Chronological Life Application Study Bible 2nd Edition - Flipbook - Page 9
freedom to travel widely without great difficulty. Additionally, the Roman investments in infrastructure like
roads and consistent shipping lanes sped missionaries on
their way. The widespread use of the Greek language gave
them the ability to communicate clearly wherever they
found themselves, and the security of Roman citizenship
protected Paul and other early believers from unfair
treatment by authorities. The Jewishness of Jesus’ first
followers was also a benefit, since Judaism was a religion
officially recognized by the Roman government. God used
all of these factors to help spread the gospel rapidly in the
first century.
BOOKS IN THIS SECTION
ACTS OF THE
APOSTLES
AUTHOR:
Luke (a Gentile physician)
AUDIENCE:
Theophilus
PURPOSE: To give an accurate account of the birth and
growth of the Christian church
Acts is the connecting link between the life of
Jesus and the life of his followers, between the Gospels
and the Letters.
SETTING:
Acts is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke.
Because Acts ends so abruptly, Luke may have planned to
write a third book, continuing the story.
SPECIAL FEATURE:
2 CORINTHIANS
AUTHOR:
Paul
AUDIENCE:
DATE WRITTEN:
This is an intensely personal and
autobiographical letter. In 1 Corinthians, Paul used strong
words to correct and teach. Most of the believers had
responded in the right spirit; there were, however, those
who were denying Paul’s authority and questioning his
motives.
GALATIANS
AUTHOR:
Paul
AUDIENCE:
The believers in Rome
To introduce Paul to the Romans and to give a
sample of his message before he arrives in Rome
PURPOSE:
DATE WRITTEN:
About a.d. 54, from Corinth
SPECIAL FEATURE: Paul wrote Romans as an organized
and carefully presented statement of his faith—it does
not have the form of a typical letter.
Approximately a.d. 54, from Macedonia
SPECIAL FEATURES:
ROMANS
AUTHOR:
The believers in Corinth
To affirm Paul’s ministry, defend his authority
as an apostle, and refute the false teachers in Corinth
PURPOSE:
Paul
Likely the congregations in southern Galatia,
founded on Paul’s first missionary journey (including
Iconium, Lystra, Derbe)
AUDIENCE:
To refute those who taught that Gentile
believers must obey the Jewish Law in order to be saved,
and to call all believers to faith and freedom in Jesus
PURPOSE:
Approximately a.d. 49, from Antioch,
prior to the Jerusalem council
DATE WRITTEN:
Paul writes an impassioned letter responding
to the most pressing controversy facing the Messiah’s
followers: the relationship of new believers, particularly
Gentiles, to the Jewish Law.
SETTING:
1 CORINTHIANS
AUTHOR:
Paul
AUDIENCE:
The believers in Corinth
To identify problems in the Corinthian community of faith, to offer solutions, and to teach the believers how to live for Jesus in a corrupt society
EPHESIANS
PURPOSE:
Approximately a.d. 53, during Paul’s
three-year ministry in Ephesus, during his third missionary journey
DATE WRITTEN:
SPECIAL FEATURE:
letter.
This is a strong, straight-forward
AUTHOR:
Paul
The believers at Ephesus, then circulated to
neighboring local congregations
AUDIENCE:
To strengthen believers in Ephesus in their
faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the community of believers, the Messiah’s people
PURPOSE:
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