Acts/Paul Study Guide Flashcards
What is the structure of the Book of Acts? How many sections are there? What would you call them?
- ministry of Peter in Jerusalem and Samaria
- Paul on his missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire
(6 sections)
a. Preparation: Ascension
b. Witness in Jerusalem: the first martyr, Pentecost
c. Witness in Samaria and Judea: Herod is slain, Saul persecutes the church, and Paul turns to Christ
d. Paul and Barnabas’ first and second missions as a witness to the Gentiles
e. Paul’s third missionary journey: to the ends of the Earth
f. Paul goes back to Jerusalem.
What is one story from the Acts of the Apostles that has stayed with you? Why do you think that is?
account of Saul’s conversion on the way to Damascus:
- demonstrates how meeting Jesus Christ may have a transforming effect
- after a dramatic conversion experience, Saul—who had been persecuting Christians—becomes the Apostle Paul (most important personalities in the early Christian Church)
- reminder of the unending kindness and mercy of God and the significant transformation that can take place when someone comes into contact with the gospel truth.
What was the conflict between Paul & Peter?
Peter stopped eating with Gentile believers due to concerns about criticism from some Jewish Christians. Paul publicly confronted Peter for his hypocrisy in not living in accordance with the gospel’s truth.
What was the conflict between Barnabus and Paul?
their desire to take John Mark along on their missionary tour. Barnabas wanted to invite him, but Paul refused because Mark had abandoned them on a previous expedition. This led to a tense argument between the two, which ended with them parting ways to pursue separate missionary projects.
What were the two major repeating themes [according to the textbook] in Paul’s letters?
End of the World
Second coming of Christ
Who did Paul travel with? On which journey?
On his first missionary voyage, Paul went with Barnabus. On his second missionary journey, he went with Silas. On his third missionary journey, he went with a number of others, including Timothy, Silas, and Luke.
Describe the major thought/issue(s) in one Pauline epistle
Justification by Faith: One of the main ideas of Romans is that people are made right with God—that is, justified—by their trust in Jesus Christ, not by keeping the law. This is a key idea in Paul’s theology, highlighting the fact that everyone can be saved—Jew and Gentile alike—by placing their faith in Jesus Christ.
What makes Hebrews so different from the 13 Pauline epistles?
Authorship: Paul is credited with writing the canonical Pauline epistles, although it is unclear who wrote Hebrews.
Language and Style: The Greek used in Hebrews is more formal than in Paul’s letters, which is more conversational.
Focus and Audience: Hebrews primarily targets Jewish Christians, stressing the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant.
Content: Hebrews makes significant use of Old Testament imagery and typology to highlight theological concerns.
What are the main issues Hebrews addresses?
Christ’s superiority: The book of Hebrews makes clear that Jesus Christ is greater than all other beings, including prophets, angels, and the Levitical priesthood.
Danger of Apostasy: The author exhorts believers to endure persecution and cautions against the peril of straying from the faith.
Old and New Covenant Relationship: Hebrews describes how the Old Covenant gave way to the New Covenant that Christ instituted, highlighting the supremacy of the latter.
The role of faith is emphasized throughout the epistle, which uses Old Testament analogies to highlight the significance of confidence in God’s promises for redemption.
The book of Hebrews delves into the role of Jesus as the everlasting High Priest, who made the ultimate sacrifice to atone for sin and grant believers entry to God.
List and describe at least 10 things you know about the Holy Spirit.
Part of the Trinity.
There at the beginning. (dove at jesus’s baptism @ jordan)
Lives in believers.
Helps us know right from wrong.
Gives us special abilities and makes us kinder.
Helps us pray.
Gives us strength to help others.
Wrote the Bible.
Changes us to be better people.
Works with God and Jesus.
Name the fruits of the Spirit. Where is it from?
The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This list is found in the New Testament, specifically in Galatians 5:22-23.
quote Gal. 2:20
I have been crucified by Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me and in the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Name at least 10 things you have learned about the Apostle Paul.
Big Change: Paul used to be against Christians until he saw Jesus in a bright light and changed completely.
Traveler: He went on many trips to tell people about Jesus.
Wrote Letters: Paul wrote a lot of letters that are now part of the Bible.
Smart Guy: He knew a lot about Jewish laws and traditions.
Used to be Mean to Christians: Before he changed, Paul wasn’t nice to Christians at all.
From Tarsus: He was born in a place called Tarsus.
Tent Maker: When he wasn’t teaching about Jesus, he made tents to earn money.
Shipwrecks and Dangers: He faced lots of dangers, including being shipwrecked, during his travels.
Arrests: Paul got arrested several times because of his beliefs.
Wrote in Jail: Some of his letters were written while he was in jail.
Why is Paul called the ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’?
Paul is called the ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’ because he focused much of his missionary work on spreading the Christian message to Gentile (non-Jewish) communities across the Roman Empire. Unlike the other apostles who primarily ministered to Jewish audiences, Paul believed that the gospel of Jesus Christ was for all people, regardless of their ethnic background. This led to the establishment of numerous Christian communities among the Gentiles, significantly contributing to the growth and diversity of the early Christian Church.
What does it mean that Jesus is our “High Priest”?
Being our “High Priest” means that Jesus serves as the supreme go-between for God and people, giving Himself as the ideal sacrifice to atone for our sins. He makes the connection between us and God possible by His death and resurrection, guaranteeing our sins are forgiven and allowing us to enjoy a close relationship with the Almighty.
