Neapolis, which he +reached on the following day. There have been many +conjectures as to what the fortunes of the Christian +church would have been had Paul been allowed to carry +out his intention to visit Bithynia, and to preach the gospel +in the regions of the east. Had he done so, however, it +is quite certain, that the history of the world would have +been quite different from what it is to-day. In this +invasion of Europe Paul came within the charmed circle of +what was then the highest civilization. The gospel was +now to try its strength with the keenest philosophers and +the most seductive fascinations of immorality, masquerading +under the guise of religion in the licentious rites of the +heathen temples and groves. What could this missionary +do? What could he preach? If philosophy, if art, if +beauty could have saved the souls of men then they would +not have needed the gospel which Paul preached. But +this was a gilded age, and the gilding hid the corruption, +beneath. The message of Paul to the men in this charmed +circle of civilization was the same that he had set forth +in the rough mountain towns of Asia Minor. Human +nature, under a rough or a polished exterior, is the same +the world over. Paul was seeking men, to bring them to +a knowledge of their alienation from God through sin, and +to show them the way of salvation through repentance and +faith in Jesus Christ? Greece, over whom the Romans +held sway at this time, had been divided into two parts: +Achaia on the south and Macedonia on the north. A +great Roman road ran from east to west through Macedonia. +It was by this road that the missionaries traveled. + +1. Philippi (Acts 16:12-40) will be forever memorable +as the first city in Europe in which a Christian church +was established. It had the character of a Roman rather +than a Greek city; both the civil and the military authorities +being Roman. It had the rank of a Roman colony. +Situated as it was on the great Egnatian way travelers +and traders passed through it, eastward and westward, +from all parts of the Roman world. "The Greek character +in this northern province of Macedonia was more +vigorous and much less corrupted than in the more +polished society of the south. The churches which Paul +established here gave him more comfort than any he +established elsewhere." The beginning of the work at Philippi +was not very promising and to most men would have been +very discouraging. Luke tells us that "on the Sabbath +we went out of the city by a riverside where prayer was +wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the +women which resorted hither." But there they met +Lydia, an energetic business woman and a work was +begun which has had far reaching consequences. Paul +and his company had been but a short time in the city +when they came in conflict with the Roman authorities. +A damsel, possessed with a spirit of divination, who +brought much gain to her masters, testified to Paul and +his work; this spirit Paul cast out and in consequence the +owners of the girl brought the charge against Paul and +Silas that they were Jews who taught customs not lawful +for Romans to receive. Notice, the shrewdness of the +trumped-up charge against Paul and Silas. Nothing is +said about the real state of the case. In this charge the +status of the Jews is shown in this city. Paul and Silas +are beaten and thrown into prison; their feet are made +fast in the stocks; their wounds are left unwashed and +undressed. But in the earthquake, which opens the +prison doors and gives release to the prisoners, Paul has +an opportunity to preach the gospel to the jailer. How +magnificently, forgetting himself, he sets forth the way of +salvation through Christ! We turn to the Epistle to the +Philippians (see Study 9) to see how Paul loved this +church, and how this church loved him. + +2. Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9). Thinking it best +to leave Philippi, Paul and his company passed on their +way along the Egnatian road through the two beautiful +Greek cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, +distant about seventy-three miles from Philippi. +Thessalonica is one of the few cities which has retained its +importance up to the present time. It was founded by +Cassander, King of Macedon in 315 B.C. It came under +the Roman rule in 168 B.C. In Paul's time it was a +great commercial center, the inhabitants being Greeks, +Romans, and Jews. Here was a Jewish synagogue and +for three Sabbath days Paul went into it and reasoned +with the assembled Jews about Jesus Christ, declaring to +them that He was the promised Messiah, and had suffered +and was risen from the dead. We have the same results +here which followed similar preaching elsewhere +(1 Thess. 1:8). Out of the storm again emerges a +Christian church. Paul and his company, after the +usual tumult, pass on to another city but the church +remains to send its blessed influence through all that +region. The Epistles to the Thessalonians (see Study 7) +give us some graphic pictures of the converts and their +ways of working. + +3. Berea (Acts 17:10-14) was a secluded inland city. +It must have been somewhat of a surprise to Paul to find +the Jews of this place so ready to receive the Word of +God, which he preached to them in their synagogue. +There was great searching of the Scriptures and many +believed. A large work was in progress when Jews from +Thessalonica, hearing of the success of Paul in Berea, +came down and stirred up the people against him. It +became quite evident now that there was a persistent and +organized effort being made to drive Paul out of this +section. As the opposition seemed to be directed against +Paul alone, the brethren proposed to send him away, and +to have Silas and Timotheus remain for a short time. +This plan was carried out. + +4. Athens (Acts 17:15-34) was the most cultivated +city of the old world; a statue was set upon every +corner and an altar in every street. "Here the human +mind had blazed forth with a splendor it has never +exhibited elsewhere. In the golden age of its history +Athens possessed more men of the very highest genius +than have ever lived in any other city. To this day their +names invest her with glory. Yet even in Paul's day the +living Athens was a thing of the past. Four hundred +years had elapsed since its golden age, and in the course +of these centuries it had experienced a sad decline. +Philosophy had degenerated into sophistry, art into dilettanteism, +oratory into rhetoric, poetry into verse making. It +was a city living on its past." Paul entered into the open +places where the people gathered and talked with them. +So much interest was aroused by what he had to say that +he was asked to speak to them upon Mars Hill. Thither +they all went. Paul as his custom was sought a common +starting point in the altar to the unknown God. So long +as he spoke of God and man in general terms he was +listened to, but when he came to touch their hearts and +consciences and to apply what he said, speaking of the +judgment through Christ and His resurrection from the +dead, he was left alone. Paul did not fail, the trouble +with the Athenians was that they possessed only intellectual +curiosity; they had no appetite for the truth. But +still some converts were made. "Certain men clave unto +him and believed; among whom were Dionysius the +Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with +them" (Acts 17:34). + +5. Corinth. (Acts 18:1-18) was the largest and most +important city in Greece. From Athens Paul came to +Corinth and remained over a year and a half. We have +a graphic picture of this church in the Epistles to the +Corinthians. (See Study 8.) Probably no better place +than this highway of all peoples could have been selected +in which to preach the gospel. No one knew better than +Paul how to select strategic places. A stream of travelers, +merchants, scholars, and sailors was constantly passing +through this great commercial city; what was preached +here would be carried to the ends of the earth. It was a +city of art and culture and yet a place where the vices of +the east and west met and held high carnival. Religion +itself was put to ignoble uses; a thousand priestesses +ministered to a base worship in the magnificent temple of +the goddess Aphrodite. Greek philosophy showed its +decay in endless discussions about words and the tendency +to set intellectual above moral distinctions. There was a +denial of the future life for the sake of unlimited +enjoyment in the present. Paul, when he came into the city, +found a lodging with Aquila and his wife Priscilla, and +wrought with them at the occupation of tent making. +When Silas and Timotheus joined him he openly testified +to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. Crispus, the chief +ruler of the synagogue, was converted together with many +Corinthians. Paul was comforted at this time by a vision +of the Lord which bade him to speak and not to hold his +peace. After a year and a half of earnest preaching an +attempt was made by the Jews to drive Paul out of the +city by bringing accusations against him before the Roman +proconsul Gallio, but in this they were unsuccessful. Paul +tarried and worked here until it seemed best for him to +turn his steps homeward again to Antioch. The keynote +of his preaching in this city is given by him in his First +Epistle to the Corinthians where he says (2:2), "For I +determined not to know anything among you save Jesus +Christ and him crucified." If this gospel could win +converts in Corinth, it can win converts anywhere. + ++The Return Voyage+ (Acts 18:18-22) was by way of +Ephesus where he entered into the synagogue and +reasoned with the Jews. Leaving Ephesus he sailed for +Cæsarea where he landed. After he had gone up and +saluted the church he went down to Antioch. + + +QUESTIONS + +Who proposed the second missionary journey? Who were the +companions? What can be said of the wide scope? What was +its value to the world? Time and Rulers? What can be said of +the new departure in writing Epistles to the churches? What can +be said of the itinerary through Asia Minor? Give the incidents, +of preaching the gospel, that occurred during the trip in Europe, +in the different cities; Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and +Corinth. How was the return voyage made? + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Scripture, Acts 13:1-28:31_ + + +STUDY V + +THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 18:23-21:17_ + +ANALYSIS + ++Third Missionary Journey+--Method. The Chief City. Time +and Extent. Epistles Written. + ++Itinerary+--Through Galatia and Phygia. Ephesus. Through +Macedonia and Greece. The Return Voyage. + + + +[Illustration: Outline map illustrating the third +missionary journey of Paul and the voyage to Italy.] + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Acts 13:1-38:31_ + + +STUDY V + +THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 18:23-21:17_ + ++Method.+--A study of the three missionary journeys +shows the method of evangelization of the ancient world. +The first journey was comparatively near home. The +second was a review of the work done in the first and a +pushing on to new work in Asia Minor and the larger +conquests in Europe. In the third we have a review visit +to the churches of Asia Minor, a long stop at Ephesus, +and a review visit to the churches of Macedonia and +Achaia, which were organized upon the second missionary +journey. There was always a method in what Paul +did. He was not only a missionary preaching and testifying +to Jesus Christ, but he was an organizer and leader of +men. The churches formed were visited again and again; +messengers were sent to them to instruct, to chide, and +to encourage them; circular and special letters from +Paul's own hand were dispatched to them, when occasion +required. Wherever Paul preached, whatever might be +the tumults raised, he always won some adherents for +Jesus Christ, who were brought together and organized +into a church. + +On this third journey he was already planning to go to +Rome (Acts 19:21) and wrote an epistle to the Romans +announcing his coming (Rom. 1:7, 15). + ++The Chief City+, in which Paul spent most of his time +(Acts 19:1, 8, 10), between two and three years upon +this journey, was Ephesus in Asia Minor. This city +situated midway between the extreme points of his former +missionary journeys was a place where he could have an +intelligent oversight over all the work which he had +previously accomplished. + +Ephesus has been thus described: "It had been one +of the early Greek colonies, later the capital of Ionia, and +in Paul's day it was by far the largest and busiest of all +the cities of proconsular Asia. All the roads in Asia +Minor centered in Ephesus and from its position it was +almost as much a meeting place of eastern and western +thought as Alexandria. Its religion was oriental. Its +goddess called Artemis or Diana, had a Greek name but +was the representative of an old Phrygian nature worship. +The goddess was an inartistic, many-breasted figure, the +body carved with strange figures of animals, flowers, and +fruits. The temple built by Alexander the Great was +the most magnificent religious edifice in the world. It +was kept by a corporation of priests and priestesses, who +were supported by the rents of vast estates. For +centuries Ephesus was a great center of pilgrimage, and +pilgrims came from all parts of Asia to visit the famous +shrine." + +"The first great blow which this worship received was +given by Paul during his two years' stay in Ephesus, and +the story told in this chapter is the history of the +beginning of a decline from which the worship of Diana never +recovered. The speech of Demetrius perhaps exaggerates +the effects of Paul's work, but it should be remembered +that the gospel took firm hold of proconsular Asia +from a very early period. Paul's Epistles tell us of the +churches in Ephesus, Laodicea, and Colossæ, and the +Apocalypse adds churches in Pergamos, Smyrna, Thyatira, +Sardis, and Philadelphia. Half a century later, Pliny +asserted that in this region the temples were deserted, +the worship was neglected, and the sacrificial victims were +unsold." + +During his long stay in Ephesus, Paul doubtless received +many delegations and visitors from the churches formerly +organized by him. + +The character of the Ephesian Christians can be seen +from the Epistle addressed to them (See Study 9). + ++Time and Extent.+--About four years, 54-58 A.D., +were occupied by Paul in going about among the churches +and about 3,500 miles were traveled. + ++Epistles.+--This journey was prolific in masterly +writings. Paul wrote the First and Second Epistles to the +Corinthians from Ephesus about 57 A.D., Galatians from +the same city (somewhere between 54 and 56 A.D.), and +Romans at Corinth in 58 A.D. (See Study 8). + + +ITINERARY + ++Through Galatia and Phrygia+ (Acts 18:23).--After +Paul had spent some time at Antioch, at the close +of the second missionary journey, "He departed and +went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order +strengthening all the disciples." Thus Luke briefly sums +up in a few words all the incidents of a journey of +hundreds of miles of travel. + ++Ephesus+ (Acts 19:1-20:1).--Evidently with the +purpose of showing what is new and of chief importance in +each journey Luke, as is his habit, calls attention to the +work of Paul in Ephesus; other parts of this journey are +passed over with slight mention. + +Having gone through the upper coasts, Paul comes to +Ephesus. The chief events in this city, during the visit +of the Apostle, were: + +1. The incident of the work of Apollos is given (Acts +18:24-19:1) to show how Paul found about twelve +disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:7) at Ephesus and +instructed them further, baptizing them in the name of +the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5, compare Acts 19:1-7). + +2. Three months were spent by Paul (Acts 19:8, 9) +with the Jews in their synagogue, "disputing and persuading +the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." But +when certain of them became hardened and it was plainly +seen that little good was being done he left the synagogue. + +3. About two years' time was given, after the apostle +had separated himself and followers from the Jewish +synagogue, to teaching in the school or lecture room of +Tyrannus (Acts 19:9, 10). The result of this preaching +and teaching was that a great multitude of men and +women was brought to a confession of faith in Christ, +throughout Asia. + +4. The mighty growth of the Word of God (Acts +19:20) was attested by the miracles which Paul did in the +name of Christ (Acts 19:11, 12). He confounded the +Jewish exorcists, who attempted to imitate these miracles +(Acts 19:13-20). This great work was shown to be a +thorough one from the fact that many who used curious +arts brought their books and burned them amounting in +value to over $31,000. + +5. Paul now proposed, thinking the Ephesian church +could stand alone (Acts 19:21, 22), "after he had passed +through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Jerusalem, +saying, after I have been there, I must also see Rome." In +anticipation of this visit he sent Timotheus and Erastus +into Macedonia, "but he himself stayed in Asia for a +season." + +6. The tumult made by Demetrius (Acts 19:23-40) is +a strong proof of the large impression made by the gospel +of Jesus Christ upon not only the city of Ephesus but all +Asia Minor. The burning of the magical books had +arrested the attention of many people, but when the sale +of the silver images of the idol, Diana, began to fall off +so as to touch the trade of the silversmiths they were up +in arms at once. Demetrius showed how the power of +Christ had prevailed with men when he declared that, +"Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, +saying that there be no gods which are made with +hands." The violence of the men who composed the mob showed +how deeply Christianity had taken hold upon large +numbers of people. Paul, after the uproar had quieted down, +carried out his intention of departing for Macedonia. + ++Through Macedonia and Greece+ (Acts 21:1-6).--"The +order of events seems to have been: (a) Timotheus +and Erastus were sent to look after the church discipline +at Corinth (Acts 19:22). Stephanas and others came +from Corinth and returned with the First Epistle to the +Corinthians (1 Cor. 16:17). (b) Paul meant to visit +Corinth (1 Cor. 4:18, 19); instead he went to Macedonia +by Troas (2 Cor. 2:12, 13). (c) He waited at Troas +for news from Corinth, and his anxiety told on his health +(2 Cor. 2:12; 1:8; 4:10, 11; 12:7). (d) In spite of +illness he pressed on to Macedonia (2 Cor. 2:13), where +he met Titus, who brought him good news of the state of +the Corinthian church (2 Cor. 7:5-9). (e) He wrote +the Second Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it by Titus, +and resolved to wait sometime longer before going to +Corinth, for he wished to take a contribution from the +Corinthians to Jerusalem (2 Cor. 9:1-5). (f) In Macedonia +he probably visited Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi, +with perhaps a journey to Illyricum (Rom. 15:19). +(g) He went to Greece (Corinth and Cenchrea). (h) +He proposed sailing for Syria with the contributions of +the various churches, and with delegates who carried +the money; Sopater from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus +from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timotheus from +Lystra, Tychicus and Trophimus from Ephesus (Acts +20:4; 21:29). (i) The Jews of Corinth conspired to +murder Paul on his embarkation, so his friends went by +ship, and he eluded the conspirators by going by land to +Philippi. (j) Then he took ship for Troas, having Luke +who had been at Philippi for his companion ("We +sailed"). + ++The Return Journey,+ Troas to Jerusalem (Acts 20:6-21:15). + +1. Troas. Luke and Paul were five days in reaching +Troas, from Philippi, where they found a number of the +brethren who had preceded them (Acts 20:6, compare +Acts 20:4-6). Seven days were spent at Troas (Acts +20:6). We have here the record of how the disciples +spent the Sabbath day in breaking bread together and in +listening to the preaching of Paul. (Acts 20:7-12). This +last day here came near being marred by Eutychus meeting his +death, when he fell down from the third loft. But +Paul was there and Eutychus's life was spared. The +meeting did not break up until the next morning, so +interested were they in talking over "The Way." + +2. Troas to Miletus (Acts 20:13-15). Paul's +company went by ship first to Assos, where Paul met them; +he having covered the distance of about twenty miles on +foot. At Assos Paul joined the company on the ship and +they sailed from Assos to Mitylene. "And we sailed +thence," says Luke, "and came the next day over against +Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried +at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus." + +3. At Miletus (Acts 20:17-38) Paul sent for the elders +of the Ephesian church to come to him. When they +came he spoke to them in a very touching and tender +way. This address has been divided into four parts: (a) +What was behind Paul; he called them to witness that he +had been faithful in declaring to them the full gospel of +Jesus Christ, repentance toward God and faith in the +Lord Jesus Christ. (b) What was before Paul; he said +that in every city the Holy Ghost witnessed that bonds +and afflictions awaited him. (c) What was before the +elders of the Ephesian church; it was theirs to take care +of the flock over which they presided and "to feed the +church of God." (d) Commendation of the elders to +God in their good work. (e) Paul's earnest prayer for +their welfare. (f) The farewell words. + +4. Miletus to Cæsarea and Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-15) +by way of Coos, Rhodes, Patara, Tyre, and Cæsarea. +At Tyre there was a wait of seven days and a change of +ships; in this city it was testified to Paul that he should +not go up to Jerusalem. At the parting, when Paul and +his company took ship to go to Cæsarea, the disciples of +Tyre came out to see them off and all kneeled down +on the shore and prayed. At Cæsarea where Paul's +company tarried many days, it was again made known to +Paul by the Holy Ghost that bonds and imprisonment +awaited him at Jerusalem, but still he pressed on saying, +"The will of the Lord be done." Arriving in Jerusalem +they were gladly received by the brethren. + + +QUESTIONS + +What was the method of evangelizing the ancient world? +How did the three missionary journeys differ from each other? +What can be said of the chief city in which Paul spent so much +of the time of this journey? Time and extent of this journey? +What Epistles were written? Give the chief incidents of the +itinerary; through Galatia and Phrygia; in Ephesus; through +Macedonia and Greece; the return voyage. + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Scripture, Acts 13:1-28:31_ + + +STUDY VI + +JERUSALEM TO ROME + +_Acts 21:17-28:31_ + +ANALYSIS + ++This Journey+--From Jerusalem to Rome. The Seven Speeches. +The Writings. Time and Extent. The Historical Connections. + ++Paul at Jerusalem+--The Return to Jerusalem. The Meeting +with James and the Elders of the Church. The Temple Riot. +The Speech of Paul to the Rioters. Before the Jewish +Council. Paul Comforted by God. Conspiracy of Jewish +Fanatics. + ++Paul at Cæsarea+--The First Defense, before Jewish Accusers +and the Roman Governor Felix. Second Defense, before +Felix. Third Defense, before Festus. Fourth Defense, +before Festus and King Agrippa II. + ++The Voyage to Rome+--Cæsarea to Myra. Myra to Melita. Melita +to Rome. + ++Paul at Rome+--Testifying to the Jews. Testifying to the +Gentiles. Incidental Notices of the Imprisonment. The Further +Travels of Paul. + + + + +II. PAUL'S JOURNEYS + +_Scripture, Acts 13:2-28:31_ + + +STUDY VI + +JERUSALEM TO ROME + +_Scripture, Acts 21:11-28:31_ + +THIS JOURNEY + +_Scripture, Acts 21:17-28:31_ + ++From Jerusalem to Rome.+--This portion of the book +of the Acts comprises more than one quarter of the whole, +or seven and a half chapters. There must have been +some important purpose to be served by thus relating so +fully the incidents of this period in Paul's life; for Luke +elsewhere narrates only the incidents of the missionary +journeys which are of great interest. It may be that his +purpose was to show, with the full connecting incidents, +how clearly and strongly Paul testified, to the Jews in the +temple (Acts 22:1-23), and before the Roman tribunal +(Acts 25:13, 14, 26; 26:1-32), that Jesus was the +Christ. Jesus himself, before his death, gave the same +testimony to the Sanhedrin (Matt. 26:63, 64; Mark 14:61, +62; Luke 22:67-69), and the Roman tribunal (John +18:33-37). The testimony of Paul was further carried to +imperial Rome, the capital of the world (Acts 28:17-24). + ++The Seven Speeches.+--The last recorded addresses of +the Great Apostle are a striking feature of this period. +They show his faith after it had been tried and tested in +his toilsome years of missionary labors. They reveal the +courage and character of the man in that they were given +when he was in bonds and in imminent peril of his life. + +1. The speech before the Jewish mob in the temple +(Acts 22:1-29) in which Paul tells the Jews how he was +changed from a persecutor to a believer in Christ. He +relates also the story of his conversion. + +2. The speech before the Jewish council (Acts 22:30; +23:1-10) in which he creates confusion by raising the +question of the resurrection. But the provocation was +great for the high-priest had commanded that Paul be +smitten on the mouth when he began to speak. + +3. The speech before Felix, the Roman governor +(Acts 24:10-22) in which he makes his defense against +Jewish accusers, and affirms his belief in the new "Way" +and in the resurrection. + +4. The speech before Felix and Brasilia, his wife, +(Acts 24:24-27). Paul, being sent for by Felix to tell +him of his faith in Christ, reasons "of righteousness, +temperance, and judgment to come." + +5. The speech before Festus the Roman governor +(Acts 25:7-11) in which Paul appeals to Cæsar. + +6. The speech before Festus, the Roman governor, +and King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice, (Acts 25:13; +26:1-32). Here Paul again relates the story of his +conversion and shows that Jesus is the Christ. + +7. The speech before the chief Jews in Rome (Acts +28:17-31) showing that Jesus is the Christ. + ++The Writings.+--During the two years' imprisonment +of Paul in Cæsarea we have no account of any Epistles +written by him. But when he arrives in Rome he again +begins to indite those writings which have made his name +so famous. From his prison in Rome he sent out four +letters which have been called, "The Epistles of the First +Imprisonment"; Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and +Philippians (See Chapter 9). For profound expositions +of the Christian doctrines, lofty ethical teaching, and +mellowness of feeling they stand unequalled. + ++Time and Extent.+--Paul arrived in Jerusalem in 58 +A.D. He was imprisoned two years in Cæsarea, 58 to +60 A.D. The voyage to Rome was in the winter of 60 +and 61 A D. He was imprisoned in Rome two years, 61 +to 63 A.D. In extent the journey which Paul took from +Cæsarea to Rome was about 2,300 miles. + ++The Historical Connections.+--Nero was Emperor of +Rome (since 54 A.D.). Felix was Procurator of Judea +from 51 to 60 A.D., when he was succeeded by Festus. +We fix the date of Paul's going to Rome by the fact that +when Festus came in 60 A.D., he made his appeal to +Cæsar. + + +PAUL AT JERUSALEM + ++The Return+ to Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-23:23) was at +the feast of Pentecost when it was crowded with strangers +from all parts of the world. Paul had been warned not +to come back to this city (Acts 21:10-14) and it might +have been possible for him to have remained away, passing +the last years of his life in high honor and peace as +the Great Apostle and Head of the Gentile churches. +But he seems to have felt it incumbent upon him to return +to Jerusalem and testify for his faith (Acts 21:14), and to +carry alms (Acts 24:17). Paul was now about sixty +years of age and for more than ten years had been +engaged in the most arduous missionary labors, enduring +stonings, beatings, and contumelies of all kinds, for the +sake of preaching Jesus Christ. More than twenty years +had elapsed since his conversion; and before his +well-known three missionary journeys he had been actively +engaged in the work which he loved so well. In his body +he must have borne the marks of these incessant labors, +but his spirit was as fresh and undaunted as ever. +Whatever awaited him in Jerusalem he was ready for it. + ++The Meeting with James and the Elders of the +Church+ (Acts 21:17-25) seems to have been a pleasant +one. Paul told his story of the wonders wrought in the +Gentile world, and God was glorified, but there seems to +have been a certain constraint upon the company. Paul +was well known everywhere as an exponent of that liberty +in Christ by which the Gentiles when they became +Christians were not obliged to become Jews and obey the laws +of Moses. We find the elders, while freely admitting +the binding nature of the decision of the Jerusalem +Council upon this matter, advising him to show the +many thousands of Jews who believed and kept the law, +that he himself still held to the observance of the law. +Hence the urgency with which they requested him to +purify himself in the temple, with certain men who had +a vow, so that the Jews might see that he was not a +renegade. The consequences of this advice soon became +evident. + ++The Temple Riot and Paul's Imprisonment+ (Acts +21:26-39).--When the days of purification for his +companions were almost completed some Jews of Asia saw +him and at once raised a great tumult. It is a wonder +that he was not seen and recognized earlier. Doubtless +the Asian Jews had been restrained in their own cities +from wreaking their hatred upon Paul to the full, by the +strong arm of the Roman magistrate. At once a great +outcry was raised and Paul would have fared badly if he +had not been rescued by the Roman soldiers, to be +imprisoned by them. + ++The Speech of Paul to the Rioters+ (Acts 21:40-22:23).--He +requested that he be permitted to speak to +this angry crowd of fanatic Jews, who were howling for +his life. What would he say? What defense could he +make? Listen to him! He is telling the story of his life +and conversion, on the way to Damascus. He is glorifying +Jesus and urging them to believe in Him. There is +not one word about the indignities that have been heaped +upon himself. This personal testimony in this city where +Paul had been the chief persecutor was wonderful. But +as the Jews had demanded the life of Christ, when he was +upon earth and testified to His mission, so now they +demanded the life of Paul. + ++Before the Jewish Council+ (Acts 22:24-23:10).--Paul, +rescued from the clutches of the mob, would have +been scourged by the Romans had he not declared himself +a Roman. On the morrow, taken before the Sanhedrin, +and seeing no hope of any justice being done him, he sets +one party of it over against the other by declaring that he +was a Pharisee and "of the hope of the resurrection of +the dead I am called in question." So great was the +dissension that arose over this matter that Paul was faring +badly when he was rescued by the chief captain and his +soldiers. + ++Paul Comforted by God+ (Acts 23:10).--Paul must +have been quite worn out with the tumults and mobs of +the last two days. The encouragement of God speaking +to him and telling him to be of good cheer, and that as he +had testified of Him in Jerusalem, he must also bear +witness in Rome, put a new heart in him. It had been +Paul's great desire to visit Rome and preach Christ in +that city (Rome 1:11-15; Acts 19:21). + ++Conspiracy of Jewish Fanatics+ (Acts 23:10-30).--The +mad hatred of the Jews against Paul is shown by +more than forty men binding themselves under a curse to +kill him. The astonishing thing about this conspiracy is +that the conspirators showed what they proposed to do to +the chief priests and elders and asked their aid to bring +Paul down for another examination that they might kill +him. The plot was brought to naught by Paul's nephew, +who heard of it and told Paul. This information was at +once given to the chief captain, who determined to send +Paul away that night to the Roman governor at Cæsarea. +It was a large escort, 200 legionaries, 200 light armed +troops, skirmishers, and 70 cavalry, which was sent out +with Paul. This great company of soldiers showed the +immanent danger in which Paul stood at this time. + + +PAUL AT CÆSAREA + +_Scripture, Acts 23:33-27:1_ + +Paul now comes under Roman jurisdiction and remains +for two years (Acts 24:27) a prisoner in Cæsarea. He +is not kept in close confinement and his friends are +allowed to see him (Acts 24:23). Who came to see +him of these friends and what they talked about Luke +does not tell us. Our attention seems to be purposely +directed to the defense which Paul made of his faith and +work before the Roman governors, Felix and Festus, and +the Jewish King Agrippa II. As Pilate had seen no just +cause why Christ should be condemned to death, so Felix +and Festus, when Paul had testified of his faith in Christ +before them, saw no reason why he should suffer the +death penalty. + ++The First Defense; before Jewish Accusers and the +Roman Governor, Felix+ (Acts 23:33-24:23).--Awaiting +the coming of his accusers from Jerusalem Paul was +kept in Herod's judgment hall. After five days Ananias, +with the elders, and an orator, named Tertullus, came to +Cæsarea, and charged Paul with being "a mover of +sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a +ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes"; they also accused +him of profaning the temple. + +Paul being beckoned by the governor to speak replied +in answer to the charges made against him: (a) That +Felix, who has been governor so long (since 51 A.D.), +must know from personal knowledge, that he had not been +engaged in any sedition and that this charge could not be +proved against him. It had only been twelve days since +he went up to Jerusalem and a number of them had been +spent in Roman custody. During this period there had +been no time to plot against the government. (b) While +he worshipped God after the way that they called heresy, +yet he believed all that was written in the law and the +prophets. He had come he said "after many years to +bring alms to my nation, and offerings." It was true +that certain Jews had found him "purified in the temple, +neither with multitude, nor with tumult." These ought +to have been present and to have testified to these things. +(c) He denied that he had committed any sacrilege. +When he was seized in the temple he was in the very act +of performing a portion of the worship prescribed by the +Mosaic law. (d) The knowledge of those present "went +no further than that they had heard him declare his belief +in the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead" (Acts +22:30-23:1-6). Upon the conclusion of Paul's argument, +Felix adjourned the case until Lysias, the chief +captain, should come down and give his testimony. + +_Second Defense; before Felix and his Wife, Drusilla_ +(Acts 24:24-27).--This was evidently a private +hearing of Paul of his faith in Christ. There was ample +reason for the trembling of Felix when Paul "reasoned +of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come." Felix +was a notoriously unjust ruler who had taken bribes, +murdered a high-priest and, relying upon the influence of +his infamous brother Pallas at Rome, was steeped in +crimes. He had induced his wife Drusilla to desert her +husband to marry him. Felix showed his character when +he sent for Paul a number of times and communed with +him, hoping to receive a bribe. When recalled to Rome +in consequence of repeated complaints of his misadministration +of justice he, "willing to show the Jews a pleasure, +left Paul bound." + ++Third Defense; before Festus, the New Governor+ +(Acts 25:1-12).--Festus, Josephus tells us, was one of +the best procurators of Judea. He was appointed by +Nero in the year 60 A.D., and died two years after this. +He is importuned by "the high-priest and the chief of the +Jews, as soon as he takes office, to send Paul back to +Jerusalem (in order that he might be killed on the way +thither). Festus replies that they are to come to Cæsarea +and there make their accusations against Paul. When +they are come and Festus sits on the judgment seat they +make "many and grievous complaints against Paul which +they could not prove." Paul's answer is: neither against +the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet +against Cæsar, have I offended in anything at all." But +Festus showed, notwithstanding his many good traits, a +decided leaning toward Paul's accusers. When therefore +Festus asked Paul if he would go back to Jerusalem and +be there judged before the Sanhedrin, Paul recognizes the +hopelessness of his case and exercised his right as a +Roman citizen in taking an appeal to the judgment seat +of Cæsar. This right of appeal was one of the most +important prerogatives of the Roman citizen; he had only +to say the word, "Appello" and proceedings must at once +be stopped; his case must go to the court of the emperor. +In exercising this appeal Paul very justly said that if he +had done anything worthy of death he was willing to die, +but if the charges made against him by the Jewish +high-priest and elders were not true he ought not to be +delivered up to them. + ++Fourth Defense; before Festus and King Agrippa II.+--In +Acts 25:13-27 we have an account of the visit of +Jewish King Agrippa II. to Festus and the statement of +the latter in regard to the case of Paul. Festus is at a +loss what to write about the prisoner, to the imperial +court (Acts 25:25-27), the accusations of the Jews +having failed of proof. To send a prisoner to Cæsar and +not be able to state clearly what his crime was might +involve Festus in difficulties. Agrippa, as a Jew, might +be able to give some light upon this matter. The +question seemed to be in regard to religious freedom. Rome +did not allow religious liberty. The Jewish religion, +however, was licensed as one of the forms under which men +were allowed to worship God in the Roman empire. +Agrippa might be able to solve this question as to whether +Paul was or was not within his legal rights and the +Christianity which he professed be as legal as Judaism. + +Paul in his argument (Acts 26:1-29) before Festus +and King Agrippa II., took the ground that Christianity, +as an outgrowth of Judaism, had a legal status. Paul +said that he preached that the Messiah had come in the +person of Jesus Christ and this was the One whom Moses +and the prophets had foretold, (a) Paul's introduction +is very courteous. He recognizes King Agrippa as well +versed "in all customs and questions which are among +the Jews." (b) He declares his early life to be well known, +as a Jew, and, of the strictest sect, a Pharisee. (c) He +stands accused because he believes that the Messiah, whom +all Jews are praying may come, has come. (c) Here, as +Prof. Lindsay says, in his commentary on the Acts, +"Agrippa may by look, word, or gesture have suggested, +A crucified Messiah! and Paul have answered, No, but a +risen Redeemer! Is it incredible that God should raise +the dead?" Then Paul continues saying, that he himself +was an enemy of Christ at first. (d) Paul proceeds with +his argument, giving his personal testimony, how this +risen Messiah had appeared to him on the way to +Damascus and what He had said to him. (e) Then he shows +how it had been foretold by the prophets and Moses that +Christ should suffer "and that He should be the first that +should rise from the dead, and should show forth light +unto the people, and to the Gentiles." + +The argument is over and after certain remarks, by +Festus and Agrippa which are characteristic of both men, +there is a conference and a decision rendered by the +Roman governor and Jewish King, "That this man doeth +nothing worthy of death or of bonds." But the appeal +to Cæsar cannot be set aside and Paul must go to Rome. + + +THE VOYAGE TO ROME + +_Scripture, Acts 21:1-28:31_ + +Paul now begins his long delayed trip to Rome not, +however, as he expected a free man, but as a prisoner. +He comes finally to Rome and there testifies of his faith +in Christ. His native force of character and Christian +graces bring him to the front upon this voyage and in the +time of shipwreck he takes over the command. + +Three ships convey him to Rome, one of which is cast +away on the island of Melita; if we follow the fortunes +of these three ships this section of Acts may be divided +into three parts: + ++Cæsarea to Myra+ (a city of Lycia) or the fortunes of +Paul upon the first ship (Acts 27:1-5). Aristarchus +and Luke were the companions who embarked with the +Great Apostle upon a ship of Adramyttium. Paul was +in charge of Julius, "a centurion of Augustus's band." The +first stop was at Sidon where Paul was given "liberty +to go unto his friends and refresh himself." The ship +then sailed for the city of Myra in Lycia passing to the +east and north of the island of Cyprus. + ++Myra to the Island of Melita+, or the fortunes of Paul +upon the second ship (27:6-28:10). Arrived at +the city of Myra the whole company changed ships, +re-embarking in a large ship which was probably engaged in +the grain carrying trade between Alexandria in Egypt and +Rome. This portion of the voyage was full of difficulties +from the beginning. From Myra to Cnidus (a peninsula +which projected from the Carian coast having Cos on the +north and Rhodes on the south) the progress against +baffling winds was slow. The first stop was made at Fair +Havens, a place upon the southern coast of Crete (the +modern Candia). It was here that Paul foretold the +serious danger to the ship if the voyage should be continued. +But the centurion taking the advice of the master and +owner of the ship, and because the harbour "was not +commodious to winter in," determined to make an attempt +to reach Phenice (a harbour west of Crete and upon the +same side of the island). The adventures that befell the +ship's company, and, the misfortune that came to the ship, +in the terrible fourteen days that followed after the +departure from Fair Havens are best understood through the +graphic language of Luke, an eye witness (Acts 27:14-44 +should be read carefully in this connection). It is in +this time of trial that Paul steps forth and shows his +mastery over men. Comforted himself by "the angel of +God" he comforts others in declaring that no harm shall +come to the lives of those in the ship. In the midst of +this great storm he alone is calm and able to insist that +his companions keep up their courage and strength, and +not to give away to despair. The island of Melita (the +modern Malta), where the shipwreck took place, lies +directly south of Sicily. The place where the Great +Apostle was cast ashore is now known as St. Paul's Bay. +The inhabitants of the island received the ship's company +"with no little kindness" and Paul engaged here in a +healing ministry, curing the father of Publius, the chief man +of the island, of a fever and many others of diseases. In +whatever place or circumstances Paul comes he at once +begins to exercise his Christian gifts. + ++The Island of Melita to Rome+, or the adventures of +Paul on the third ship (Acts 28:11-16). Three months +were spent at Melita. Then Paul and the company +embarked on another Alexandrian grain ship for Puteoli, +"eight miles southwest of Naples and the principal +harbour south of Rome in Paul's day." "It was the port +at which the Egyptian grain ships usually unloaded." There +were two stops made on the way to Puteoli, one at +Syracuse in Sicily and the other at Rhegium, at the +southern point of Italy. At Puteoli Paul found Christian +brethren with whom he remained for seven days. The +Roman Christians came but to meet Paul at Apii Forum, +forty-three miles, and the Three Taverns, thirty-three +miles from Rome. This expression of love and interest +in him and his welfare greatly cheered the heart of the +Apostle. + + +PAUL AT ROME + ++Testifying to the Jews+ (Acts 28:17-27).--After an +interval of only three days Paul called the chief of the +Jews together, and explained to them why he had been +sent to Rome. He declared that he had no accusation +to make against his nation to the Roman authorities, but +that he was a prisoner on account of his advocacy of the +hope of Israel fulfilled in Jesus Christ. But the Jews +replied that they had had no word about Paul from +Jerusalem. Desiring to hear more of what Paul had to say +about the Christians they appointed a day in which they +would hear Paul at his lodgings. This hearing was +evidently very thorough, and the usual division was made of +believing and unbelieving Jews. + ++Testifying to the Gentiles+ (Acts 28:28).--Paul +receiving no sufficient response to his words from the +Jews now turns his attention to the Gentiles. + ++The Two Years' Imprisonment+ (Acts 28:30, 31) was +spent in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, in his own +hired house, and receiving all who came to him. Although +Paul was a prisoner he was allowed complete freedom of +speech. + ++Incidental Notices of this Imprisonment+ are found in +the four Epistles which were written from Rome during +its continuance. Prof. J. R. Lumby, D.D. (Acts, +Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) says: "We know +from first to last the prisoner's chain hurt Paul (Eph. 3:1; +4:1; Phil. 1:13, 16; Col. 4:18; Philem. 1, 9, 10), and +that his cause was at times an object of much anxiety +(Phil. 2:23, 24). We also learn from the same letters +that besides Luke and Aristarchus (Acts 27:2; 28:15) he +had also the fellowship, for some time at least, of +Tychicus, who (Eph. 6:21) was the bearer of his letter to +Ephesus; of Timothy, whom (Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; +Philem. 1) he joins with himself in the greeting to the +churches of Philippi and Colossæ and also in that to +Philemon. In the former of these churches Timothy had +been a fellow laborer with the Apostle. Epaphroditus +came with the Philippian contributions to the aid of the +imprisoned Apostle (Phil. 4:18). Onesimus found out +Paul when in flight from his master he made his way to +Rome (Col. 4:9; Philem. 10). Mark, the cousin of +Barnabas, was also there and another Jewish convert, +Jesus, called Justus, of whom we only know that the +Apostle considered him worthy to be called a fellow +worker unto the kingdom of God (Col. 4:11). Epaphras +from the churches of Laodicea and Hieropolis, had come +to visit Paul, and to bring him greetings doubtless of the +Christians there, and carry back some words of earnest +council and advice from the Roman prisoner (Col. 4:12, +13). Last of all Demas was there to be mentioned +as having forsaken the good way through love of this +present world (Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10). More than +this and the few words in verses thirty and thirty-one, of +Acts 28, we do not know of this first imprisonment." His +spirit however was unsubdued through all his hardships +and he was ever exhorting the disciples of Christ to +rejoice in Him (Phil. 2:1, 2; 4:4). + ++The Further Travels of Paul+ are considered in Study 10. + + +QUESTIONS + +How much space does the account of this journey occupy in +the Acts, and why is so much given to it? What do the seven +speeches of Paul signify? What Epistles did Paul write while at +Rome? Give the time and extent of this journey. Give the +historical connections. Why did Paul return to Jerusalem? Give +an account of his meeting with James and the elders; the temple +riot; his speech to the rioters; and his speech before the Jewish +Council. How was Paul comforted by God? What was the +conspiracy of the Jewish fanatics? How long did Paul remain a +prisoner at Cæsarea? Give an account of his first defense before +his Jewish accusers, and the Roman governor Felix; his second +defense before Felix; his third defense before Festus; and his +fourth defense before Festus and King Agrippa II. Give an +account of the voyage to Rome; Cæsarea to Myra; Myra to +Melita; and Melita to Rome. What did Paul testify to the Jews +and Gentiles in Rome? Where do we find incidental notices of +this imprisonment? + + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY VII + +THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM + +FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES + +FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS + +ANALYSIS + ++Introduction to the Epistles of Paul+--Epistolary Writings. Some +Reasons for Paul's Writings. Qualifications of Paul. How +the Epistles are Best Understood. Titles and Groups. +Common Plan. Supreme Purpose. + ++The Future of Christ's Kingdom+--The First Group of Epistles. +The Chief Doctrinal Point. + ++The First Epistle to the Thessalonians+--The Founding of the +Church. Occasion, Time, and Place of Writing. Contents. +Analysis. + ++The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians+--Occasion, Time, and +Place of Writing. Principal Divisions and Chief Points. + + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY VII + +THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM + +FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES + +THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS + +INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLES OF PAUL + ++Epistolary Writings.+--The New Testament is +composed of twenty-seven books, twenty-one of which are +Epistles. Of this latter number thirteen are ascribed to +Paul. It is thus seen how largely the New Testament is +made up of Epistles and how many of these are attributed +to the Great Apostle. + +In the letters of men of great prominence and power +of any age we get closer to the real condition of the affairs +of that age than by any other means. In this way, we +get information at first hand from the participants in the +events of which they write. It is fortunate for us that +we have this first hand material with which to deal, when +we come to study the early growth and development of +Christianity. + +By means of the New Testament Epistles (which are +real letters and written with a definite purpose in view) +we look directly into the faith, the customs, and practices +of the early Christian churches. We see how they were +organized and how they conducted their services. We +see the marvelous changes wrought in the lives and +characters of the converts. We note that the triumphs of faith +were won through a belief in the Divine Son of God and +the power of the Holy Ghost. The struggles and difficulties +of these early Christians in coming out of heathenism +are depicted in a masterly way. Paul, in his endeavor +to guide aright the churches, of which he had been the +spiritual father, shows what he believes and teaches about +God, the Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, sin, redemption, and the +future state of the soul. In these letters the incidental +and indirect references to the doctrines taught, and the +customs of the early churches, are as valuable as the direct. + ++Some Reasons for Paul's Writings.+--The Apostle +was the founder of churches over a large area of territory. +He soon realized, however, that it was impossible to visit +them as often as he desired and as frequently as he +ought. Many of the converts had come out of heathenism +and needed doctrinal and ethical instruction in the +way of Christ. They also needed encouragement, +comfort, and sometimes sharp correction for outbreaking sins. +As means of communication were open and easy along +the well kept Roman roads, what was more natural than +that Paul should begin to write letters which were not +only to be read by the particular churches to which they +were addressed, but passed on to the other churches. + ++Qualifications of Paul.+ + +1. Intellectual. He was not only pre-eminent as a +missionary, but even more remarkable as a writer. "He +was the greatest thinker of his age, if not of any age, +who in the midst of his outward labors was producing +writings which have ever since been among the mightiest +intellectual forces of the world and are still growing." + +2. Spiritual. He had been converted in a wonderful +way and had received a special revelation from Christ +(Acts 9:3-15; 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:11, 12). He had +been called to his great work among the Gentiles by Christ +and the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:15; 13:2). He was +absolutely absorbed in the work of Christ and in making +known His gospel. + ++How the Epistles are Best Understood.+--Each one +should be studied in the light of the occasion which called +it forth and in connection with the church, group of +churches, or the individual to which it is addressed. + ++Titles and Groups.+--The thirteen Epistles fall naturally +into four groups; in each of which is set forth some +great doctrinal and ethical truth. + +First Group, First and Second Thessalonians. "These +Epistles are short, simple, and practical. They may be +regarded as illustrating Paul's earlier missionary instruction +to his converts--hence the name 'Missionary Epistles,' +sometimes applied to them. They treat of but one +doctrinal subject--the second coming of Christ." It should +be borne in mind, however, that Paul speaks of Jesus +Christ as "The Lord," "Our Lord," about twenty-five +times in First Thessalonians; this shows how thoroughly +he believed in the Deity of Christ. + +Second Group, Galatians, First and Second Corinthians +and Romans. "This group is the great repertory of +Paul's doctrinal and ethical teaching. Galatians and +Romans deal chiefly with his doctrine of justification by +faith. They are designed to disprove the current Jewish +teaching (which was invading the churches) that men +might be saved by obedience to the Mosaic law. On the +contrary Paul maintained that the sole basis of salvation +is the grace of God to be appropriated by faith on man's +part." + +Third Group, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and +Philippians. "This group is predominantly Christological. +Errors had invaded the churches addressed, which +tended to degrade the person and work of Christ, and the +Apostle writes with a view to showing his pre-eminence +and saving power, so that the readers may be induced to +keep their allegiance to Christ and His gospel." + +Fourth Group, First Timothy, Titus and Second Timothy. +"These are called 'The Pastoral Epistles,' and were +designed to instruct Timothy and Titus as +superintendents of the churches +in Ephesus and Crete, and were thus +semi-official in character. But they have also a strong +personal element and a tone of warm sympathy and +affection." The above characterization of the four groups of +these Epistles by Prof. G. B. Stevens is brief and to the +point. + ++Common Plan.+--The plan in all of Paul's Epistles, +with slight variations, is much the same. The outlines of +these letters fall uniformly into six divisions. "First, a +greeting sometimes very brief, sometimes extending over +several verses, in which he generally manages with +consummate skill to strike the keynote of the whole letter. +Secondly, a thanksgiving to God for the Christian gifts +and graces of his converts. Thirdly, a doctrinal part, in +which he argues out or explains some great topic of +Christian truth, specially required by the condition of the +church to which he is writing. Fourthly, a practical +section, in which he applies to daily moral duties the great +doctrines which he has developed. Fifthly, personal +messages, salutations, and details. Sixthly, a brief +autograph conclusion to ratify the genuineness of the entire +letter." + ++The Supreme Purpose+ was to make known the Divine +Christ as the Savior of all men, both Jew and Gentile +(1 Cor. 2:1-16; Col. 1:9-29; Phil. 2:9-11; Acts 26:22, +23; Rom. 3:9-31). + + +THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM + +FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES + +THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS + ++The First Group of Epistles.+--The First and Second +Epistles to the Thessalonians are the earliest writings of +Paul of which we have any certain knowledge. He may +possibly have written earlier epistles, which are now lost. +He speaks of writing a salutation "in every epistle" +(2 Thess. 3:17), "with mine own hand," which may +imply that he had already written a number of Epistles. +In regard to later writings he also speaks of an Epistle +(1 Cor. 5:9) to the Corinthians written to them before +that now known as First Corinthians and of one written +to the Laodiceans (Col. 4:16); of these writings we have +no record save these incidental notices, if these notices +refer to lost Epistles. + ++The Chief Doctrinal Point+ considered in this group is +"The Future of Christ's Kingdom" as it was related to His +second coming (1 Thess. 4:13-5:9, compare 2 Thess. 2:1-17). +It was natural that, after so great a manifestation +of the Divine Christ, the earlier believers in Him +should make much of the promise that He said He would +come again, and amid their troubles and difficulties the +strong tendency would be to think that second coming +was close at hand. It is a well known fact however that +the near approach of a great joy or sorrow unfits men and +women for the ordinary pursuits of life. Paul, in his first +letter to the members of the church of Thessalonica, +spoke of the second coming of Christ to relieve their +minds of a worry over those who had died since he had +preached to them (lest they should not see the Lord when +He came), and also to encourage them in their faith +(1 Thess. 4:13-18). It seems that Paul was taken to mean +by what he wrote that Christ's coming was near at hand. +The believers in Christ, in Thessalonica, began to give up +their ordinary avocations and pursuits in speedy anticipation +of this great event. He therefore takes occasion in +his second letter to the church to correct the impression +that Christ's coming (2 Thess. 2:1-17) was near at hand. +He exhorts them to true and faithful living in the sight of +their Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 3:1-18) as the best way +to serve their Divine Master. The principle of the true +Christian life is here set forth in a masterly way; it holds +good for all time and all peoples. + + + +THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS + ++The Founding of the Church at Thessalonica+ (Acts +17:1-10).--Paul was on his second missionary journey +and this church was the second which he organized in +Europe. He entered into the synagogue at Thessalonica +and three Sabbath days reasoned with the Jews out of the +scriptures, "opening and alleging, that Christ must needs +have suffered and risen again from the dead; and that this +Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ" (Acts 17:3). Through +this preaching a few of the Jews believed "and +of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief +women not a few." It appears from this account that +the church was mostly made up of Gentiles. But through +the opposition of the Jews all the city was set in an uproar +and Paul was sent away by night to Berea. + ++Occasion, Time, and Place of Writing.+--Paul left +Thessalonica unwillingly for he had a great affection for +his converts in this city. Twice he endeavored to return, +but was prevented from doing so (2:17, 18). When +he reached Athens (Acts 17:15) he grew so anxious about +the church at Thessalonica that he sent Timothy back to +see how it prospered (3:1, 2). While Timothy was +gone on his mission Paul went on to Corinth (Acts +18:1). Here Timothy found him when he returned with +his report of the church (Acts 18:5; 1 Thess. 3:6). +Paul was greatly pleased with what Timothy had to say +about the converts. While enduring persecution they +were standing fast in the Lord and devoted to their faith +in Christ (3:7-13). The report which Timothy brought +was the occasion of the first letter to this church. + +The time was, in all probability, in the winter of 52-53 +A.D., and the place of writing was at Corinth, where +Paul remained for over a year and a half (Acts 18:1, 11, 18). + ++Contents.+--The first three chapters are of a personal +character and show how dear to Paul's heart were these +converts of Thessalonica. They also show the good +record made for the short time since they had embraced +Christianity. But nothing could be more revolutionary +in those days than to become a Christian; therefore Paul +takes occasion to correct social, moral, and doctrinal +faults and to instruct them more fully in the faith, in +Christ, which they professed. In the matter of doctrine +Paul mentions Christ as "the Lord," "our Lord" about +twenty-five times, showing his belief in and teaching of +the Deity of Christ. In regard to Christ's speedy second +coming, of which many seem to have had a lively +expectation so that they were troubled when some died lest +these had lost their opportunity to see this glorious event, +Paul writes to reassure them that all believers, those who +have died and those who are alive at that time, "will enter +together and share equally in the blessings of Christ's +heavenly kingdom" (4:13-18). The Epistle closes with +exhortations to be joyful, thankful, and prayerful. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Introduction (1:1-10). Personal address and +salutation. Thanksgiving for their faith, love and hope in +Jesus Christ and for their conversion. + +2. Narrative (2:1-4:12). How the gospel was given +and how it was received at Thessalonica. An account of +Paul's care and anxiety for the church. Paul's prayer for +their establishment in the faith of Jesus Christ. Exhortation +to abstain as followers of Christ from impurity and +fraud; to follow after holiness and brotherly love. + +3. Doctrinal (4:13-5:11). The second advent of +Christ. The parts which the dead and living will have +when Christ shall come again. The uncertainty of the +time. The need of constant watchfulness. + +4. Practical (5:12-28). Rules for the conduct of the +church, its overseers and members. Exhortation to be +joyful, prayerful, and thankful. Closing prayer that they +may be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord +Jesus Christ. Greeting and benediction. + + +THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS + ++Occasion, Time, and Place of Writing.+--What Paul +wrote about the second coming of Christ, in the First +Epistle, seems to have been misunderstood by the church +at Thessalonica (1:7-3:11). Then too there was +probably a spurious epistle (and this may have occasioned +much of the trouble) in circulation, in which Paul is +evidently made to declare that the day of Christ is close at +hand (2:2). He writes of this false epistle very vigorously +that they be not troubled in spirit by a letter, "as +from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." Evidently +some were neglecting their work, becoming impatient at +the delay in Christ's coming (3:5, 11, 12) and walking +disorderly. + +The Epistle opens, with an expression of thanks for the +general condition of the church and that it was enduring +persecutions and tribulations well (1:2-6). Hence it is +evident that some but not all of the church members were +out of accord with an earnest sensible faith in Christ. +This Epistle reflects certain conditions which Paul had +to meet in his work and shows how he sought to check +any defections from right conceptions of true Christian +doctrine and life. In the second chapter Paul shows that +the "day of Christ" may not speedily come, that certain +other things must come to pass before it is revealed +(compare Matthew ch. 24), and that the true Christian way is +to stand fast always in the Lord. In thus standing fast +every believer will grow in faith and grace. + +The duties taught are "courage and faith under persecution +and calmness and quiet industry in the presence of +the greatest expectations." + +The time of writing was probably, a few months after +that of the First Epistle, in 53 A.D. The place of +writing was Corinth. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Introduction (1:1-4). Salutation. Thanksgiving +for the growth of faith in the Thessalonian church. + +2. Doctrinal (1:5-2:17). The great day of the +Lord. The Thessalonians seemingly misunderstood Paul's +first letter and he now more fully explains the second +advent of Christ. It will be a day of terrible retribution +for the unbeliever but one of glory for all who trust in +Him. A warning is given not to think the day near at +hand. Certain things must first come to pass; "a falling +away," "a man of sin," "signs and lying +wonders." Thanksgiving that the +Thessalonians have been chosen to +salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit. + +3. Conclusion (Ch. 3). Paul requests prayer for +himself that "the word of the Lord may have free course +and be glorified" with him; he also desires that the Lord +may direct their "hearts into the love of God and into the +patient waiting for Christ." Paul gives command to +discipline the disorderly and that every man earn his own +living. Exhortation to be not weary in well doing. +Salutation and benediction. + + +QUESTIONS + +What can be said of epistolary writings; their place and +usefulness? Give some reasons for Paul's writings. What were the +qualifications of Paul? How are the Epistles best understood? +What can be said of the four groups and their characteristics? +What is the common plan? What is the supreme purpose? What +can be said of the first group of Epistles; First and Second +Thessalonians? What is the chief doctrinal point? The First +Epistle; what can be said of the founding of the church at +Thessalonica? What can be said of the occasion, time, and place of +writing? What are the contents? Give the four parts of the +principal divisions and chief points. The Second Epistle; what +can be said of the occasion, time, and place of writing? Give the +three parts of the principal divisions and chief points. + + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY VIII + +THE OLD FAITHS AND THE NEW + +SECOND GROUP OF EPISTLES + +GALATIANS. FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS. ROMANS. + +ANALYSIS + ++Problems of Early Christianity+--The Old Faiths and the New. +The Great Question. The Jewish Faith. The Heathen Faith. +The New Faith in Christ. Practical Bearing upon Present +Day Living. The Epistles of this Group. + ++The Epistle to the Galatians+--The Galatians. Time of Writing. +Occasion and Purpose. Principal Divisions and Chief Points. + ++The Epistles to the Corinthians+--The Church at Corinth. The +City of Corinth. + ++The First Epistle to the Corinthians+--Occasion and Purpose. +Place and Time. The Supremacy of Christ. Principal +Divisions and Chief Points. + ++The Second Epistle to the Corinthians+--Occasion and Purpose. +Place and Time. Principal Divisions and Chief Points. + ++The Epistle to the Romans+--The Church at Rome. Occasion and +Purpose. Place and Time. Central Thought. Principal +Divisions and Chief Points. + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY VIII + +THE OLD FAITHS AND THE NEW + +SECOND GROUP OF EPISTLES + +GALATIANS. FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS. ROMANS. + +PROBLEMS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY + ++The Old Faiths and the New.+--In this second group +of Epistles, Galatians, First and Second Corinthians, and +Romans, we enter upon a period of conflict in which +Christianity is being defined, and differentiated from +Judaism and Heathenism. No great truth ever came into +the world without a battle for its right to the attention of +men. + +The new faith in Christ made large claims for itself. +It marked an advance upon Judaism and maintained that +in Christ was fulfilled all the promises made by the +prophets of the coming of the Jewish Messiah. It radically +antagonized the heathen religions. It had a double task to win +men out of Judaism and heathenism. Only by a careful +study of these great doctrinal Epistles, and the circumstances +out of which they arose, can it be seen how really +great was this task. + ++The Great Question+ was: "On what terms does God +save men? Does He owe salvation to any because of +what they have done, or does He bestow it as an +unmerited favor upon condition of trust and self-surrender?" Paul +maintained that the sole basis of salvation is the +grace of God through Jesus Christ to be appropriated by +faith on the part of man. This is still the great question. + ++The Jewish Faith+ had been long in the world. Its +prophets had two great themes, the Messiah and the +Messianic Kingdom. All Israel, while observing feast and +fast days, the precepts of the Mosaic law and offering +sacrifices, looked forward to the coming of the Messiah +and the establishment of His kingdom upon earth, as the +supreme fulfillment of its hopes. + +It is the contention of Paul in these Epistles that this +Messiah has come in the person of Jesus Christ and +fulfilled all the promises made to Israel, and that, through +faith in Him, believers are released from the observance +of the precepts of the Mosaic law. + +There were two parties of Jews who sought to check +the advance of the early church, with its all sufficient +Savior. First, there were the Jews who denied any and +every claim of Christ to be the Messiah; of this party +were the rioters who drove Paul out of city after city and +sought to kill him in the temple. Second, there were the +Jewish Christians who "asserted that their faith was +Judaism with a new prophet; that the law of Moses and Mosaic +ceremonial practices were binding on Christians as well as +on unbelieving Jews; that Gentile believers must first +become proselytes to Judaism before they could become +Christians; and lastly that circumcision was the only +gateway to baptism." With the first class of Jews it was not +so difficult to deal, for they were out and out antagonists, +but the Jewish Christians, (who still clung to the Jewish +law) were constantly making trouble not only amongst the +Christian Jews, who had fully come out from under the +law of Moses and expressed their faith in Christ, but also +among the Christian Gentiles who had come out of the +heathen religions. The masterly arguments of Paul, +presented in Galatians and Romans, deal chiefly with the +doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone. In +Gal. 5:1-4 he calls the return to Jewish belief and +practice, "falling from grace." + ++The Heathen Faith.+--The people of the Roman +empire were idolaters. Temples for the worship of idols +occupied prominent positions in every city. Some of +them were very beautiful, from an architectural point of +view. But the objects of worship, frequently, were of the +basest sort. This worship caused a notorious laxness of +view in regard to the relations between the sexes. This +state of things is not overstated by Paul in his epistle to +the Romans (1:18-23). It was this condition of idolatrous +worship which led to the decision of the Jerusalem +Council in regard to the Gentile converts (Acts 15:29). +The Christianity which Paul taught called for a pure and +upright life and a subjugation of human passion. We see +the effects of former idolatrous lives manifesting +themselves in the evils which Paul sought to correct in his +letters to the Corinthians. It was no small conflict in +which the Great Apostle to the Gentiles engaged when he +sought to cleanse, through Christ, the base idolatrous +hearts of the men of his times. + ++The New Faith in Christ.+--Paul stands for spiritual +freedom in Christ and loyalty to Him as Divine Lord +without the necessity of observing the minute regulations +of the Jewish ritual. He insists upon purity of soul and +outward life as opposed to the laxness of the idolaters. +Each individual soul is related to Christ to whom it is +responsible. + ++Practical Bearing upon Present Day Living.+--The +things contended for, the evils scored in these Epistles +may seem to belong to dead controversies, but they do +not. While it is a fact that Christianity has freed itself +from Judaism and the heathen religions have been +conquered, the old evils still manifest themselves and the +same remedies must be applied to them. Many to-day +will do works of the law (Gal. 2:16) who have no use for +Christ, or His church, thinking in this way to buy their +way to God. These are the old Judaizers come to life +again. They often know nothing and care less for spiritual +things and heart righteousness. Sensuality, and all its +attendant evils, driven from the old heathen temples, +manifests itself in many ways; it still seeks to array itself +in beautiful garments that it may lure many to ruin. +There is need of repeating over again the arguments of +Paul for a pure life lived in the faith of Jesus Christ, and +the spiritual upbuilding of the soul through Him. Paul +also insists upon good works as the outcome of faith, but +faith must come first. + ++The Epistles of this Group were Written+ on the third +missionary journey. + + +THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS + ++The Galatians+ to whom this Epistle was addressed; +who were they? The name Galatia was used in two ways. +Geographically to denote the country inhabited by the +Celtic tribes (who were descended from the Gauls and +who formerly inhabited the country we now call France). +Politically it meant the Roman province which also +included "Psidia, Lycaonia, and part of Phrygia to the south +of Galatia proper." It has been a question which of the +two Paul intended to address in his letter. There are no +particular names of churches which are specified. Many +scholars think that Paul means to address his Epistle to +the churches of the Roman province. In this case the +letter would be sent to the churches of a wide area, and +primarily addressed to those founded in the first +missionary journey at Antioch, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra +(Acts 14:1-28). + +Luke speaks also of a region lying roundabout Derbe and +Lystra where the gospel was preached on this first journey +(Acts 14:6). The passage in Galatians (2:5) in which +Paul refers to the Jerusalem Council where he contended +for the liberty in Christ of the Gentiles would naturally be +taken to mean these first churches (however wide the +application) as the Jerusalem Council was held at the close +of the first missionary journey. The word Galatia may +be used in the narrower sense also by Luke in speaking of +the beginning of Paul's second (Acts 16:6) and third +(Acts 18:23) missionary journeys. It would be natural +for the Judaizers, who sought to turn back the converts +of Paul to Judaism, to begin with the churches in South +Galatia first. + ++Time of Writing.+--The common opinion is that this +epistle was written at Ephesus, during Paul's long stay +there on his third missionary journey or between 54 and +56 A.D. Some however would place the date earlier. + ++Occasion and Purpose.+--That which caused Paul to +write this first of his great doctrinal Epistles was the +teaching of certain Judaizers who had found their way +into the churches of Galatia. They claimed that the +Jewish law was binding upon believers in Christ, and +declared that salvation was through works of the law. +They insisted upon the rite of circumcision. Paul's +gospel and authority were disparaged. + +Paul wrote this Epistle for the purpose of showing +that "faith in Christ was the sole and sufficient condition +of salvation." + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Introduction (1:1-10) Salutation. Subject of the +Epistle; the defection of the Galatian churches. + +2. The divine commission given to Paul as an apostle +(1:11-2:21). He makes a statement of his claims and +gives a sketch of his life. The gospel he preached came +not from man but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. +All this is to show the authenticity of his claims. + +3. Doctrinal. Justification is by faith (ch. 3-4). +The Galatian churches had received the Spirit through +faith and not by law; why should they turn back? The +superiority of faith is shown by Abraham's faith. The +covenant of the promise of Christ was before the law. +The law is subordinate to faith, its purpose is to bring +men to Christ. There is serious danger in returning to +the law. + +4. Practical. Application of the doctrinal teaching +(ch. 5-6:10). An exhortation to stand fast in the liberty +of Christ; this liberty excludes Judaism. A warning +against the abuse of Christian liberty. The works of the +flesh and the fruits of the Spirit. Sowing and reaping. + +5. Autograph conclusion (6:11-18). Summary of +the Epistle. The glory of the Apostle is in the cross of +Christ. Benediction. + + +THE EPISTLES TO THE CORINTHIANS + ++The Church at Corinth+ was founded during Paul's +second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-18). When the +Apostle came to Corinth he found a home with Aquila +and Priscilla and worked with them at his trade as a +tent-maker. He preached in Corinth for over a year and a +half. Although Paul was the means of converting +Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and his family, he had no +large success with the Jews and consequently turned to +the Gentiles. The Gentiles gladly heard him and there +was a great ingathering into the church. + +Paul's sole purpose was to preach Christ for he says, +"I determined not to know anything among you, save +Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2). + ++The City of Corinth+ was the largest and most +important city of Greece. The commerce of the world flowed +through its two harbours. The population consisted of +Greeks, Jews, Italians, and a mixed multitude; it was +excitable, pleasure loving, and mercurial. In this city +was held a perpetual vanity fair. The vices of the east +and west met and clasped hands in the work of human +degradation. The Greek goddess Aphrodite had a +magnificent temple in which a thousand priestesses ministered +to a base worship. While it was a center of wealth and +fashion it was a city of gilded vice. In the philosophical +schools there was an endless discussion about words and +non-essentials and a strong tendency to set intellectual +above moral distinctions. + + +THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS + ++Occasion and Purpose.+-It was natural that the +pressure of heathen customs and practices should be very great +upon this young church. It was also to be expected that +parties and divisions would arise. The immediate cause +of this Epistle was that strifes and divisions had arisen in +the church. It was the reporting of these matters to +Paul by those "of the house of Chloe" (1 Cor. 1:11) +that led him to write in the way in which he did. To +settle the strifes of this church and to define the relations +which Christians should assume towards the political, +religious, and domestic institutions of the heathen was a +matter of no little delicacy and difficulty. The mastery +of Paul is shown in the laying down of principles, in +accordance with the gospel of Christ, that were effective +not only for the Corinthian church but which are applicable +to-day to all such church difficulties and the conduct +of Christians towards non-Christians. + ++A Former Epistle.+--Previous to the one now called +"The First," had been written to the Corinthians (1 +Cor. 5:9) and "it appears that the church had replied and +requested further explanation and instruction on certain +points" (5:11; 7:1; 8:1; 12:1; 16:12). + ++Place and Time.+--This Epistle was written during +Paul's long stay in Ephesus (Acts 19:10; 1 Cor. 16:19) +and the date is in all probability 57 A.D. + ++The Supremacy of Christ+ over all parties, His love as +the touchstone of all service, and His resurrection are +the great subjects of this Epistle. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Salutation and thanksgiving (1:1-9). + +2. Correction of divisions of party spirit (1:10-4:21). +It having been reported to Paul that four parties +were striving for mastery in the church and there was +great contention; he rebukes the party spirit, sets forth +the principles of his teaching, and declares that Christ +alone is the center of the Christian system. Faith stands +not in the wisdom of men. The only foundation is in +Christ. + +3. Correction of moral disorders (ch. 5-7). In +consequence of the close contact of the church with +heathendom grave moral evils found their way into the +fold. (a) The case of an incestuous person, Paul writes +that such a person is to be expelled because the leaven of +evil separates men from Christ. (b) The sin of going to +law in heathen courts. Christians ought to settle their +own disputes. (c) Sins of the body. No man should +commit a sin as his body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. + +(d) Advice concerning marriage. The purpose of the +gospel is not to antagonize but to Christianize the natural +relations between society and the believer. + +4. Correction of social and ecclesiastical misconceptions +(ch. 8-14). (a) The question of eating of meats +offered in idol worship is decided on the ground of love +rather than knowledge. (b) The preacher of the gospel +has the right to be supported by the church. (c) The +true Christian liberty to be observed in the matters of +eating and drinking. The proper celebration of the +Lord's Supper. (d) The use and abuse of spiritual gifts. + +(e) The greatness of love (ch. 13) The touchstone +of all is love. (f) The end to be sought in every spiritual +gift is the edification and upbuilding of the church. + +5. The true doctrine of the resurrection (ch. 15), +Paul lays great stress upon this doctrine. "If Christ be +not risen from the dead, then is our preaching vain and +your faith is also vain." + +6. Parting directions, exhortations, and salutations +(ch. 16). + + +THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS + ++Occasion and Purpose.+--Paul was quite anxious about +the reception of his first letter by the Corinthian church. +Not long after its dispatch he sent Titus (2 Cor. 2:13) to +see how it was received and to note whether the strife of +parties had ceased, the incestuous person had been dealt +with, and other matters properly adjusted. While Titus +was absent on this mission Paul left Ephesus on account +of the riot made by Demetrius and his fellows (Acts +19:23-41; 20:1) and went over into Macedonia (Acts +20:1). On the way, at Troas, he expected to meet Titus +and was greatly disappointed in not seeing him (2 +Cor. 2:12-13). It is evident that he met Titus in Macedonia +and received from him the report of the condition of the +Corinthian church and the manner in which his first letter +had been received and acted upon (2 Cor. 7:5-16). +Again it is evident, from the Epistle, that Titus brought +back the encouraging news to the Apostle that the +incestuous person had been dealt with and had repented, and +that, as a whole, the church stood loyally by him, but still +there were some who were making trouble. It was this +report that was the occasion of the Second Epistle. +Prof. G. B. Stevens says in regard to this letter, It reflects +the mingled joy and grief of the Apostle. The earlier +chapters are predominately cheerful and commendatory, +the latter mainly sorrowful and severe. In the light of +these facts the letter may be described as threefold: First, +to encourage and instruct the church (1-7). Second, +to induce the Corinthians to make a collection for the +poor Judean churches (8-9). Third, to defend the +writer's apostolic authority against the calumnies of his +enemies (10-13). + ++Place and Time.+--There are a number of references +by the Apostle which show that this Epistle was written +in Macedonia (1:15, 16; 2:12, 13; 8:1; 9:2) and shortly +after Paul came out of Asia (1:8, compare Acts 20:1, +2). The time probably 57 A.D., the same year in which +the First Epistle was written. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Salutation (1:1, 2) + +2. Paul's principles and ways of working (1:3-7:16). +In these chapters the Apostle endeavors to +remove any feeling of bitterness which may have been +produced in the Corinthian church by his dealing with a +certain evil in the previous Epistle. He also vindicates +his spiritual ministry. He declares his love for the church +and its spiritual advancement. He also declares that he +has put off his visit to Corinth that he might not come in +sorrow. He rejoices in the good news brought by Titus. +While he is weak in body, the power is of God and the +ministry is a communication of the Spirit. He asserts +that he is sustained by the hope of the future life. He +earnestly exhorts the church to receive and live the gospel +which he preached to them, for separation from the world +and unity with God. In chapter seven he rejoices that +they have received his words so well. + +3. The collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem +(8-9). Paul here speaks of the liberality of the +Macedonian churches and the work of Titus who is sent to +forward the contributions. + +4. Paul's vindication of his authority as an apostle +(10:1-13:10). He has been attacked in his person, +character, and teaching by parties in the Corinthian church +who would overthrow his authority and ruin the church. +These four chapters are a magnificent setting forth of his +apostolic claims. (a) His power and glory are not in his +bodily presence or his letters but in the spiritual might of +God. (b) His preaching is the pure gospel of Christ. +In bodily labor, trials, and persecutions he has excelled +them all (ch. 11). (c) He has the highest qualifications +(in visions and revelations) but he will glory only in +his infirmities. His object is not to boast but to put an +end to the disorders in the church. (d) The Apostle +declares his intention to visit the church. By the power +of Christ he will not spare the evil. His desire is only +for righteousness. + +5. Farewell greetings and messages (13:11-14). + + +THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS + ++The Church at Rome.+--When and by whom this +church was founded it is not known. It is thought that +the "strangers of Rome" (Acts 2:10), who were present +at the day of Pentecost when the great manifestation of +the Holy Spirit took place, carried back the good news +and that this was the beginning of the church. It was +composed of both Jews and Gentiles for Paul addresses +both classes (Rom. 1:13; 9:24; 11:13; 2:17; 4:1; +9:13; 7:1; 9:1-5). This church seems to have made +rapid progress (1:8). Paul was evidently acquainted +with some of the Roman Christians (16:3-15). + ++Occasion and Purpose.+--This Epistle grew out of a +desire on the part of Paul to see Rome (Acts 19:21; +Rom. 1:11; 15:24-28). As this would be his first visit +it was no more than a courteous act that he should write +to the church of this intention. Again as the Christians +in Rome might have heard false and distorted reports of +the gospel which he preached, Paul takes care to clearly +and logically set forth the principles and doctrines which +he was teaching. This letter then becomes very +important as the summing up of the experience and teaching of +many years of service in the cause of Jesus Christ. + ++Place and Time+.--This Epistle was in all probability +written from Corinth during Paul's stay there in the +course of his third missionary journey 58 A.D. (compare +Acts 19:21; 20:1-3; Rom. 16:23; 1 Cor. 1:14; 2 Tim. 4:20). + ++Central Thought.+--The theme is justification by faith +and not by works. There are four main positions. First, +All are guilty before God. Second, All need a Savior. +Third, Christ died for all. Fourth, We are all (through +faith) one body in Him. The thought may be put in +other ways, but all to the same purpose. The doctrine +of sin, and the doctrine of grace; or the universality of +sin and the universality of grace. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+--There are +two great sections, Doctrinal (ch. 1-11), and Practical, +(ch. 12-16). + +1. Introduction (1:1-15). Paul's salutation to and +thanksgiving for (the faith of) the Roman church. + +2. Doctrinal (1:16-11:36). (a) The great theme +stated, Justification by Faith. (b) All have sinned and +all are guilty, Gentiles without the law and Jews with the +law have failed to attain righteousness. (c) Righteousness +for all comes through faith in Jesus Christ and not +by law or works; the universality of grace. Abraham +was justified by faith (ch. 4). The blessedness of +justification by faith in Jesus Christ (ch. 5). (d) +Objections against free grace that it will multiply sin or +discredit the law are taken up and answered. Thorough +union with Christ on the part of the believer annihilates +sin and the law has no more any power. The believer +justified by his faith in Christ is dead to the law while +quickened to a new and holy life by the Spirit. (e) The +apparent rejection of Israel is the problem considered in +chapters 9-11. The nation sought righteousness through +the law and not by faith. (f) Christ is the end of the law +for righteousness. (g) The restoration of Israel. + +3. Practical (12-16). (a) Advice and exhortation. +The Christian's duty to the church and his conduct outside +of it; duty to the state and society; duty of toleration and +supreme trust in Christ. (b) Salutations. Paul's +apology and explanation for addressing the Roman church. +Greetings to various persons and farewell words. + + +QUESTIONS + +What can be said of the old faiths and the new? What was +the great question? The Jewish faith; how fulfilled in Christ? +What can be said of the heathen faith? What of the new faith in +Christ? What is the practical bearing of this group of Epistles +upon every day life? When written? Give some account of the +Galatians. When was the Epistle to the Galatians written? +What was the occasion and purpose? Give the principal divisions +and chief points. What can be said of the Epistles to the +Corinthians? When was the church founded? Give some account +of the city. What was the occasion and purpose of writing the +first Epistle to the Corinthians? What was the place and time? +What the thought of Christ. Give the principal divisions and +chief points. What was the occasion and purpose of writing the +Second Epistle? Place and time? Give the principal divisions +and chief points. When was the church at Rome founded? +What was the occasion and purpose of writing the Epistle to the +Romans? Time and Place? Central thought? Give the principal +divisions and chief points. + + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY IX + +THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST + +THIRD GROUP OF EPISTLES + +COLOSSIANS. PHILEMON. EPHESIANS. PHILIPPIANS. + +ANALYSIS + ++The Question at Issue+--The Supremacy of Christ. Reason for +Raising this Question. The Answer to the Question. +Present Day Attention. + ++The Writing of the Epistles+--The Interest. The Sending of the +Epistles. + ++The Epistle to the Colossians+--The Church at Colossæ. The +Occasion. Central Thought. Time and Place of Writing. +Principal Divisions and Chief Points. + ++The Epistle to Philemon+--Occasion. Principal Divisions and +Chief Points. + ++The Epistle to the Ephesians+--The City and the Church. Title +and Time of Writing. Subject. Principal Divisions and +Chief Points. + ++The Epistle to the Philippians+--The City and the Church. +Occasion. Objects. Time of Writing. Principal Divisions and +Chief Points. + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY IX + +THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST + +THIRD GROUP OF EPISTLES + +COLOSSIANS. PHILEMON. EPHESIANS. PHILIPPIANS. + +THE QUESTION AT ISSUE + ++The Supremacy of Christ.+--These Epistles mark a +new stage in the writings of Paul. The great question +discussed in the second group of Epistles was in regard +to the terms of salvation. The question now at issue +(in Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians) is: What is the +nature, the rank, the dignity of the Mediator of salvation? +Is He one of a series of Saviors? Does He belong to +some angelic order (Col. 2:18), or, does He stand supreme +(Col. 2:8, 9, 19) and solitary? Is He the Head and Chief +of all creation (Col. 2:19; 1:16). Other matters are +discussed in these Epistles, but this is the great doctrinal +question and burden of the Apostle's thought. + ++The Reason for the Raising of this Question+ was the +development of certain false religious beliefs among which +were, "asceticism, the worship of angels, revelings in +supposed visions and belief in emanations." These "degraded +the object of faith and so destroyed its meaning and +power." + ++The Answer to the Question.+--Paul is in no doubt as +to the supremacy of Christ. All his argument is to show +the Deity of Christ. He holds "aloft the true object of +faith namely, the supreme Divine Savior Himself, in +opposition to speculation which would degrade and deny +to Him the eminence which belongs to Him" (Col. 1:15-20; +Eph. 1:10, 20-23; 3-9; Philippians 2:5-11). + ++Present Day Attention+ has been focused upon this +matter of the supremacy of Christ. Was he human or +divine? The arguments of Paul still hold good for a stout +belief in the Divine Christ. The writings of the Great +Apostle are all characterized by his grasp of fundamental +things; they serve their purpose for the modern church +in bringing it back to Jesus Christ as the only Savior, as +they also in times past corrected the errors of the early +church. + + +THE WRITING OF THE EPISTLES + ++The Interest+ in these Epistles is heightened by the +fact that they were written during Paul's first Roman +imprisonment of which Luke gives all too brief an account +(Acts 28:30,31). They have been called from this fact, +"The Epistles of the First Imprisonment." It is a +marvel that Paul with his surroundings could have written in +such a masterly way and handled such lofty themes in a +manner which has commanded the attention of the +thinking world ever since his day and age. + ++The Sending of the Epistles+--Colossians, Philemon, +and Ephesians were evidently dispatched from Rome by +the same messenger, Tychicus (Col. 4:7, 9; Eph. 6:21). +Philippians was sent by the hand of Epaphroditus +(Phil. 2:25; 4:18). + + +THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS + +The Church at Colossæ--The city of Colossæ was +situated about 110 miles east of Ephesus where Paul +spent so long a time during his third missionary journey +(Acts 19:10). We have no record of any visit of Paul to +this city or how the church was founded (Col. 2:1). +It is supposed that Ephaphras might have organized this +church (Col. 1:7). + ++The Occasion+ (and purpose) of this Epistle was +evidently the coming of Epaphras to Rome to consult Paul +about the affairs of this church (1:7, 8). + +In chapter 2:8-23 we have some account of the things +which were troubling this Christian community and +drawing them away from faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. +False teachers had appeared at Colossæ who were +confusing the minds of the Christian converts. The +starting point of the error of teaching was the old oriental +dogma that matter is evil and the source of evil (2:8), +that as God is good the world could not have come directly +from God. To bridge the chasm between God and the +matter of the world a long chain of intermediate beings +was conceived to exist. This doctrine played havoc with +the simplest moral conceptions for if matter is evil, and +its source, then man's sin is not in his will, but in his +body. Redemption from sin can come only through +asceticism and the mortification of the flesh. + +The result of all this was a lowering of the dignity of +Christ, taking away His saving power and the "substitution +of various ascetic abstinences and ritualistic practices +(2:20) for trust in Him, the worship of angels (2:18), +and a reveling in dreams and visions." "This was kindred +to a type of speculation which later became rife under +the name of Gnosticism." + +To these ideas Paul opposed the true doctrine of the +Headship of Christ (2:19) and that He is the only link +between God and the universe (1:15-17). "By Him +were all things created (1:16) that are in heaven and that +are in earth." Christ is the only Mediator (1:13, 14). +In this faith there is no place for ascetic mortification. +Evil is in our unwillingness to live the life in Christ. In +Christ we are dead to sin and risen with Him to a life +of holiness (2:20-23; 3:1-4). Christ is not only our +Redeemer (1:14) and the Head of the church, but the +source of creation and its Lord (1:16, 17). We have +a similar error (against which Paul warns) taught to-day +by the speculative thinker, who fills the world with forces +which leave no room for the working of a personal will. + ++Central Thought+--Jesus Christ the sole Savior of +men and Mediator between God and men (1:13-14), the +Creator (1:16; 2:9) and Head of the church (1:18). +Exhortation to follow Christ (3:1-4). + ++Time and Place.+--This Epistle was written at Rome +and sent by the messenger, Tychicus, (4:7, 8, 18) to the +church at Colossæ about 63 A.D. + +Paul also directed that it be read to the church at +Laodicea (4:16). + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Introduction (1:1-12) Salutation. Thanksgiving +for their faith and prayer for their increase and knowledge +of the will of God. + +2. Doctrinal. "The sole Headship of Christ" +(1:13-3:4). (a) Christ the Mediator. There is redemption +for us through His blood. (b) Christ, the image of +the invisible God, Creator and Preserver of all things. +(c) He is the Head of the church, reconciliation is only +through Him. The Colossians were reconciled to God +through the mediation of Christ. It is the earnest desire +of Paul that the church at Colossæ should remain rooted +in the faith which it had been taught. (d) Warning +against wrong speculation; lest any man "through +philosophy or vain deceit" obscure or cause the Colossians +to deny the true Godhead of Christ (2:8-15). (e) +Renewed warnings against errors in worship; Jewish +observances, ordinances and asceticisms, and the +adoration of angels. (f) In Christ we are dead to the +rudiments of the world and risen into communion with God +in Christ. + +3. Practical (3:5-4:6). (a) Exhortations to cast +out all sins of the unregenerate nature and to put on the +new man in Christ. Then Christ will be all and in all. +(b) All family and social duties are to be performed as in +the sight of Christ. (c) Renewed exhortations to prayer +and watchfulness. + +4. Conclusion (4:7-18). (a) The mission of +Tychicus and Onesimus, the greetings of the companions of +Paul and his expressed desire that the churches of Colossæ +and Laodicea exchange Epistles. (b) The Salutation. + + +THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON + ++Occasion.+--This is the only purely personal letter of +Paul that we possess. It is placed in this group because +it was sent with the Epistle to the Colossians and by the +same messenger, Tychicus (Col. 4:7-9). Philemon was +a member (with his wife Apphia) of the church at +Colossæ (Philemon 2). Onesimus was a runaway slave, +belonging to Philemon, who had found his way to Rome +and been converted by Paul (Philemon 10), who returned +him, with this letter, to his master (Col. 4:9; Philemon +10-12). + +In this letter we have a picture of the Apostle's +kindness of heart and a carrying out of the principles which +Paul had advocated in his First Epistle to the Corinthians +(7:20-24), "Let every man abide in the same calling +wherein he was called." We find also this same principle +set forth, in another way, in his letter to the Colossians +upon the "Supremacy of Christ." These principles will +make all men brethren in Christ and every man will strive +to serve Christ in his own place, whatever that place is. +Paul exhorts Philemon, along this very line, to receive +Onesimus not as a servant but as a brother beloved +(Philemon 16). + +The practical teaching of this letter upon the relations +between masters and servants and employers and employees +is very pertinent to the present times. The true +solution of all labor troubles is that men should regard +each other as brethren under the leadership of Jesus Christ. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Salutation and Thanksgiving (1-7). + +2. Statement of the object of the letter (8-21). As +a favor for love's sake Philemon is asked to receive back +Onesimus no longer a runaway slave but Paul's spiritual +child. Emphasis is laid upon the fact that he is now a +Christian brother and should be received as such. + +3. Conclusion (22-25). (a) In expectation of a +speedy release from imprisonment the Apostle asks that +a lodging be secured for him (22 v.). (b) Salutation +and benediction (23-25). + + +THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS + ++The City of Ephesus and the Church.+--This city +was, next to Rome, the most important visited by Paul. +It was the capital of Asia Minor and a great commercial +center. It was the seat of the worship of the goddess +Diana. + +Paul first visited the city when he was returning from +his second missionary tour, but, while asked to prolong +his stay, he remained only for a short time (Acts 18:19-21). +During his third missionary journey he again visited +the city and remained for three years (Acts 20:31, +compare 19:10, 22). His success in Ephesus was very great +(Acts 19:18-20, 26) and extended beyond the city. The +letters to the churches at Colossæ (Col. 1:2) and Laodicea +(this letter is lost) (Col. 4:16) show his care for the +churches that were adjacent to Ephesus and of which we +have no account of his visiting. + ++Title and Time of Writing.+--Many scholars think +that this Epistle was a circular letter written for the +edification of the churches of Asia Minor and sent to the +church of the capital city. This opinion is strengthened +by the lack of local allusions and the naming of friends, +as in other epistles. The inscription "at Ephesus" is +wanting in two of the more important manuscripts. "On +this view it may be supposed that a space was left in the +salutation in which could be inserted the name of the +particular place where the letter was being read, that the letter +finally fell wholly into the keeping of the Ephesian church, +and that the space was at length permanently filled by the +phrase 'at Ephesus.'" + +The time and place of writing was at Rome about 63 +A.D. This Epistle was sent by the messenger, Tychicus, +(Eph. 6:21) who also carried the letters to the church at +Colossæ and to Philemon (Col. 4:7-9). + ++Subject.+--As in Colossians, the subject is the +Headship of Christ (3:9-11); His person and work. God's +eternal purpose is disclosed. Christ is given sway over +all things "both which are in heaven and which are on +earth" (1:10, 2l). The unity of the church in Christ +is set forth; the unity of the Gentile and Jewish branches +in Him; the unity of all the individual members in Him. +This union is spiritual and not mechanical; it is holy and +pure; therefore sin is excluded. Paul looks upon this as +the mystery of the ages, now revealed to him. There is +one great kingdom, the risen and glorified Christ is the +Head of this kingdom (1:19-23). Redemption and +reception into this kingdom is through Jesus Christ (1-7). + +Paul in this epistle rises above the controversies of the +hour and sees in clear vision the eternal realities and the +great plan of God for the saving of men. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Introduction (1:1-23). (a) Salutation. (b) +Thanksgiving and Thesis (1:3-14). Unity in Christ. +He who is the Head of the church is the Center of the +universe (1:10). The eternal purpose of God in +Salvation is now made known. Before the foundation of the +world, man and the redeemed church of Christ were in +the thought of God. Christ in whom we have redemption +looked forward to His mission from eternity. "Creation, +nature, and redemption are all parts of one system"; in +the reconciliation of the cross all orders of beings are +concerned. "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times +He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both +which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in +Him" (1:10). (c) Prayer. A petition that the +understanding of believers may be illuminated; that they may +know the hope of their calling and the riches of their +heritage, which comes through unity with their risen and +ascended Lord. + +2. Doctrinal. Unity in Christ (ch. 2-3). (a) The +calling of the Gentiles out of "trespasses and sins" into +a new life in Christ. (b) Jews and Gentiles are +reconciled and brought together in one body by the cross; "no +more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the +saints, and of the household of God." All built upon +the foundation of Jesus Christ, through the Spirit. (c) +The mystery of the universal call was made known to +Paul by a new revelation. Prayer for a more full +comprehension of this unity. + +3. Practical. The new life in unity with Christ +(4:1-6:17). (a) Exhortation to walk worthy of this new +life. (b) Exhortation to gain the victory over sin "in +virtue of the sense of unity with man in Christ." (c) +Social duties. The regeneration and consecration in this +new life of the relations of husbands and wives, children +and parents, and slaves and masters, (d) Final entreaty, +in the battle against the powers of evil, to put "on the +whole armour of God." + +4. Conclusion (6:18-24). (a) Personal. Paul requests +special prayer for himself in captivity. Tychicus +is commended. (b) Farewell and blessing. + + +THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS + +The City of Philippi and the Church.--This city is +notable from the fact that it was the first, in Europe, in +which the gospel tidings were made known. Accounts +of how Paul came to visit Macedonia and to begin the +work in Philippi are given in Acts (16:10, 12-40). +Going out of the city as he did by the river side, where +prayer was wont to be made, and talking to a number of +women about the "New Way" would not seem to be a +very favorable beginning for a movement which was to +produce such exceedingly large results. But Paul was so +full of zeal for Christ that he seized every opportunity, +no matter how small, to make Him known. This church +afterwards was a great comfort to the Apostle. This +letter shows how he loved it and how he exhorted them to +rejoice in the Lord (4:4). + ++Occasion.+--Paul was in prison in Rome. The +Philippian converts were greatly concerned about him, +therefore they sent Epaphroditus with gifts and offerings to +him (4:18). This was not the first time that they had +taken thought of and remembered their founder, in a +similar way (4:15, 16). The Apostle was very grateful for +their care (4:10-14). While in Rome, Epaphroditus +was taken very sick and came near death (2:25-28). +As soon as he had recovered from his sickness Paul sent +him back to Philippi (2:28), with this letter. The +reference to Cæsar's household shows how strong a hold +Christianity was getting in Rome (4:22; 1:12-14), and +that there was great boldness in proclaiming the gospel. + ++Objects.+--It is an Epistle of thanks to the Philippians +for their kindness (4:10-18) in remembering the Apostle +with substantial gifts in his work and for their fellowship +(1:5) in the gospel. + +Another object is to give them friendly advices and +warnings (2:12-24; 3:2-3, 17-21). Paul does not +forget, in this connection, to remind them of Him to +whom they owe a whole-hearted allegiance, their Lord +and Master, Jesus Christ (4:1). + +The great doctrinal object, the Supremacy of Christ, +is also set forth as is markedly manifest in the Epistles of +Colossians and Ephesians. The whole Christian creed, +"the incarnation, passion, and exaltation of Christ" is +expressed in the second chapter (2:5-11), "That at the +name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, +and things in earth and things under the earth; and that +every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to +the glory of God the Father." The great end to be +attained is likeness to Christ (2:5). + ++Time of Writing.+--This epistle is generally regarded +as the latest of the letters written during the first +imprisonment in Rome, and in the same year with those to the +churches at Colossæ, and Ephesus. It was probably sent +to Philippi shortly after the other Epistles (Colossians, +Philemon, and Ephesians) had been dispatched to Asia +Minor. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+--This epistle +is divided into two parts. + +First part (1:1-3:1). + +I. Introduction (1:1-2:4). (a) Greeting. (b) Paul's +thanksgiving, joy in the fellowship, and prayer for the +Philippians. (c) An account of the rapid spread of the +gospel in Rome and the apostle's rejoicing that Christ is +preached. (d) Exhortation to unity in Christ. + +2. Doctrinal (2:5-12). In this short passage we +have the Christian creed in brief form. "The Godhead +of Christ and His Manhood--His Pre-existence and His +Incarnation--His Passion and His Exaltation." + +3. Conclusion of the first part (2:13-3:1). (a) +Renewed exhortation to an upright and blameless Christian +life. (b) The return of Epaphroditus. (c) Farewell +message. + +Second part (3:2-4:23). This section seems to +have been added after the letter had been finished. + +1. Warnings (3:2-21). (a) Against Judaic errors. +Paul could boast that he had been a good Jew and +scrupulously kept the law, yet he renounced all that he might +win Christ. True righteousness can come only through +faith in Christ. (b) Against a false idea of the liberty of +the gospel; whereby men, claiming to be Christians, +walked in evil ways. + +2. Final exhortations (4:1-9) to steadfastness, unity, +joy, and the following of all good in Christ. Acknowledgment +of gifts and benedictions (4:10-23). + + +QUESTIONS + +What is the question at issue in this group of Epistles? What +the reason for raising this question? What answer is given? +What attention is now paid to this question? When were these +Epistles written? How were they sent? What can be said of the +Epistles to the Colossians? The church at Colossæ, how was it +organized? What was the occasion of this Epistle? What the +central thought? What the time and place of writing? Give the +principal divisions and chief points. What was the occasion of +the Epistle to Philemon? Give the principal divisions and chief +points. What can be said of the Epistle to the Ephesians? Give +an account of the founding of this church. What can be said of +the title and time of writing? What is the subject? Give the +principal divisions and chief points. What can be said of the +Epistle to the Philippians? How was this church organized? +What was the occasion of the Epistle? What the objects? Give +the time of writing. Give the principal divisions and chief points. + + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY X + +PASTORAL AND PERSONAL + +FOURTH GROUP OF EPISTLES + +FIRST TIMOTHY. TITUS. SECOND TIMOTHY. + +ANALYSIS + ++The Place of the Epistles+--When Written. + ++Paul's Fourth Missionary Journey+--Notices and Time. The First Trip +Eastward. The Trip Westward to Spain. The Second Trip Eastward. The +Second Imprisonment of Paul. + ++The Questions Discussed+--The Personal Element. The Doctrinal Part. +The Practical Teaching. The Special Theme. + ++Paul's Last Declaration of His Faith.+ + ++The First Epistle to Timothy+--Timothy. Time and Place. Purpose. +Principal Divisions and Chief Points. + ++The Epistle to Titus+--Titus. Purpose. Time and Place. Principal +Divisions and Chief Points. + ++The Second Epistle to Timothy+--The Last Words of Paul. Time and +Place of Writing. Purpose. Principal Divisions and Chief Points. + + + + +III. PAUL'S WRITINGS + + +STUDY X + +PASTORAL AND PERSONAL + +FOURTH GROUP OF EPISTLES + +FIRST TIMOTHY. TITUS. SECOND TIMOTHY. + +THE PLACE OF THE EPISTLES + ++When Written.+--It is generally agreed among scholars that no place +can be found for the writing of First Timothy, Titus, and Second +Timothy in the period covered by Luke in his narrative in Acts. + +Agreeing with the tradition of the church, however, the opinion of many +eminent scholars is that Paul was released from the first Roman +imprisonment (Acts 28:16, 30), that he again took up his missionary +work, and at the end of a few years of such work, he was a second time +imprisoned and suffered martyrdom under the Roman Emperor Nero. + +It was during this period between the first and second imprisonments +that First Timothy and Titus were written. Second Timothy was written +during the second imprisonment at Rome, and at the time when Paul was +expecting his sentence of death. Eusebius (H. E. 2:22-2) says, that +"at the end of the two years of imprisonment, according to tradition, +Paul went forth again upon the ministry of preaching; and in a second +visit to the city ended his life by martyrdom under Nero, and that +during his imprisonment he wrote the Second Epistle to Timothy." + + +PAUL'S FOURTH MISSIONARY JOURNEY + ++Notices and Time.+--From the notices given in the Epistles and other +sources the probable course of the missionary travels of Paul from +63-67 A.D. has been reconstructed. + ++The First Trip Eastward.+--When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi +(2:24) and to Philemon at Colossæ (22 v.) he evidently expected to be +released from his imprisonment very soon and to see his beloved +Philippian church and Philemon. He was so sure of speedily visiting +Colossæ that he asked that a lodging be prepared for him. With Paul to +plan was to act and it is quite possible that he undertook this trip +immediately upon his release from prison. He probably also visited +Ephesus and a number of other cities. + ++The Trip Westward to Spain.+--In the Epistle to the Romans Paul +declared his intention to visit Spain (Rom. 15:24, 28). It is probable +that he, upon his return from the visit to Asia Minor, remained for a +very short time in Rome and then made a voyage to Spain. + +The tradition of the early church is very pronounced upon this voyage +to Spain. Clement of Rome (Cor. 5) speaks of Paul "having reached the +furtherest bound of the west." This could hardly mean anything but +Spain. The Muratorian Fragment names "the departure of Paul from the +city to Spain." + ++The Second Trip Eastward.+--We can now, from notices in First and +Second Timothy and Titus, quite closely follow Paul in his travels. +From Spain he probably went by various stages to Ephesus, where as he +tells us (1 Tim. 1:3) he left Timothy in charge when he went into +Macedonia. From Macedonia he probably wrote his first letter to +Timothy (1:3). From Macedonia he went to Troas and from Troas to +Miletus (2 Tim. 4:13). On account of sickness Trophimus was left at +Miletus (2 Tim. 4:20). He next probably visited Crete, where he left +Titus (Titus 1:5). From Crete it is thought that Paul went to Corinth +(2 Tim. 4:20) where he left Erastus and in all probability wrote to +Titus (1:5). In the letter to Titus Paul speaks of being at Nicopolis +and of his intention to spend the winter in that city (Titus 3:12). +But these notices of places are by no means exhaustive. They show, +however, how wide were Paul's last travels. + ++The Second Imprisonment of Paul.+--It is by no means unlikely that the +enemies of Paul, of whom we hear so much in the first three missionary +journeys, were stirred to renewed activity by again seeing him at +liberty and conducting an active missionary campaign. But with a +prisoner on parole from the Imperial Court the local magistrates could +do nothing. But a new element came in. The great fire, which +destroyed so large a part of the city of Rome on the 18th of July, 64 +A.D., was used by the Emperor Nero as an excuse for starting a great +persecution against the Christians. This was done to divert the odium +of the starting of the fire from himself, for he had sung and danced +the "Mime of the Burning of Troy" from a turret of his palace during +this great conflagration. It was some time before this persecution was +extended to the provinces and Paul's enemies saw their opportunity to +accuse him to the Imperial Court, where under the circumstances they +would then find a ready hearing. Paul was probably rearrested at +Nicopolis where he intended to winter (Titus 3:12) and hurried off to +Rome. This time he endured no light imprisonment. Onesiphorus had +difficulty in finding him (2 Tim. 1:16, 17) and he was closely confined +in a common criminal dungeon (2 Tim. 2:9). From this dungeon he wrote +the Second Epistle to Timothy and from thence he went to his death. + + +THE QUESTIONS DISCUSSED + ++The Personal Element+ in these epistles is quite large both in respect +to Timothy and Titus and Paul himself, but it is quite evident that +this element is not the chief cause for the writing. + ++The Doctrinal Part.+--Paul is here as strenuous for the need of +repentance, the atonement through Jesus Christ and His sole sufficiency +as Mediator, Savior, and Lord of all (1 Tim. 1:15-17; Titus 2:13; +3:4-7), as in his other Epistles. There are also enemies of the truth +who are to be opposed (2 Tim. 3). It is quite evident from what Paul +says in the second chapter and elsewhere in Titus and Second Timothy +that the Colossian heresy is already bearing its evil fruit and is +likely in the future to do great injury to the churches. + ++The Practical Teaching+ about the necessity of developing and +conserving the Church's system of government occupies, however, the +chief place. "The two notes which are struck again and again are: +First, 'Hold fast the tradition, the deposit of faith.' Second, +'Preserve order in the church.' In short this group of Epistles +constitutes Paul's last will and testament in which he gives his final +instructions for the maintenance and continuity of the faith." + +The church of Jesus Christ must have form and order. The truth must +have a proper shelter. Churches must have and observe certain +regulations. There must be proper officers. + +The gospel is applied to outward conduct. Great stress is laid upon +the character of church officers (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-7). Pastors +are directed how they should bear themselves toward church members and +what they should teach (1 Tim. 5; Titus 2). The conduct of the Church +in the presence of the heathen world and its magistrates is set forth +(Titus 3). Instruction is given in regard to public worship (1 Tim. +2). The most effective barrier against all forms of evil, it is +declared, is a diligent study of the Scriptures and a fervent preaching +of the word (2 Tim. 3:13-4:5). + ++The Special Theme+ then is, "The constitution, methods, and conduct of +the early churches." (1 Tim. 2:1, 2, 8, 9-12; 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-14; +2:1-10; 3:1, 2, 8-11, 13, 14; 2 Tim. 2:2, 14-18; 3:6-9). + + +PAUL'S LAST DECLARATION OF HIS FAITH + +The famous passage in 2 Timothy (4:6-8) shows how the Great Apostle +went triumphantly to his death. It is a declaration of the sustaining +power of his faith in the Savior whom he had everywhere proclaimed. + +"I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. +I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the +faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, +which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not +to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." + + +THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY + ++Timothy+ was one of the close companions of Paul. His father was a +Greek and his mother a Jewess, by the name of Eunice, (2 Tim. 1:5; Acts +16:1). He was a native of Lystra, Paul took him as his companion in +travel and addressed two Epistles to him; he was sent on a number of +important missions. Timothy is mentioned twenty-four times by name in +the Acts and Epistles; from these notices we can construct his +itinerary with Paul and see how beloved and how trusted he was by the +Great Apostle. During Paul's last journey he left him in charge of the +affairs of the church at Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3). When Paul was +apprehended a second time and lying in a dungeon at Rome, in +expectation of death, he wrote Timothy the last letter (2 Timothy) he +ever penned, and besought him to come to him as speedily as possible (2 +Tim. 4:9). + ++Time and Place of Writing.+--Paul in all probability wrote the First +Epistle to Timothy from Macedonia (1 Tim. 1:3) in the year 66 A.D. + ++The Purpose+ "involved is through the instruction and exhortation of +Timothy, to purify, strengthen, and elevate the Christian life of the +church in Ephesus." This teaching is put in such a way that it is +applicable to every Christian minister and church. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Greeting (1:1, 2). + +2. The True teaching of the gospel (ch. 1). Timothy is warned against +false teachers and reminded of the aim and end of life in Christ. + +3. The order and regulation of public worship (ch. 2). (a) Prayer, +for those in authority and for all men. (b) Instruction. There is one +God and one Mediator (Christ) between God and man. (c) Conduct of men +and women in the church assemblies. + +4. Qualifications of the church officers (ch. 3). (a) The ideal +minister. (b) The ideal deacon and the ministering women. (c) +Conclusion of chapter. Paul declares his intention to visit Timothy. +An ascription of praise. + +5. The government of the Christian church and community (ch. 4-6). In +these three chapters Timothy is charged by Paul to keep before him a +high view of the church and its grand destiny. (a) Timothy, as a +teacher, is reminded of his commission to put the church on guard +against errors of doctrine and life (ch. 4). (b) Timothy is shown how +he should bear rule and conduct himself towards the elders and women of +his congregation. Paul adds instructions in regard to a man's care for +his family, support of the ministry, discipline of offenders, etc. (ch. +5). (c) Relations of masters and servants. Right attitude of +believers in Christ toward riches. The chief thing is to follow after +righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, and to fight +the good fight of faith (6:1-19). (d) Closing charge to Timothy with +benediction (6:20, 21). + + +THE EPISTLE TO TITUS + ++Titus+ was a beloved disciple of Paul. He was a Gentile and was taken +by Paul to Jerusalem and was made a test case of the freedom of the +gospel and was not compelled to be circumcised (Gal. 2:1-5). He is +mentioned by name, by Paul, twelve times in four of the Epistles (2 +Cor. 2:13; 7:6, 13, 14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18; Gal. 2:1, 3; 2 Tim. 4:10; +Titus 1:4). The early church tradition is that Titus was descended +from the royal family of Crete. He was an able and capable missionary. +We have no account of his conversion. He might have come first in +contact with Paul and been converted when the Great Apostle visited +Crete on his way to Rome as a prisoner (Acts 27:7-13). Some time was +spent at this island by Paul's company (Acts 27:9). Paul again visited +Crete after his first Roman imprisonment and when he went away he left +Titus in charge of affairs (Titus 1:5), "To set in order things that +are wanting and to ordain elders in every city." This message of Paul +to Titus not only shows the confidence which Paul reposed in him, but +also how widespread Christianity was in Crete. After Titus had +completed his special work in Crete he was to rejoin Paul at Nicopolis +(Titus 3:12). + ++The Purpose+ of this letter is to show Titus what he is to do, in his +work with the churches, and how to do it. + ++Time and Place of Writing.+--It is thought that this Epistle was +written from Corinth in 66 A.D. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Greeting and subject of the Epistle (1:1-5). Titus is left in +Crete to accomplish certain things (1:5) after which he is to rejoin +Paul (3:12). + +2. The kind of officers to be appointed in the Cretan churches +(1:5-16). Special moral and spiritual fitness is set forth as +necessary in view of the peculiar character of the Cretans and certain +forms of doctrinal error. + +3. The instruction to be given to the Cretans (2:1-3:11). (a) "The +things which become sound doctrine." (b) Practical teaching for the +proper regulation of the conduct of all classes. (c) The foundation of +the instruction rests upon Christ. (d) Proper attitude of the +Christian community toward the Pagan world; magistrates and those who +have not yet believed in Christ. Kindness and gentleness and the +avoidance of foolish questions best reveal the spirit of Christ by +those who profess His name. (e) Parting requests and benediction +(3:12-15). + + +THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY + ++The Last Words of Paul.+--This Epistle is of special interest as it +contains the last recorded words of Paul to his faithful disciple, +Timothy. The Great Apostle is writing from a strict prison confinement +(1:16, 17; 2:9). He has had a first preliminary trial (4:16) and this +was of such a dread nature that none of his friends dare to stand with +him, yet he rejoices in his Lord that He stood by him and strengthened +him. He feels however that his end is near and gives a magnificent +testimony of his faith (4:6-8). He urges Timothy to come to him in +Rome and bring Mark with him (4:9, 11). + ++Time and Place of Writing.+--It was written by Paul in prison at Rome +67 A.D. + ++The Purpose.+--Paul shows here his care for the churches, their +upbuilding in the faith and their proper regulation of the things that +pertain to worship and organization. Timothy, as a preacher of the +Word, has his personal responsibility, for the upbuilding of the +churches, presented to him. + ++Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+ + +1. Greeting and thanksgiving (1:1-5). + +2. The Christian conduct of Timothy (1:6-2:14). Paul exhorts Timothy +not to allow himself to be daunted by fear of opposition or suffering +in doing his work for Christ. He encourages him by, (a) The great +revelation and power of the gospel. (b) His own work. (c) The sure +hope of a great reward. + +3. Timothy as a preacher of the Word (2:15-4:5). Paul exhorts +Timothy, (a) To study to show himself a workman. (b) In the perilous +times that are coming to feed on the Word of God and preach it in +season and out of season. + +4. Last words of Paul (4:6-22). The Apostle now turns to himself and +speaks of his coming martyrdom. He is ready to be offered, he has +fought a good fight. He beseeches Timothy to come and see him and +bring Mark. He refers to his first hearing when every friend left him +alone and only the Lord stood by him. He, after various messages, +closes with the usual benediction. + + +QUESTIONS + +What is the place of these Epistles in Paul's life? What can be said +of Paul's fourth missionary journey; the first trip eastward, the trip +westward to Spain, and the second trip eastward? How did Paul come to +be imprisoned a second time? What are the questions discussed in these +Epistles; the personal element, the doctrinal part, the practical +teaching, and the special theme? What is Paul's last declaration of +faith? What can be said of the First Epistle to Timothy; Timothy's +life, time, and place of writing, the purpose, and the principal +divisions and chief points? What can be said of the Epistle to Titus; +the life of Titus, the purpose, time, and place of writing, and the +principal divisions and chief points? What can be said of the Second +Epistle to Timothy; the last words of Paul, time and place of writing, +and the principal divisions and chief points? + + + + +A New Method for Bible Classes + +BY HENRY T. SELL + + +Studies In Early Church History. + 12 mo, paper, 25 cts. net; cloth, 50 cts. net. + +Studies in the Life of the Christian. + His Faith and His Service. + 12 mo, paper, 25 cts. net; cloth, 50 cts. net. + +Bible Studies in the Life of Paul. + Historical and Constructive. + 12 mo, paper, 25 cts. net; cloth, 50 cts. net. + +Bible Studies in the Life of Christ. + Historical and Constructive. + 12 mo, paper, 25 cts. net, cloth, 50 cts. net. + + +_15th edition, revised and enlarged._ + +Supplemental Bible Studies. + 12 mo, paper, 25 cts. net; cloth, 50 cts. net. + + +_5th edition, revised._ + +Bible Studies by Books. + 12 mo, paper, 35 cts. net; cloth, 60 cts. net. + +Bible Studies by Doctrines. + 12 mo, paper, 25 cts. net; cloth, 50 cts. net. + +Bible Studies by Periods. + A Series of Twenty-four Historical Bible + Studies, from Genesis to Revelation. + 12 mo, paper, 35 cts. net; cloth, 60 cts. net. + +Fleming H. 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