The work and teachings of the apostles

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Introduction

The records and background of the apostolic age

I. The records of the works and teachings of the apostles

I. The significance of the apostolic age

II. The New Testament letters and epistles

III. The aim of the book of Acts

IV. Its authorship and date

V. The Early sources quoted in Acts 1:1-15:35

VI. Later traditions in 1:1-15:35

VIII. The Journal of travel

II. The historical and religious background of the apostolic age

I. The rulers of Rome

II. What Rome did for Christianity

III. Contemporary Palestinian Judaism

IV. The Judaism of the Dispersion

V. The Greek philosophies

VI. The emperor-worship

VII. The mystery-religions

VIII. The religious and social needs of the masses in the Roman Empire

Primitive Christianity in Palestine and Syria

CXLVI. The origin of the Jerusalem Christian community

Acts 1:13-16, 1:20-25, 2:1, 2:2, 2:4, 2:6a, 2:12-41

I. The return of the Disciples to Jerusalem

II. The choice of a successor to Judas

III. The story of the Day of Pentecost

IV. The coming of the Spirit

V. Peter's memorable sermon

VI. The faith of the early Christian believers

CXLVII. The life of the primitive Christian community

Acts 2:44-4:14, 4:21-26, 4:29-37, 5:1-16

I. The historical record

II. The healing of the lane beggar

III. Peter's interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies

IV. His defense before Jesus' murderers V. The effect of the release of Peter and John upon the Christian community

VI. The communistic tendencies of the believers

VII. The story of Ananias and Sapphira

VIII. The religious life of the Jerusalem Christians

CXLVIII. The work and death of Stephen

Acts 6:1-7:5, 7:8b-60, 8:2

I. The story of Stephen's martyrdom

II. The appointment of the seven

III. Stephen's discussions with the Hellenistic Jews

IV. The logic of Stephen's speech

V. His death

CXLIX. The expansion of Christianity after the death of Stephen

Acts 8:1b, 8:4-40, 11:19, 11:20, 11:24, 11:26b, 12:1-23

I. The far-reaching effects of Stephen's martyrdom

II. The Samaritan field

III. The results of Philip's preaching in Samaria

IV. His conversation with the Ethiopian eunuch

V. The spread of Christianity to Antioch

VI. The persecution of the Jerusalem Christians by Herod Agrippa I

VII. Peter's changing attitude toward the Gentiles

VIII. The limitations and significance of early Palestinian Christianity

Paul's work and teachings

CL. Paul's early training and conversion

Acts 22:3, Gal. 1:13, 1:14, Acts 26:9-18, Gal. 1:15-17, Acts 26:20a, II Cor. 11:32, 11:33, Gal. 1:18-24

I. Paul's inheritance

II. His personality

III. His early environment at Tarsus IV. His training at Jerusalem

V. His zeal as a persecutor

VI. The four accounts of his conversion

VII. His transforming psychological experience

VIII. His first fifteen years of missionary activity

CLI. Paul's first missionary campaign

Acts 22:3, Gal. 1:13, Acts 26:9-18, Gal. 1:15-17, Acts 26:20a, 2 Cor. 11:32-33, Gal. 1:18-24

I. Paul's work at Antioch

II. The sending forth of Barabbas and Paul

III. Their work in Cyprus

IV. The mission field in southern Asia minor

V. At Galatian Antioch

VI. The apostles' work at Iconium and Lustra

CLII. The Breaking of Jewish Bonds

Gal. 2:1-16, Acts 15:1-35

I. The burning problem in the Christian church

The accounts of the way in which it was solved

III. Paul's interview with the "pillars" at Jerusalem

IV. Problems arising from the association of Jewish and Gentile Christians

V. Paul's controversy with Peter

VI. The significance of the breaking of Jewish bonds

CLIII. Paul's second visit and later letter to the church of Galatia

Acts 15:36-16:3, Gal. 1:1-9, 3:1-7, 3:23-29, 4:1-20, 5:2-6, 5:13-6:18

I. Date and aim of Paul's second missionary campaign

II. Revisiting the Galatian churches

III. The occasion of Paul's letter to the Galatians IV. The literary structure and contents of Galatians

V. Paul's interpretation of the significance of the Jewish law and of the work of Jesus

VI. The responsibilities of spiritual liberty

CLIV. Paul's missionary work in Macedonia

Acts 16:6-17:15

I. Paul's quest of a new mission field

II. His vision at Troas

III. His work at Philippi

IV. The founding of the church at Thessalonica

V. Paul's work at Beroea

VI. The result of his work in Macedonia

CLV. Pau's Letters to the Christians at Thessalonica

1 Thess. 1:1-10, 2:1-5:5, 5:12-28, 2 Thess. 1:1-5, 2:1-7, 3

I. The general structure of Paul's letters

II. Their literary characteristics

III. The occasion of his first letter to the Thessalonians

IV. Its contents

V. The contents and authenticity of II Thessalonians

VI. Paul's aim in II Thessalonians

CLVI. Paul's work at Athens and Corinth

Acts 17:16-18:18a

I. The Athens of Paul's day

His attitude toward its intellectual and religious life

III. His address to the Athenian crowd

IV. His skill as an orator

V. His problems and methods at Corinth

VI. The results of his work in Corinth

CLVII. Paul's correspondence with the Corinthian church

1 Cor. 1:1-6, 1:10-17a, 1:21-29, 2:1-5, 2:11-16, 3:1-7, 3:9-11, 3:17, 3:21-28, 4:8-5:6a, 5:9-13, 15:12-28, 15:12-28, 15:35-38, 15:42-44, 15:49-58, 16:1-7, 16:10-14, 2 Cor. 10:1-6, 11:1-6, 12:14, 12:15, 13:2-5, 1:1-4, 1:13, 2:1-10a, 6:11-13, 7:2-4, 8:1-6, 9:1, 9:2, 9:10-15

I. Conditions in the church at Corinth that called forth Paul's letters

II. His first letter to the Corinthian Christians

III. His second letter to the Corinthians

IV. His third letter to the Corinthians

V. His fourth letter to the Corinthians

CLVIII. Paul's principles of Christian living

1 Cor. 6, 7:10-24, 8:1-4, 8:7-9, 8:12, 8:13, 9:13-27, 10:12, 10:13, 10:31-33, 12:12-31, 13:1-14:5, 14:12, 14:18, 14:19, 14:26-33a, 14:37-40

I. Paul's teaching regarding the Christian's duty in his economic relations

II. His advice regarding sex questions and divorce

III. His practical application of Jesus' law of love

IV. "The body of Christ"

V. Paul's immortal hymn on praise of love

CLIX. Paul's ministry at Ephesus

Acts 18:19-20:33

I. Paul's Journey to Syria

II. The political and religious importance of Ephesus

III. The conditions that confronted Paul at Ephesus

IV. His method of work at Ephesus

V. His conflict with the pagan cults VI. The results of his work at Ephesus

CLX. Paul's interpretation of Jesus' saving work

Romans 1:1, 1:5-25, 2:6-13, 3:9-12, 3:20-31, 4:13-17b, 5:1-11, 8, 11:33-36

I. Date and aim of Paul's epistle to the Romans

II. Its structure

III. Paul's estimate of the Jewish law

IV. The influence which shaped his conception of Jesus

V. His doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ

CLXI. Paul's social teachings

Romans 12:1-14:18, 15:1-9, 15:16b-21

I. The two sides of Paul's personality and teaching

II. His reassertion of Jesus' social teachings

III. His restatement of Jesus' social ideal

IV. The Christian's responsibility as a member of society

V. His duties of toleration and consideration for others

VI. His obligation to men of all races

CLXII. Paul's last journey to Jerusalem

Acts 24:1-40, 22:21-23:21a, 23:22-25a, 23:31-35

I. The record of Paul's journey to Jerusalem and Rome

II. His reasons for revisiting Jerusalem

III. His reception at Jerusalem

IV. The Jewish attack

V. The results of Paul's visit to Jerusalem

CLXIII. The ambassador in bonds

I. Paul's imprisonment under Felix

II. The date of the procuratorships of Felix and Festus

III. Paul's reasons for appealing to Caesar

IV. The story of his shipwreck

V. His journey to Rome

VI. The end of the race

CLXIV. The last letters of the aged prisoner

I. Paul's last letters

II. The occasion of his letter to Philemon

III. The purpose and thought of his epistle to the Colossians

IV. The identity of the so-called "epistle to the Ephesians"

V. Paul's love-letter to the Philippians

VI. His contributions to Christianity

Christianity during the second half of the first century CLXV. The message of hope and inspiration in I Peter

I. The later years of the apostle Peter

II. His martyrdom

III. The growth of the Western church

IV. The persecution of the Christians by Domitian

V. The aim and contents of I Peter

VI. Its authorship and date

CLXVI. The early Christian sermon in Hebrews

I. The literary form of the epistle to the Hebrews

II. Its authorship and history

III. The aim of the sermon in Hebrews

IV. Its theme and the development of its thought

V. Its charm and power

CLXVII. The vision of the ultimate victory of Christianity in the book of Revelation

I. The aim of the book of Revelation

II. Its theme and literary character

III. Its authorship and date

IV. Its contents and sources

V. Its interpretation

CLXVIII. The Christian wisdom of the epistle of James

I. The literary form of the epistle of James

II. Its aim

III. Its authorship and date

IV. Its contributions to developing Christianity

V. Its democracy

CLXIX. The rule of love in the early Christian Church

I. The aim and thought of I John

II. Its authorship and date

III. The personality back of the Johannine writings

IV. The life of the early Christians

V. The essence of Christianity