Academy

Pauline Epistles

BIB534-1 The Epistle to the Romans – Unit 1

Romans is the definitive statement of Christian doctrine—the most comprehensive book in the New Testament and its impact on History is unequaled. This is the first of a trilogy on Habakkuk 2:4, “The Just shall live by faith,” which later became the mantra of the Reformation. This book will delight the greatest logician; hold the attention of the wisest of men; bring the humble soul to tears of repentance at the feet of the Savior. A God small enough for our mind would not be big enough for our need.

Course Objectives:

Understand that Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is the most profound writing that exist anywhere
Explore the international outlook of a Roman citizen with both Hebrew and Greek culture of history, religion, philosophy, poetry, science, music, etc.
Analyze sin, the law, grace and consider the profound question, “It may be that Deity can forgive sins, but I do not see how.” (Socrates to Plato – 360 B.C.)

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Romans (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 12 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB534-2 The Epistle to the Romans – Unit 2

This study will continue Paul’s trilogy on Habakkuk 2:4, “The Just shall live by faith.”

In his definitive exposition, Paul discriminates between the Church and Israel—with different origins and distinct destinies. He spends 3 chapters on Israel’s past, present, and prophetic future.

His majestic sweep of Christian doctrine—including the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit—then culminates in practical exhortations and personal applications.

This is the essential—and inexhaustible—handbook for the serious Christian.

Course Objectives:

Discover the difference between the Church and Israel
Understand Israel’s past, present and prophetic future
Recognize the struggle between the Flesh and the Spirit
Examine practical exhortations and personal application

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Romans (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 12 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB535-1 The Epistles to the Corinthians – Unit 1

Even in the pagan world, Corinth was known for its moral corruption. To “Corinthianize” was to live in debauchery. It was Hollywood, Las Vegas, and New York all rolled into one. It was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia, the most populous and wealthy in Greece. (These letters are actually only two of Paul’s four epistles to the worldliest church. Two have been lost.)

These letters have only a modest amount of doctrine; they are mostly practical, conduct-related. Paul addresses discipline, going to court, marriage and divorce, Christian liberty, the Lord’s Supper, speaking in tongues, and spiritual gifts, etc. However, they do highlight some theological pinnacles such as the resurrection (which Paul suggests is the most important chapter in the Bible), and the physics of immortality.

These letters are rich and fundamental essentials for the serious Christian.

Course Objectives:

Learn more about the First Century problems in the Corinthian Church
Learn how the Church should deal with sin in the body
Gain a better understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit
Gain insight on how to apply the lessons of Corinthians in our daily lives

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of 1st & 2nd Corinthians (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 16 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB535-2 The Books of 1st and 2nd Corinthians – Unit 2

This course continues the exploration of the fundamental essentials for the serious Christian. Paul’s interaction with the Corinthians involved three visits and at least four letters, two of which appear to have been lost. The “Second Epistle to the Corinthians” may be the fourth, or an amalgam of several of the other Paul’s letters to the Christians at Corinth. It is a highly personal and practical guide to the real problems encountered in every Christian ministry.

Course Objectives:

Gain a better understanding of the final Judgements
Learn about real Stewardship
Understand our Spiritual Weapons and what the battle really is about.

Duration: 6 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB536 The Epistle to the Galatians

The Epistle to the Galatians is regarded as one of Paul’s greatest and most important letters. It has been characterized as a “short Romans” and embraces in its six short chapters such a variety of vehement and intense emotion as could not be paralleled in any other work.

As the second of the trilogy on Habakkuk 2:4, “The just shall live by faith,” Galatians embodies the germinal teaching on Christian freedom, which separated Christianity from Judaism and which launched it upon its destiny of missionary conquest.

Course Objectives:

Examine how Galatians stands as a guidebook for the release from the bondage of religious legalism
Challenge those who would take away the grace of God, the truth of the Gospel, and the joy & freedom that goes with it
Understand Paul and the issues he faced

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Galatians (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB537 The Epistle to the Ephesians

The Epistle to the Ephesians is the most mystical of Paul’s epistles. It is regarded by some as the highest conceptual ground in the New Testament.

It is the crown and climax of Paul’s letters: it looks at our salvation from pre-creation election to the vantage point of “the heavenlies” — a panoramic view of the wondrous and glorious works of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Its uniqueness also includes the revelation of Paul’s unique mandate and the character and nature of the Church. This study will also explore its singular allusion to four-dimensional hyperspace, and its detailed depiction of the seven elements of the Armor of God.

A high-altitude, spiritual flight with down-to-earth, practical consequences!

Course Objectives:

Understand the revelation of Paul’s unique mandate and the character and nature of the Church
Explore its singular allusion to four-dimensional hyperspace
Examine the detailed depiction of the seven elements of the Armor of God

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Ephesians (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB538 The Epistle to the Philippians

Paul certainly knew suffering, and Paul also knew true joy. And he knew joy through suffering. In his darkest hour, he wrote this letter to encourage his most intimate friends. He himself was a prisoner at the time—yet it was he who was providing encouragement to them, the faithful at Philippi!

Here is a letter that is pregnant with insights on the real priorities in life, encouragement during difficult trials, and guidance during the inevitable dark times. “Inner joy” occurs 16 times in these four brief chapters. Paul also deals with some of our thorniest issues: how to deal with “Christian” troublemakers. He very likely lost his life because of trouble caused by “Christians” in Rome!

A passage, known among scholars as the Kenosis, is among the most glorious sections of the New Testament. These verses teach the divinity of Christ, His preexistence, His equality with the Father, His incarnation and true humanity. This letter—with striking parallels to Jesus’ letter to the church at Smyrna—provides a rich and practical reward to the diligent student.

Course Objectives:

Examine the passage, known among scholars as the “Kenosis” teaching the divinity of Christ, His preexistence, His equality with the Father, His incarnation and true humanity
Explore the striking parallels to Jesus’ letter to the church at Smyrna with this letter, providing a rich and practical reward to the diligent student

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Philippians (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 6 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB539 The Epistle to the Colossians

Many Bible scholars have concluded that Colossians is the most profound letter Paul ever wrote. The circumstance that prompted its writing was the introduction of heresies, which arose there and later developed into Gnosticism.

Cults misrepresent revealed truth with regard to Christ’s deity and His redemptive work. If we strive for “spiritual perfection” or “fullness” by means of formulas, disciplines, or rituals, our progress is reversed. We must beware of teachers who offer victory and fullness yet bypass simple devotion to Jesus Christ. Those familiar with the Colossian teaching will not be misled by occult deception, like New Age, or other mysticism now being foisted upon the naïve.

Course Objectives:

Examine if heavenly bodies have any influence over our lives
Explore if there is any relationship between diet and spiritual living
Understand if the Eastern religions have anything to offer the evangelical Christian

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Colossians (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB540 The Epistles to the Thessalonians

Paul’s epistles to the believers in Thessalonica are the two most important New Testament eschatological epistles. 1st Thessalonians is among the earliest New Testament documents: written less than 20 years after Christ’s resurrection. Every chapter refers to the Second Coming. The most famous declaration in this letter is on the Harpazo, commonly called, from the Latin, the “Rapture.”

Paul’s second letter apparently followed his first by a few months. The Thessalonians were upset. He addressed, among other things, an apparent forgery that was written “as if from Paul.” He wrote to settle their confusion over the same issues that plague most prophecy discussions today: Will the church experience the Great Tribulation? When does the Antichrist appear? There is a range of views on these issues. This course will include a careful exegesis of the critical portions of these most crucial documents.

How does your eschatological view affect your life? If it has no effect, you might reconsider what you really believe.

Course Objectives:

Examine how our eschatological view affects our lives and what we believe
Understand our “Blessed Hope” and being prepared for the return of Jesus
Explore faithfulness in Christ and maintaining steadfastness in the face of persecution

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on The Epistles to the Thessalonians (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB541 The Epistles of Timothy, Titus & Philemon

If we are truly “in Christ,” then we are all called to “full-time” ministry. None of us are “part-time” Some dismiss these as just for pastors, but they are for all Christians: good, practical counsel and wisdom.

Timothy was Paul’s young protégé and became one of Paul’s constant companions. Timothy may have been somewhat passive, timid, and easily intimidated. So, Paul repeatedly spurred him to act. He was to let nothing, including his youth, obstruct of his duty. Titus was Paul’s troubleshooter: Paul used him to help sort out some extremely delicate situations. In Rome, Paul met a runaway slave named Onesimus, who belonged to Philemon, a church leader at Colossae. Paul led him to Christ, and then wrote Philemon, asking him to forgive and receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ. His letter is an example of intercession for us all.

Course Objectives:

Understand the key to effectiveness in any venture is special counsel from an experienced mentor who has personally succeeded in the field
Explore Apostle Paul’s private letters counseling two of his closest proteges

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on The Epistles of Timothy, Titus & Philemon (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE