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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