Paul's Missionary Journeys and 1 Corinthians Notes

(Originally written January 19, 2006)

Pg. 472-505

-Paul's Second Missionary Journey (A.D. 50) starts with the split between Paul and Barnabas. Paul takes Silas and goes north to Galatia. Barnabas takes John Mark and goes to Cyprus.
-Paul strengthens the churches in Syria and Ciliciaby by giving encouragement and teaching and by giving a copy of the letter from the Jerusalem council.
-Paul picks up Timothy in Lystra

-Paul had Timothy circumcised because his mother was Jewish (Father was Greek). Timothy was a believer before he met Paul, but Paul had Timothy circumcised so that he would not offend Jewish believers (because his mother was Jewish also) which gave him access to the Synagogue. 

-Paul next goes to Troas because the Holy Spirit forbids him to go to Asia (Ephesus) or to Bithynia. 

-While in Troas, Paul receives a vision to go to Macedonia. Paul relays the vision to his companions and they leave for Macedonia immediately (God's will for us??)

-The first church in Europe was probably in Rome, but going into Macedonia was a big step in Christianity's expansion into Europe.

Chapter 23

-Neapolis was the first city they went to. From Nepalis they went to Philippi.

-Philippi had no synagogue because it probably expelled the Jews after Rome did in A.D. 49

-Paul found a group of women praying on the Sabbath. He ministered to Lydia who accepted Christ. Lydia invited Paul and his companions to stay with her and her family. This was the start of the church in Philippi

-One day Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl, who then lost her ability as a fortune teller. Her master then took Paul for a trial because the girl was very profitable as a fortune teller.

-As a result of the trial Paul was beaten and imprisoned.

-During their night in prison an earthquake shook the prison, unlocking all the doors. To avoid trial the guard planned to kill himself. Paul convinced him not to and shared with him the good news. He became a Christian. Paul and Silas was freed in the morning.

-The next big stop was Thessalonica. In Thessalonica Paul preached in the Synagogue and many believed. Out of jealousy, Jewish leaders who did not believe in Jesus started a riot. They took Jason, whom Paul was staying with and brought him to court. They were told to post bond and were released. Later that night Paul was encouraged to leave, so he did.

-Paul then went to Berea. The Jews in Berea checked the facts of Jesus through the Old Testament and many were saved.

-The angry Jews of Thessalonica came to Berea to start riots and stop Paul. Paul left, but Silas remained.

-Paul and Timothy sailed for Athens. Timothy stayed in Athens teaching. Silas was in Berea and Paul returned to Thessalonica to encourage believers.

- In Athens Paul debated with Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. Many Athenians laughed at the idea of the resurrection but some believed. Paul left Athens to go to Corinth.

-Corinth had a population of 500,000. Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and he worked with them as tent makers for several months. While in Corinth, Paul waited for updates from Silas and Timothy.

-Paul's first letter to Thessalonians was one of faith, hope and love. He was encouraging them to stay hopeful despite persecution.

-Paul said they are to avoid sexual immorality and to love one another.

-Paul encourages them that those who died would take part in God's kingdom to come.

-A couple of month's after the first letter Paul wrote a second one to the Thessalonians.

-This letter was to assure them that the day of the Lord had not come and when it did come it would be unmistakeable. 

-It also praises them for growing in love and faith and encouraged them to keep hope despite the continuing persecution.

-Paul ended his letter with some prayer requests and some admonitions.

-Paul signs the letter (wrote it) by himself because forgeries were starting to confuse people.

-Paul "shakes out his clothes" in protest to the unbelieving Jews. This marks a shift in policy to ministering primarily to Gentiles.

-Paul remained in Corinth for a year and a half.

-Paul left Corinth to return to Antioch and give an update. While going through Ephesus he was asked to stay. He declined so that he could return to Antioch, but did leave Priscilla and Aquila to minister there. 

-In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos the resurrection of Jesus because he was already teaching about Jesus' life. Apollos then went to Greece as a missionary.

-Paul traveled to Antioch probably alone. His companions were probably still scattered teaching the good news: Luke in Philippi, Timothy and Silas in Corinth, and Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.

Chapter 24
-Paul stayed in Antioch through the winter then headed back out to the churches he planted. (AD 53).
-When Paul returned to Ephesus he met a group of men who knew of John the Baptist (probably by Apollos before he knew all of Jesus' story). Paul preached to them about the Holy Spirit and they believed.
-Paul spoke and taught in the synagogues of Ephesus for three months and drove a wedge between the Jews. Some believed and some did not. Then Paul taught the Gentiles in Ephesus. This lasted over two years.
-Some Jews were trying to use the name of Jesus in an exorcism. The demon possessed man claimed to know of Jesus and Paul but not them. The demon possessed man then beat the exorcists and the name of Jesus was seen as powerful in that region because of it.
-In Ephesus the silversmiths started a riot because Paul had converted many idol worshippers and they were losing business because no one was buying dos anymore. The riot dispersed and Paul eventually left Ephesus.

-While in Ephesus Paul wrote four letters to Corinth (We have 2).
-First Corinthians was correcting them on instructions he gave in his first letter.
-First Corinthians deals with issues that the modern church still struggles with.

Review of Wednesday

Paul first visited Corinth on the Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:1-18).

4 Letters to Corinth/3 Visits
1st is lost
2nd is First Corinthians (from Ephesus)
3rd is lost - a "sorrowful letter"
4th is Second Corinthians (from Macedonia)

Wrote Romans from Corinth

Sources for Paul in 1 Corinthians
-Chloe's household
-Three individuals
-Letter from Church at Corinth with questions for Paul

Two root problems at Corinth
1) An over-enthusiastic view of the Spirit
-abuse of flashy gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14)
2) An over-realized eschatology:
-felt the future was present (1 Corinthians 4:8-10)

4 Kinds of People
- Natural Person
- Baby Christians (Natural persons who receive salvation)
- Willful Carnal Christians (Baby Christians who experience no growth)
-Spiritual Christians (Baby Christians who grow)

Carnal Christians have legalism, jealousy, guilt, aimlessness, fear, ignorance of spiritual heritage, disobedience, unbelief, poor prayer life, no desire for Bible Study

Church discipline/Restoration

The goal of Church discipline is always restoration.

What sins warrant this act?
-incest
-idle men
-the divisive

"Church discipline is needed when a given sin carries with it the serious possibility of corrupting the whole congregation"

Two extremes to avoid:
1) Becoming legalistic about forbidding all kinds of morally neutral practices
2) Refusing to engage in Church discipline because no one is perfect

I Corinthians 6:1-1: Lawsuits

What kind of cases are in view?
-trivial crimes
-ordinary matters along the lines of civil cases

Key question: will the gospel be promoted by contemplated litigation?

Paul used the courts to spread the Gospel throughout Acts.

Single vs. Marriage

Philosophical dualism background:
"matter" is evil (body)
"spirit" is good (soul)

Libertine/antinomian - "everything is permissible"
ascetic - no sex whatsoever

Do not deprive one another of sexual relations except for:
1) Total agreement
2) Limited time
3) devotion and prayer
(But after that, have at it!)

1 Corinthians 7:6: "this I say by way of concession, not command"

What does Paul allow?
1) Marital relations
2) Temporary abstinence

The ascetic view was pushed on the church by force.

The gift of celibacy comes from the gift of self-control.

What were Paul's reasons for staying single:
1) "The present distress"
2) "The shortening of the time"
3) "To promote what is seemly and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord"

When do spiritual gifts come to you:
1) When you become a Christian
2) More dynamic - when you need it
3) Pray for it, desire it (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, 14:39)

Tongues - Ecstatic utterances or known foreign Languages?
-Both

What purpose do tongues have?
-The charismatic praise of God

Guidelines for tongues?
-two or three at the most should speak in Church with an interpreter. No interpreter, no tongues