Corpus-Paul

["John C. Hurd" <John.Hurd AT Squam.org>]

I realize that the discussion of Pauline chronology has died down, but I
have been meaning to post the outline of Paul's life that I have used
with students for several generations.  I also realize that there are
those who consider chronology irrelevant when discussing Paul's
theology.  There are reasons for this point of view, the weakness of
which I have tried to clarify in my Origin of 1 Cor., and I will not
repeat myself here.
    Anyhow, this is an attempt to collect and sort out all the
sequential data that I  and my students could find in the letters alone,
with the judicious addition of some traditions found only in Acts.
    All the best!          --        John

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::  Prof. John C. Hurd            Internet: John.Hurd AT Squam.org
::  Bradgate Arms, Rm. 210   Tel.: (416) 935-4010
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                                                         ver. 1.4
                     OUTLINE OF PAUL'S LIFE
                     Professor John C. Hurd

a. early period

      Persecuted the early Christian Church (Gal. 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:9) 
          [Acts 7:58; 8:1a, 3; 9:1-2, 4, 13-14, 21, 26; 22:4-5, 7, 19-20].

34 C.E.   Converted at Damascus (Gal. 1:15-16) [Acts 9:1-22; 22:4-16; 
26:9-18].
      Sojourned in Arabia (Gal. 1:17a).
      Returned to Damascus (Gal. 1:17b).  
      In trouble with King Aretas; escaped through (or over) the city wall in 
a basket
          (2 Cor. 11:32-33) [Acts 9:23-25].

37    First ("Acquaintance") Visit to Jerusalem ("after three years"). 
      Stayed two weeks seeing only Peter and James (Gal. 1:18-19) [cf. Acts
          9:26-30?].

B. Missionary Period

      Missionary work in Syria (Antioch) and Cilicia (Tarsus) (Gal. 1:21).
      [Missionary work in Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch (Acts  13).]
      [Missionary work in southern Galatia, i.e., in Iconium, Lystra, and 
Derbe
          (Acts 14:1-23; 16:1-6).]  Visited there only because of illness 
(Gal.
          4:13-14).
      [By-passed Ephesus and went to Macedonia via Troas (Acts  16:6-12)?]
      Founded Church in Philippi "in the beginning of the Gospel"  (Phil. 
4:15; 1:5)
          [cf. Acts 16:12-40].
      Experienced a severe persecution (1 Thess. 2:2; Phil. 1:30) [cf. Acts
          16:19-39].
      Founded church in Thessalonica (2 Thess. 2:13-15; Phil. 4:16) [cf. Acts
          17:1-9].
      Twice received money from the Philippian church (Phil. 4:16).
      Preached "in the face of great opposition" (1 Thess. 2:2) [cf. Acts 
17:5].
      Message: Caligula is the "anti-Christ" and therefore the end of this 
age is at
          hand (2 Thess. 2:3-5).
      Founded church in Corinth with Silvanus and Timothy (2 Cor.  1:19; 
10:14;
          1 Cor. 3:6; 4:15) [cf. Acts 18:1-18].
      Baptized Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas (1 Cor. 1:14-16;
          16:15; Rom. 16:23).
      Received financial support from Philippi (Phil. 4:15).

    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

40    Heard that the Thessalonian church was being persecuted and that 
Caligula's
          attempt to have his statue erected in the Temple at Jerusalem had 
caused
          them to believe that the Day of the Lord had already come (2 Thess.
          1:4-7; 2:1-2).

      
41                       2 THESSALONIANS
     .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

      Worked in Illyricum (Rom. 15:19)?
     .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

      Worked in Athens. Sent Timothy to Thessalonica to learn whether 
persecution
          had caused the Thessalonians to defect (1 Thess. 3:1-5).
      Timothy rejoined Paul (1 Thess. 3:6) as Paul was on his way to 
Jerusalem,
          bringing good news and questions from the Thessalonians (by 
letter?).

46                  1 THESSALONIANS in reply.

47    Second ("Conference") Visit to Jerusalem (after "fourteen  years")
          with Barnabas and Titus taking famine relief from Antioch (Gal. 
2:1-10)
          [cf. Acts 11:27-30; 12:25; 15:2-33].
      Apostolic Council giving Paul authority over his mission  field but 
binding him
          to require of his Gentile converts the three minimum points of 
Jewish
          morality (avoid idolatry, immorality, and blood; Acts 15:20, 29; 
21:25)
          and to collect money for the Jerusalem church from his converts 
(Gal.
          2:10; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8--9; Rom. 15:25-28).

C. Collection Period

                  "PREVIOUS" LETTER (to Corinth)

      The letter (see 1 Cor. 5:9-11) contained the Apostolic Decree and an
          announcement of the Collection for the Saints (a fragment survives 
as
          2 Cor. 6:14--7:1).
      In trouble with Judaizers in Antioch (Gal. 2:11-14)  [cf. Acts 15:1].

Spring    Traveled to Galatia (1 Cor. 16:1) and then to Ephesus
48        (1 Cor. 16:8, 19) enlisting support for the Collection.

                   Reply Letter (from Corinth)

      This letter (see 1 Cor. 7:1) was brought by Stephanas,  Fortunatas, and
          Achaicus (1 Cor. 16:17).
      Gossip about the Corinthian church was brought by "Chloe's household"
          (1 Cor. 1:11).

Passover                  1 CORINTHIANS

      Written in answer to the Corinthians' Reply Letter and the oral news 
from
          "Chloe's people".  Sent via the same three messengers (1 Cor. 
16:18).
      Contained Paul's first set of travel plans: Ephesus --> Macedonia --> 
Corinth
          (for the winter) --> Jerusalem (1 Cor. 16:3-7).
Summer
      Heard of trouble in Corinth (perhaps concerning the  "incestuous" man, 
1 Cor.
          5:1-8, 13b).
      Made unplanned and unsuccessful ("painful", 2 Cor. 2:1) visit by ship to
          Corinth and returned to Ephesus.

                   "SEVERE" LETTER (to Corinth)

      This letter dealt with the trouble in acid terms (2 Cor.  2:3-4, 9; 
7:8-12).
      Sent via Titus (2 Cor. 7:13-14).
      Contained the second set of travel plans: Ephesus --> Corinth (to check 
on
          their obedience) --> Macedonia --> Corinth --> Jerusalem.

Fall     "Affliction in Asia" (i.e., Ephesus; 2 Cor. 1:8).  
      Arrested, put in prison, and faced with a death sentence (2 Cor. 1:8-9).
      News of his imprisonment reached Philippi and the church sent 
Epaphroditus
          with money (Phil. 2:25).
      Epaphroditus found Paul and then fell very seriously ill (Phil. 2:27, 
30).
      News of his illness reached Philippi, and Paul and Epaphroditus 
received news
          of their concern (Phil. 2:26).
      Epaphroditus then recovered (Phil. 2:27).

                           PHILIPPIANS

      Epaphroditus took this letter to Philippi (Phil. 2:28-29).
      Paul planned to send Timothy with news as soon as the verdict was 
announced,
          and he hoped to be able to visit the Philippians himself if the 
verdict were
          favourable (Phil. 2:19-24).
      He warned the Philippians against possible arrival of Judaizers (Phil. 
3:2-21).

Spring   Released from prison safely.
49    Traveled to Troas and then to Macedonia in search of Titus to learn the 
effect
          of the "Severe" Letter (2 Cor. 2:12, 14).
      Found Titus in Macedonia and learned of the obedience of the Corinthians
          (2 Cor. 7:5-16).

Pentecost               2 CORINTHIANS 1-9

      Paul sent this letter via Titus (2 Cor. 8:17).  
      Titus was accompanied by a representative of the  Jerusalem church ("our
          brother", 2 Cor. 8:18-19) and another "brother" (2 Cor. 8:22).
      Received news of Judaizers working in Galatia.

                            GALATIANS
                              ROMANS

      Received news of Judaizers working in Corinth.

                       2 CORINTHIANS 10-13

Fall  Sailed from Philippi on his way to Jerusalem with the collection money 
but
          with apprehensions (Rom. 15:25-33) [Acts 20:4--21:16].

      Third (Final) Visit to Jerusalem -- Arrest [Acts 21:17--23:11]

D. Final Period

      Caesarean Imprisonment [Acts 23:12--24:27]

                            COLOSSIANS
                             PHILEMON
                "EPHESIANS" (probably to Laodicea)

55?   Arrival of Festus; Paul sent to Rome [Acts 25:1--28:14]
56-58?    Roman imprisonment [Acts 28:15-31]