(LR) Life of Paul the Apostle

A Pauline Chronology

Dates                    Activity
32                           Damascus Road Experience
33-35                    Ministry in Arabia (Gal. 1:17)
35                           First Jerusalem Visit
35-43                    Silent Years (Ministry in Cilicia)
43-44                    Ministry in Antioch with Barnabas
44                           Death of Agrippa
45/46                    Famine-relief visit
46-48                    First Mission (1,400 miles)
48                           Apostolic Council
48-52                    Second Mission (2,800 miles)
52                           Return to Antioch
53-57                    Third Mission (2,700 miles)
57                           Arrival in Jerusalem
57-59                    Caesarean Imprisonment
59-60                    Voyage to Rome
60-62                    House Arrest in Rome
62-64                    Ministry in the East (?)
64-66                    Death in Rome (?)
 
Paul’s writings in the New Testament
Galatians
                Date:                     48/49
                Provenance:      Antioch, Jerusalem, or route between the two cities
                Destination:       Churches in South Galatia visited during his first missionary journey
                Purpose:              Defending the true gospel against Judaizing heresies
                Theme:                Jews and Gentiles alike are saved through faith, not by works
                Key Verses:        3:10-14
1st and 2nd Thessalonians
                Date:                     50
                Provenance:      Corinth
                Destination:       Church at Thessalonica in Macedonia
                Purpose:              Encouraging believers in times of persecution; clarification on eschatology
                Theme:                Persecuted believers should be encouraged by the anticipation of Jesus’ return
                Key Verses:        1 Thessalonians 4:13-18



1st Corinthians
                Date:                     53/54
                Provenance:      Ephesus
                Destination:       Church at Corinth
                Purpose:              Addressing issues received in oral reports and written letter from the Corinthians
                Theme:                Practical issues: lawsuits, church discipline, idolatry, marriage, spiritual gifts
                Key Verses:        13:1-3
2nd Corinthians

                Date:                     54/55
                Provenance:      Macedonia, perhaps Philippi
                Destination:       Churches in Corinth and throughout province of Achaia
                Purpose:              Addressing issues received by Titus’ report on the church/ false doctrine/apostles
                Theme:                Nature of new covenant, sacrificial giving, challenging false apostles
                Key Verses:        5:16-21
Romans

                Date:                     Mid-to late 50’s
                Provenance:      Greece, probably Corinth
                Destination:       Several congregations in Rome
                Occasion:             Preparation of Paul’s journey through Rome to Spain
                Purpose:              Promoting Jewish/Gentile unity in the church through the gospel message
                Theme:                Gospel proclaims that God acquits Jew and Gentile who believe in Jesus on the                                                     basis of His sacrificial death
                Key Verses:        1:16-17; 3:21-26
Philippians

                Date:                     Around 59 (likely prior to Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon)
                Provenance:      First Roman imprisonment
                Destination:       Church at Philippi
                Occasion:             Thanksgiving for Philippian support and warning against disunity as hindrance
                Purpose:              Promoting gospel-centered unity for the sake of advancing the gospel
                Theme:                Partnership in the gospel, walking worthy of the gospel in unity
                Key Verses:        1:27-30



Ephesians

                Date:                     Around 60
                Provenance:      First Roman imprisonment
                Destination:       Circular letter or Ephesus
                Purpose:              Promoting cosmic reconciliation and unity in Christ
                Theme:                Summing up of all things in Christ; spiritual warfare
                Key Verses:        1:3-14, especially 1:9-10
Colossians

                Date:                     Around 60
                Provenance:      First Roman imprisonment
                Destination:       Colossae
                Occasion:             Combating false teaching
                Purpose:              Combating false teaching with the supremacy of, and sufficiency in, Christ alone
                Theme:                Christ is complete in every way and thus believers are complete in Christ
                Key Verses:        2:6-10
Philemon

                Date:                     Around 60
                Provenance:      First Roman imprisonment
                Destination:       Philemon
                Occasion:             Onesimus, Philemon’s slave, escapes, meets Paul and converts, and is sent back
                Purpose:              Encouraging Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ and send him                                                     back to Paul
                Theme:                Love and reconciliation in the Body of Christ
                Key Verses:        17-20
1st Timothy

                Date:                     61-66
                Provenance:      Macedonia
                Destination:       Ephesus, where Timothy was leading the Ephesian church
                Occasion:             Instructions in church structure and dealing with issues in the church
                Purpose:              Instructing Timothy in his role as an apostolic delegate; “passing the torch”
                Theme:                Establishing the church for the post-apostolic period
                Key Verses:        1:3-4; 1:18-20



Titus

                Date:                     61-66
                Provenance:      Unknown
                Destination:       Crete, where Titus was leading the Cretian church
                Occasion:             Instructions in church structure and dealing with issues in the church
                Purpose:              Instructing Titus in his role as an apostolic delegate; “passing the torch”
                Theme:                Establishing the church for the post-apostolic period
                Key Verses:        1:5
2nd Timothy

                Date:                     64-66
                Provenance:      Second Roman imprisonment, written shortly before martyrdom
                Destination:       Ephesus, where Timothy was leading the Ephesian church
                Occasion:             Instructions in church structure and dealing with issues in the church
                Purpose:              Instructing Timothy in his role as an apostolic delegate; “passing the torch”
                Theme:                Establishing the church for the post-apostolic period
                Key Verses:        4:1-2
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