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A.D.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

36. ? Paul's Conversion. He goes to Damascus, and thence into Arabia. 37. ? In Arabia.

38. ? In Arabia. Returns to Damascus, escapes to Jerusalem, and thence to Tarsus.

39. He preaches in Syria and Cilicia until A. D. 44, making Tarsus his head-quarters.

44. He goes from Tarsus to Antioch with Barnabas, and stays there a

year.

45. He visits Jerusalem with Barnabas to relieve the famine.

46. At ANTIOCH.

47. At ANTIOCH.

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48. His First Missionary Journey" from Antioch to Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe,

49. and back through the same places to Antioch.

50. Paul and Barnabas attend the Conference at Jerusalem.

51. His "Second Missionary Journey" from Antioch to Cilicia, Phrygia, Galatia,

52. Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. Writes 1 Thess.

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54. He leaves Corinth, reaches Jerusalem at Pentecost, and thence goes to Antioch. His "Third Missionary Journey." He goes to Ephesus.

55. At EPHESUS.

56. At EPHESUS.

57. He writes 1 Cor. Leaves Ephesus for Macedonia, where he writes 2 Cor.; and thence to CORINTH, where he writes Galatians.

58. He writes Romans, and leaves CORINTH; going by Philippi and Miletus to Jerusalem, where he is arrested and sent to Cesarea. 59. At CESAREA.

60.

61.

Sent to Rome by Festus. Shipwrecked at Malta.

Arrives at Rome.

62. At ROME. He writes Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians. 63. He is tried before the Emperor Nero.

NOTE. The above table is taken chiefly from Conybeare and Howson's "Life and Epistles of St. Paul." The order of events may be regarded as correct, but most of the dates only approximate correctness. There is much difference of opinion as to the date of Paul's conversion and all the events of his life prior to A.D. 44. The result of his trial before Nero, A.D. 63, is not known.

Published by the Unitarian Sunday-School Society, 7 Tremont Place, Boston. Price, $2.00 a hundred. [Entered as second-class mail matter.]

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GOLDEN TEXT: Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. - Roм. xii. 2.

1. Do you know what an epistle is?

2. Who wrote the Epistle to the Romans?

The Apostle Paul.

3. Why is it called the Epistle to the Romans?

Because it was written to the Christians living at Rome.

4. What can you tell about Rome?

5. Where did Paul write this epistle?

At Corinth.

6. What have you learned about Corinth.

7. Will you repeat the Golden Text?

8. Where are these words to be found, and who wrote them?

9. What is it to be "conformed to this world"?

It is to do as people around us do, no matter if it be bad. 10. What is it to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind"?

It is to become better, so as always to love what is right.

11. What does Paul say next?

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

12. Are there not people in these days that think of themselves more highly than they ought to think?

13. Do you find these people as agreeable as those who think less of themselves?

1. When, where, and by whom was the Epistle to the Romans written?

2. To whom was it sent?

3. Had Paul been in Rome at the time he wrote it?

4. How does he begin the practical part of it? xii. 1.

5. What custom had he in mind when he wrote this verse?

6. What does he say in verse 2?

7. What is it to be "conformed to this world"?

8. Are we not all in danger of this?

9. Why ought we to avoid it?

10. What is it to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind "?

11. By what means can this be brought about?

12. What does the apostle next say? 3.

13. What are some of the evils of thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think?

14. What are some of the evils of the opposite extreme?

15. What comparison does Paul use to show that every one should be content to fill the place for which he is fitted? 4, 5. 16. Where does he carry out this comparison to greater length? 1 Cor. xii. 12-31.

17. What does he say of the use we should make of our gifts and opportunities? 6-8.

18. What practical lessons may we learn from this? 19. What is it to give with simplicity?

20. Why ought we to bestow gifts in this way?

21. What is meant by showing mercy with cheerfulness? 22. Why should we show mercy in a cheerful manner?

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NOTES. Rom. xii. 1. I beseech you therefore. Since the truth about God is such as has already been set forth in this epistle, I beseech you by his mercies. That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice. By "bodies" Paul evidently means the entire person; as though he had said, Present yourselves to the service of God. A "living sacrifice" is mentioned in contrast with the dead bodies of animals, which were offered on the altar. Reasonable service. "Spiritual service" is the rendering of some; "reasonable worship" of others. Spiritual worship" is the rendering of Noyes, and he adds in a note, "in contradistinction from an outward ceremonial worship like that of the Jews and other nations." 2. And be not conformed to this world. "And be not fashioned according to this world." Revised Translation. "And be not conformed to the fashion of this world."- Noyes. The meaning is that Christians should not allow their course of life to be shaped by the customs and opinions prevailing around them. The reason for this is obvious. In no age have the customs and opinions of the world been up to the Christian standard. The morals of society, politics, and trade, even in Christian countries, are below the precepts of Christ. He who conforms to them, or is fashioned by them, falls below what the Gospel requires. — But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. "They had heretofore partaken in a less or greater degree of the general corruption. They ought now to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.' They should adopt a new form both of thought and conduct. Heretofore they had lived and practised sinfulness; henceforward they should love and practise holiness."— Paige. -That ye may prove. 66 That ye may learn by experience what is the will of God, what is good and well-pleasing and perfect."-Noyes. erally speaking, matters of moral feeling and conduct will be almost instinctively pronounced on by a spiritual mind, as being according to the I will of God or otherwise." Ripley.

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3. Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. "The Romans would probably be in much danger from this quarter. prevailing habit of judging among them was according to rank, or wealth, or eloquence, or office. While this habit of judging prevailed in the world around them, there was danger that it might also prevail in the church, and the exhortation was that they should not judge of their own characters by the usual modes among men, but by their Christian attainments."- - Barnes.

4. For as we have many members in one body. A beautiful illustration is now introduced. Members of the Christian church are said to be as closely related to one another and as mutually dependent on one another as the limbs and organs of the human body are. But as Paige remarks, “The figure used by the apostle aptly applies not only to the company of believers, gathered in one particular organization, and to all of like 'precious faith,' however widely scattered abroad, but to all mankind. The diversities which everywhere exist may be fitly compared to the different offices assigned to the several members of the human body; and the welfare of the whole depends on such diversity."

6. Having then gifts. By "gifts" the apostle seems to mean, in this instance, the various endowments, whether natural or otherwise, possessed by those whom he addressed, and their various opportunities for benevolent action. Differing. "God designed that men should have different endowments. The very nature of society supposes this. There never was a state of perfect equality in anything; and it would be impossible that there should be, and yet preserve society."— Barnes. Whether prophecy. In this case, as in many others, "prophecy" does not mean the foretelling of future events, but the gift of speaking by inspiration.

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7. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering. "Or if service, let us attend to the service." -Noyes. The apostle refers to attendance upon the sick, the distribution of alms to the poor, and the administration of the external affairs of the church. He had the deacon's office rather than the preacher's in mind. He that teacheth. This may refer to those who instructed new converts and the young in the principles of Christianity. 8. Or he that exhorteth. The Greek word here rendered "exhort" is variously used. Sometimes it means to persuade, sometimes to admonish, and sometimes to comfort or console. Ripley remarks that "a particular class of men is not, probably, here intended," and in this the majority of commentators agree. The apostle means to say, Whatever you have the ability to do, whether to speak with inspiration, or to look after the outward affairs of the church, or to instruct the young and ignorant, or to quicken weaker brethren to the better performance of duty, do that, and be content with doing that. — He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity. "With liberality." -Noyes. "The word here rendered 'simplicity' has two classes of signification in the New Testament: it denotes liberality, and it denotes purity of purpose, directness, and honesty of intention. The word in the text may properly enough be understood in either of these senses, or in both." — Paige. He that showeth mercy. He that doeth deeds of kindness for the distressed. With cheerfulness. "Unwilling services rendered to the sick and the afflicted, moroseness or ill-temper in the discharge of simple duty to the helpless, indicate a disposition sadly at variance with that spirit of benevolence which our Lord requires his disciples to cherish. Kindly offices are doubly valuable when rendered with a kindly spirit."

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"The amount of it all is, that we should discharge with fidelity the duties which belong to us in the sphere of life in which we are placed; and not despise the rank which God has assigned us; not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought; but to act well our part, according to the station where we are placed and the talents with which we are endowed. If this were done, it would put an end to discontent, ambition, and strife, and would produce the blessings of universal peace and order."— Barnes.

The remaining Lessons of this series will be of a practical character, and based on selections from the New Testament Epistles. Commentaries and Translations will afford valuable help in the study of them.

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