Jerusalem to Illyricum

by Paul W Barnett

Overview

Jerusalem to Illyricum is the geographical space and ca. AD 34 to 57 the time frame for Paul's church planting mission. Acts includes this within its meta-narrative, and while historically accurate, it is not raw history like Paul's letters. In this study Barnett is seeking references to Paul's initial missionary "arrival" (eisodos) and the local cultural pushback. Of particular interest for history and theology is his encyclical to the Galatians and his account of the dispute with Cephas in Antioch. Paul's success in his mission to the gentiles in Syria and Cilicia provoked the rise within the Jerusalem Church of those he calls "false brothers" whose colleagues travelled to "agitate" the Galatian believers and to drive the gentile believers in Antioch from the common meal. Some years later a band of preachers from Jerusalem sought to capture the church in Corinth, intending to then capture other churches in Macedonia and Asia. Paul's missions and writings have been the subject of numerous large studies which, however, unintentionally imply that Paul's mission years were longer than they were and that his mission writing occupied a lengthy time space. His nine missionary letters were written ca. AD 48 to 57, a mere decade, and all of which point to Paul's astonishing energy and drive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666738162
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	01/03/2023
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.45(d)

About the Author

Paul W. Barnett is lecturer emeritus at Moore College, honorary fellow in ancient history at Macquarie University, and visiting professor at Regent College, Vancouver. He is the author of texts relating to New Testament history as well as biblical commentaries.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Between AD 34 and 57, Paul preached Christ in six Roman provinces and wrote nine epistles. Historian and pastor Paul Barnett, by placing those writings within their historical and geographical contexts, expertly constructs a picture of the apostle and his ministry during the first two decades of Christianity—a time some have labeled ‘Paul's silent years’ but which Barnett shows to be full of sound and color.”

—Philip H. Kern, Moore Theological College



“How was the emergence of Christianity experienced by a prime protagonist and eyewitness, the apostle Paul himself? . . . A close reading of the texts combined with Barnett’s extensive knowledge of the historical and cultural contexts provides an illuminating picture of the whole. At the same time, Barnett underlines the integrity of the Pauline gospel and its continuity with earlier apostolic tradition. Highly recommended!”

—Donald A. Hagner, Fuller Theological Seminary, emeritus

Editorial Reviews

Between AD 34 and 57, Paul preached Christ in six Roman provinces and wrote nine epistles. Historian and pastor Paul Barnett, by placing those writings within their historical and geographical contexts, expertly constructs a picture of the apostle and his ministry during the first two decades of Christianity—a time some have labeled ‘Paul's silent years’ but which Barnett shows to be full of sound and color.”

—Philip H. Kern, Moore Theological College



“How was the emergence of Christianity experienced by a prime protagonist and eyewitness, the apostle Paul himself? . . . A close reading of the texts combined with Barnett’s extensive knowledge of the historical and cultural contexts provides an illuminating picture of the whole. At the same time, Barnett underlines the integrity of the Pauline gospel and its continuity with earlier apostolic tradition. Highly recommended!”

—Donald A. Hagner, Fuller Theological Seminary, emeritus

From the Publisher