1. When and why was the Jerusalem Council held (Acts 15)?  What decisions were reached?
2. Why did Paul come into conflict with some of the Jewish Christians (converted Pharisees) from Palestine?
3. Why did it take so long for the early Christians to understand that uncircumcised Gentiles could be part of the Church?  What role did Peter play in the final acceptance of the Gentiles?
4. What were some of the problems faced by early Christians?
5. Be able to draw Paul's three missionary journeys on a map, and know what important events happened to him at Jerusalem, Syrian Antioch, Damascus, Tarsus, Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Caesarea, the island of Malta, and Rome. Also know the names and identities of his traveling companions and that he was born at Tarsus and was converted on the road to Damascus.

1. why Paul is called a task theologian.
2. what we know about Paul's preChristian experience from his letters and from Acts.
3. the approximate dates of his birth, conversion, missionary journeys, etc.

1. the four historical factors that contributed greatly to the success of Paul's missionary efforts and why they were significant.
2. the meaning and significance for our study of the following: Diaspora, Palestinian Judaism and Hellenistic Judaism, Synagogue, Tribe of Benjamin.

Philemon

1. What is the purpose of the letter?  To whom was it read?
2. Who are Philemon and Onesimus?
3. What pressure tactics does Paul use on Philemon?

1. Why and when was this letter written?  How does Paul feel toward the Thessalonian Christians?
2. Against what false charges does Paul apparently defend himself in chapter 2?
3. What difficulties were the Thessalonian Christians facing?
4. What does Paul teach about Christ's second coming (Parousia) in 1 Thessalonians?

1. What motivates Paul to write this letter?
2. What problems continue to exist in Thessalonica?
3. How does Paul explain that the Parousia will come soon, but it has not come yet?

1. On which missionary journey and in approximately which year did he write 1 Corinthians?  Where was he when he wrote?
2. Paul received both oral (e.g., 1:11ff.) and written communications (e.g., 7:1; 8:1; 16:17) from Christians at Corinth concerning factions in the church.  What was causing the schisms?
3. Why did some of the Corinthian Christians conclude that Paul was not worthy to be called an apostle?  How does he respond to their disdain for him and his commands?
4. Know the identity and beliefs of the Libertines.  Why did they believe that "all things are lawful"?  What sinful practices did they condone/encourage?
5. Know the identity and beliefs of the Ascetics.  Why did they recommend that married couples separate and engaged couples not marry?
6. What is Paul's view of the body, sex and marriage?
7. What abuses were occuring during communion?
8. Why does Paul argue so strongly that women should wear veils during worship services?
9. Which spiritual gifts were the Corinthian Christians most excited to use?  With what result?
10. Why is 1 Corinthians 15, which deals with the resurrection of the body, so important in Paul's correction of false beliefs and practices at Corinth?

1. How did Paul's travel plans change from 1 Cor. 16 to 2 Cor. 1-2?
2. What event caused Paul to rethink whether or not he would be alive at the Parousia?
3. What was Paul's frame of mind when he wrote 2 Cor.?  Why?
4. What was the Painful visit, and when did it occur?  What was the Painful Letter?
5. What contrasts does Paul make between the Old (Mosaic) Covenant and the New Covenant in Christ?
6. How does Paul seek to motivate the Corinthian Christians to generous giving in chs. 8-9?
7. How does the tone of 2 Cor. 10-13 differ from that in 2 Cor. 1-9?
8. What do many NT scholars believe about 2 Cor. 10-13 and the Painful Letter?

1. What mood was Paul in when he wrote this letter and how did this affect his normal letter form? (what part of the letter is missing?)
2. Know the contribution that Galatians 1:11-24 makes to our knowledge of what Paul believed and did prior to his conversion.
3. What does Galatians reveal about the ways in which Paul's view of the Law of Moses and God's chosen Messiah changed after he became a Christian?
4. What does it show about his relationship with Jewish Christians in Jerusalem?
5. For many centuries, why did people mistakenly hold to the North Galatian Hypothesis?
6. Why do some New Testament scholars believe that Galatians was written to south Galatia prior to the Jerusalem conference (c. A.D. 48), but Prof. Cosby thinks that it was written about the same time as Romans (c. A.D. 57)?

1. How does Paul feel toward these people, and why does he write this letter to them?
2. Paul writes from prison.  Why does Prof. Cosby believe that the place of imprisonment was Ephesus, not Rome?
3. What is Paul's emotional condition when he writes?  What is his attitude toward those who are taking advantage of his imprisonment by strongly preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ publicly while he is unable to do so?  Why is he able to have this attitude?
4. What does the early Christian hymn in Phil. 2:6-11 stress about Christ?
5. What sort of opponents does Paul attack in Philippians 3?  What does he reveal about his pre-Chrsitian life in Philippians 3?  Why does he boast about his former achievements?
6. Who are Euodia and Syntyche?  Epaphroditus?

1. According to Prof. Cosby, why did Paul write Romans? (pay special attention to Rom 14-15, the edict of Claudius in A.D. 49 [see Acts 18:1-2], the permission for Jews to return under Nero, etc.)  [Paul writes  primarily to Gentile Christians (1:5-6, 13; 11:13; 15:15-22), but he also writes to Gentiles about his fellow Jews (9:3ff.; 10:1-2;; 1:23, 28, 31).]
2. What is the purpose of Romans 1-3?
3. How does Paul demonstrate Gentile guilt and need for God's grace?
4. How does Paul demonstrate Jewish guilt and need for God's grace?
5. Know the meaning of justification, reconciliation, and redemption.
6. According to Rom. 5:6-11, what are people like before putting their faith in Jesus?
7. According to Rom. 6:1-10, what happens to people when they place their faith in Jesus?
8. What is Paul's assessment of the Law in Romans 7?  What is his assessment of living under it?
9. How does Romans 9-11 answer the question of God's faithfulness?  (Has God abandoned the Jews?)
10. Who are the weak and strong in Rom. 14-15?  What does Paul teach about Christian liberty and responsibility toward others in these chapters?
11. What does Romans 16 reveal about Paul's attitude toward women in leadership roles?

1. Where is Paul when he writes this letter?
2. Who led the Colossian Christians to faith in Christ?
3. From Colossians 2, what do we know about the heresy threatening the church at Colossae?
4. How does Paul's portrait of Christ in 1:15-20 dispel the mistaken notions promoted by the false teachers?
5. Why does he use terms like mystery, principalities and powers, and kingdom of darkness?
6. How do the guidelines in the "household code" in 3:18-4:6 (and Eph. 5:21-6:9) promote harmonious living in first-century society?

1. How is the content of Ephesians similar to Colossians?  How is it different?
2. What kind of document is Ephesians?
3. What are some of the major themes addressed?
4. What is the "mystery of God" in Ephesians?  What view of Jews and Gentiles in the Church is presented?

1. Know the locations of Paul, Timothy and Titus in each of the three letters.
2. Know the major themes of each letter.
3. Know the distinctive doctrinal differences presented in the Pastorals as compared with Paul's earlier letters.
4. Know the historical setting that seems to be presupposed if Paul wrote the Pastorals.
5. Know why many scholars believe that Paul did not write the Pastorals.