Introduction

In the early 1500’s Michelangelo spent four years painting a 5,000 square foot masterpiece on the ceiling of Sistine chapel in the Vatican. Imagine that you’ve spent years studying this painting—but have never seen it from more than twelve inches away! You might have a great appreciation for the detail, the colors, the brush strokes—but you’ve never seen the big picture!

Regrettably, that is the only way many Christians have seen the Bible. They may read a verse or even a chapter as part of their daily devotions, but many Christians have never read an entire New Testament book in one sitting. They may know a lot of verses, but they don’t have a grasp on the big picture. more

Chapter 5 - Paul's Third Journey: Romans

After sending Titus to deliver Second Corinthians, Paul continued his ministry in Macedonia. In Paul’s letter to the Romans (below) Paul says that he had ministered all the way to Illyricum (northwest of Macedonia) and it is likely that his Illyricum ministry occurred at this time as well. Then Paul traveled back to Corinth where he stayed for three months.

In AD 57, while in Corinth, Paul wrote his letter to the church at Rome, a church he had never visited. He wrote to explain his Gospel to the Christians in Rome and to ask for their prayer and financial support for a ministry he was planning to Spain.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is his most “theological” letter. more

Appendix Three - Jesus and Paul

Throughout history there have been those who thought that Paul was the corrupter of Jesus. In other words, they see Jesus as just a good Jewish teacher, or reformer, or revolutionary, or mystic (the critics can’t seem to agree on which one) but they agree that he was not the Messiah, Savior or Son of God that Paul proclaimed him to be. Some deny that Jesus even thought of himself as Messiah, Savior or Son of God. The point of this chapter is to show that what the Gospels say Jesus taught about himself and his message, is the same thing that Paul taught about Jesus and Jesus’ message. more