A suggested chronology for Paul's letters

1. A chronology of Paul’s
letters
Laindon Bible Class – 11th December 2013

2. Our approach
• Scope of Paul’s writings
• The life of Paul
• The key characteristics of each epistle
• A suggested chronology
• Some learning points for us
Chronology of Paul's Letters
2

3. Scope of Paul’s writings
• Canon of NT scripture:
– Order of the 27 books
– Completeness of Paul’s 13/14 letters
NB Epistle to the Laodiceans & 3rd & 4th Epistle to the Corinthians?
• Scriptural significance:
– About half the number of books in the NT
– About 25/30% of the words in the NT
• Profound doctrinal content
NB Facilitated but not influenced by his training at the feet of Gamaliel
Chronology of Paul's Letters
3

4. The life of Paul
• Born in Tarsus circa 3BC
• Raised a Pharisee at the feet of Gamaliel
(Acts 22:3)
• Originally named Saul (“desired”) but
renamed Paul (“small or little”) after his
conversion (cf 1 Corinthians 15:9 & Ephesians 3:8)
• Lived an extremely demanding life (2 Cor 11)
• By tradition was beheaded by Emperor
Nero circa 67AD at the age of 70
Chronology of Paul's Letters
4

5. Tarsus
Tarsus:
• 10 miles from the sea
• About 160 miles from
Antioch (overland)
• Over 500 miles from
Jerusalem
Chronology of Paul's Letters
5

6. Paul’s travels
Chronology of Paul's Letters
6

7. The main events in Paul’s life - 1
Circa 3BC
Jesus crucified
Saul born in Tarsus
Stephen stoned
35AD
Cornelius baptised
34AD
Saul travels to Damascus
38AD
Paul escapes to Jerusalem
43/45AD
Paul Antioch/Jerusalem
46AD
Jerusalem council
1st missionary journey
49AD
Paul in Antioch
49AD
2nd missionary journey
Estimated dates & timeline not to scale
Chronology of Paul's Letters
7

8. The main events in Paul’s life - 2
Circa 50AD
Paul in Athens
Rome founds London 51AD
Paul in Corinth
52AD
In Ephesus & Jerusalem
53AD
3rd missionary journey
In Corinth & Jerusalem
In prison Caesarea
59/60AD
Journey to Rome
61/62AD
Paul executed
Paul in Ephesus
58/59AD
Rome burned
54/55AD
56/57AD
Nero emperor
Under house arrest
63/65AD
In Macedonia & Asia
66/67AD
Re-imprisoned in Rome
Chronology of Paul's Letters
8

9. Key characteristics – 1
Epistle
• Romans
Characteristics
• Written from Corinth
• Teaching concerning God’s dealings
with man – “Paul’s gospel”
• Written prior to an intended visit
• 1 Corinthians
• Written in Ephesus (probably 2nd letter)
• Written on his way to Corinth
• Deals with issues arising in the
ecclesia at Corinth
Chronology of Paul's Letters
9

10. Key characteristics – 2
Epistle
• 2 Corinthians
Characteristics
• Written in Macedonia (Philippi?)
• Following up on issues and seeking to
establish his apostolic authority
• Written shortly before his visit
• Galatians
• Written in Antioch
• Between his 1st & 2nd missionary
journeys before Council of Jerusalem
• Deals with the basic principles of
God’s plan of salvation
Chronology of Paul's Letters
10

11. Key characteristics – 3
Epistle
• Ephesians
Characteristics
• Written from Rome
• Teaching on our relationship with God
through Jesus and great exhortation
• Written whilst under house arrest
• Philippians
• Also written from Rome
• Letter of thanks and encouragement
together with some warnings
• Probably near end of house arrest
Chronology of Paul's Letters
11

12. Key characteristics – 4
Epistle
• Colossians
Characteristics
• Another letter from Rome
• A forthright denial of the false teaching
of Judaizers plus exhortation
• Also whilst under house arrest
• 1 Thessalonians
• Written in Corinth
• Written at the time he was founding the
Corinthian Ecclesia
• Contains exhortation, comfort and
some warnings
Chronology of Paul's Letters
12

13. Key characteristics – 5
Epistle
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
Characteristics
• Also written in Corinth
• Correcting misunderstandings and
errors in the ecclesia
• Written shortly after first letter
• Written from Macedonia having left
Timothy in Ephesus
• Probably written after Paul’s release
• A pastoral epistle giving Timothy
guidance on ecclesial life
Chronology of Paul's Letters
13

14. Key characteristics – 6
Epistle
• 2 Timothy
Characteristics
• Written in Rome on 2nd imprisonment
• Another pastoral epistle giving advice
on walk in Christ & saying farewell
• Asks Timothy to come to him
• Titus
• Probably written shortly before his 2nd
arrest & return to Rome (also pastoral)
• Written after Paul left Titus in Crete
• Warnings about false teaching & advice
on sound doctrine and good works
Chronology of Paul's Letters
14

15. Key characteristics – 7
Epistle
• Philemon
Characteristics
• Written in Rome
• A personal appeal to Philemon
regarding his slave Onesimus
• Also written whilst under house arrest
• Hebrews
• Probably also written in Rome
• Some persuasive arguments for Paul
being the writer
• Written to Jewish Christians explaining
Christ’s role in the new dispensation
Chronology of Paul's Letters
15

16. Thus suggested chronology
• 49AD Galatians
• 61/62AD Philippians
• 51AD 1st Thessalonians
Colossians
• 52AD 2nd Thessalonians
Philemon
• 55AD 1st Corinthians
Hebrews
• 56AD 2nd Corinthians
• 62/63AD 1st Timothy
• 57AD Romans
• 65/66AD Titus
• 60AD Ephesians
2nd Timothy
Chronology of Paul's Letters
16

17. Some lessons for us
• The obvious but none the less powerful
example of Paul’s devotion to the work of
the Lord
• Paul’s unending attention to the needs of
his brethren and his disregard of his own
welfare
• The diligence that Paul gave to exhorting
and encouraging the brethren but at the
same time correcting & rooting out error
Chronology of Paul's Letters
17