early years © john stevenson, 2010. dr. john t. stevenson family life academic life

Early Years

© John Stevenson, 2010

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Professional Life

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Professional Life

• Spiritual Life

• Ministry Life

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

Group IntroductionsGroup Introductions

• Your name

• Your home church

• Where are you in the TIU process?

• What is your current ministry within the Kingdom?

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

http://JohnStevenson.net

JohnStevenson@Bellsouth.net

Jstevens@mail.tiu.edu

BI 318E 2.2

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Early years

Paul the Bishop

Church planter & overseer

Paul’s Gospel

Paul the Theologian

Birth to Greece Corinth

Epistle to the

Romans

The Prison Epistles

The Pastoral Epistles

TextbookTextbook

• Paul & His Letters. John Polhill, 1999

• TIU Article Packet

The World at The World at the Opening the Opening of the New of the New TestamentTestament

The World at The World at the Close of the Close of

the Old the Old TestamentTestament

The World at The World at the Opening the Opening of the New of the New TestamentTestament

• World Rulers

• Language

• Culture

The World at The World at the Close of the Close of

the Old the Old TestamentTestament

Amos

Old Old Testament Testament completedcompleted

400 BC

Birth ofBirth ofJesusJesus

5 BC?

Malachi?

400 Silent Years400 Silent Years

Amos

Old Old Testament Testament completedcompleted

400 BC

AlexanderAlexanderconquersconquers

the Persianthe PersianEmpireEmpire

331 BC

Birth ofBirth ofJesusJesus

5 BC?

Persian Empire

Malachi?

Alexanderthe Great

Ptolemy

Seleucids

Ptolemy

Amos

Hasmoneankings

Old Old Testament Testament completedcompleted

400 BC

AlexanderAlexanderconquersconquers

the Persianthe PersianEmpireEmpire

331 BC

MaccabbeeMaccabbeeRebellionRebellion

167 BC

Birth ofBirth ofJesusJesus

5 BC?

Persian Empire

Malachi?

Hellenistic KingsHellenistic Kings• PtolemiesPtolemies• SeleucidsSeleucids

RomeRome

Alexanderthe Great

• Commissioned to Commissioned to clear the seas of clear the seas of piracypiracy

• Conquests in SyriaConquests in Syria

• Conquest of Conquest of JerusalemJerusalem

• JudeaJudea

40 – 4 B.C.40 – 4 B.C.

Zerubbabel’s TempleSeleucid AdditionHasmonean ExpansionHerod’s Temple

• The PhariseesThe Pharisees

• The SadduceesThe Sadducees

• The EssenesThe Essenes

• The ZealotsThe Zealots

What do we know of Paul’s What do we know of Paul’s early life?early life?

When they had When they had driven him out driven him out of the city, they of the city, they began began stoning stoning himhim; and the ; and the

witnesses laid witnesses laid aside their aside their

robes at the robes at the feet of a young feet of a young

man named man named Saul (Acts Saul (Acts

7:58).7:58).

Acts 8:3 Acts 8:3 But Saul began ravaging the

church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Acts 9:1-2 Acts 9:1-2 Now Saul, still breathing threats

and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Damascus

Jerusalem

As he was As he was traveling, it traveling, it

happened that happened that he was he was

approaching approaching Damascus, and Damascus, and suddenly a light suddenly a light

from heaven from heaven flashed around flashed around him (Acts 9:3)him (Acts 9:3)

Damascus

Jerusalem

……and he fell to and he fell to the ground and the ground and heard a voice heard a voice saying to him, saying to him,

“Saul, Saul, why “Saul, Saul, why are you are you

persecuting persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4)Me?” (Acts 9:4)

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He saidsaid, “I am Jesus whom you are , “I am Jesus whom you are

persecuting, persecuting, 66 but get up and enter the city, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” and it will be told you what you must do.”

(Acts 9:5-6).(Acts 9:5-6).

And immediately And immediately there fell from his there fell from his

eyes something like eyes something like scales, and he scales, and he

regained his sight, regained his sight, and he got up and and he got up and was baptized (Acts was baptized (Acts

9:18).9:18).

……and he took food and he took food and was strengthened. and was strengthened. Now for several days Now for several days

he was with the he was with the disciples who were at disciples who were at

Damascus, Damascus, 2020 and and immediately he immediately he began began to proclaim Jesus in to proclaim Jesus in

the synagogues, the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son saying, “He is the Son

of God.” of God.” (Acts 9:19-20).(Acts 9:19-20).

Acts 9:21Acts 9:21All those hearing him continued to

be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”

Acts 9:23-25Acts 9:23-25When many days had elapsed, the

Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

Damascus

Jerusalem

When he came When he came to Jerusalem, he to Jerusalem, he

was trying to was trying to associate with associate with

the disciples; but the disciples; but they were all they were all

afraid of him, not afraid of him, not believing that he believing that he was a disciple. was a disciple.

(Acts 9:26)(Acts 9:26)

Acts 9:27Acts 9:27But Barnabas took hold of him and

brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:28-29Acts 9:28-29And he was with them, moving

about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

But when the But when the brethren brethren

learned learned of itof it, , they brought they brought him down to him down to

Caesarea and Caesarea and sent him away sent him away

to Tarsus. to Tarsus. (Acts 9:30).(Acts 9:30).

Tarsus

Jerusalem

Antioch

Tarsus

Seleucia

But there were some of them, But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and who came to Antioch and

began began speaking to the Greeks speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord also, preaching the Lord

Jesus (Acts 11:20).Jesus (Acts 11:20).

Cyprus

Antioch

Tarsus

Seleucia

And the hand of the Lord was And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large with them, and a large

number who believed turned number who believed turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21).to the Lord. (Acts 11:21).

Cyprus

Antioch

Tarsus

Seleucia

The news about them The news about them reached the ears of the reached the ears of the

church at Jerusalem, and they church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

(Acts 11:22).(Acts 11:22).

Cyprus

Antioch

Tarsus

Seleucia

And he left for Tarsus to look And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; for Saul; 2626 and when he had and when he had found him, he brought him to found him, he brought him to

Antioch (Acts 11:25-26a).Antioch (Acts 11:25-26a).

Antioch

Tarsus

Seleucia

And for an entire year they And for an entire year they met with the church and met with the church and

taught considerable numbers; taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch called Christians in Antioch

(Acts 11:26b).(Acts 11:26b).

Acts 11:27-28Acts 11:27-28Now at this time some prophets

came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

Acts 11:29-30Acts 11:29-30And in the proportion that any of

the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

And in the proportion that And in the proportion that any of the disciples had any of the disciples had

means, each of them means, each of them determined to send determined to send a a

contribution contribution for the relief of for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. the brethren living in Judea.

3030 And this they did, And this they did, sending it in charge of sending it in charge of

Barnabas and Saul to the Barnabas and Saul to the elders (Acts 11:29-30).elders (Acts 11:29-30).

Acts 13:1Acts 13:1Now there were at Antioch, in

the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:2Acts 13:2While they were ministering to

the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:3Acts 13:3Then, when they had fasted and

prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

…the proconsul,

Sergius Paulus, a

man of intelligence (Acts 13:7)

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

Psidian Antioch

Perga

Antioch inPsidia

Temple of Augustus

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

Pisidian Antioch

Iconium

Lystra Derbe

Perga

SyrianAntioch

Tarsus

Salamis

Seleucia

Paphos

Pisidian Antioch

Iconium

Lystra Derbe

Perga

Acts 14:26-28 Acts 14:26-28 From there they sailed to

Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.

Acts 15Acts 15

Our Freedom Our Freedom in Christin Christ

Gala

tia

The QuestionThe Question

How does one become right with God?

Faith in Christ alone

Faith in Christ plus

circumcision

Key Points in Paul’s PurposeKey Points in Paul’s Purpose

• To establish his apostleship as being independent of Jerusalem and the other apostles.

• To demonstrate that a man is justified through faith alone.

• To establish the method of Christian living that is not according to the keeping of the Law, but through the Spirit’s work in our lives as we live in faith and in love.

Style of WritingStyle of Writing

• I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him (1:6).

• If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (1:9).

• You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? (3:1).

• Are you so foolish? (3:3). • I wish that those who are troubling you would

even mutilate themselves (5:12).

This epistle is short and to the point. Its style is This epistle is short and to the point. Its style is abrupt, passionate and full of strong emotion. abrupt, passionate and full of strong emotion.

Chapters 1-2 Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6

History

Vindication

Paul’sapostleship

& vindication come from

the Lord

Galatians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle (not sent from

men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…

Galatians 1:6-9 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Paul and JerusalemPaul and Jerusalem

• Paul’s Gospel did not come from Jerusalem (Chapter 1)

• Paul’s Gospel did not change in Jerusalem (2:1-10)

• Paul’s gospel was not changed by Jerusalem when they came to Antioch (2:11-16)

Jerusalem

Antioch

Chapters 1-2 Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6

History Doctrine

Vindication Exposition

Paul’sapostleship

& vindication come from

the Lord

Man is justifiedthrough faith

alone

Who hasBewitched

You? Did you receive the Spirit by the

works of the Law, or by

hearing with faith?

Are youso foolish?Having begun by

the Spirit, are you now being perfected

by the flesh?

Did you sufferso many things

in vain?

Does God givethe Spirit and

Miracles by theLaw or by Faith?

Salvation isSalvation isthrough faiththrough faith

Appeal toof Abraham

Appeal tothe Law

Appeal tothe Tutor

Appeal toAdoption

Appeal to the Covenant

Promise

Appeal tofriendshipAppeal to

Scripture

Chapters 1-2 Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6

History Doctrine Practice

Vindication Exposition Application

Paul’sapostleship

& vindication come from

the Lord

Man is justifiedthrough faith

alone

We are to walkby faith and

love

If you are free…If you are free…

Don’t be entangledin a yoke of bondage Don’t turn your

Freedom into anOpportunity for

The flesh

Walk bythe Spirit

Bear oneanother’sBurdens

Share allgood things

Do good toall men

Galatians 6:14-16Galatians 6:14-16 But may it never be that I

would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

GalatiansOur Freedom

in Christ

John Stevenson