Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Primary 6

WEEK 8&9

SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

TERM: 1^ST TERM

CLASS: PRIMARY 6

TOPIC: The letters or Epistles of Saint Paul

Performance objectives

At the end of this unit, pupils should be able to:

1 enumerate the major communities visited by Paul and his companions.

2 explain the need for Paul to write letters (epistles) to each of these communities.

3 list the letters of St Paul.

Guide to Bible passages

Acts 18:1; 16-19.

BUILDING BACKGROUND/CONNECTION TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Pupils are familiar with the topic in their previous classes.

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

Communities visited by Paul

Since after the Damascus road experience with the Lord, Jesus caused a big change in Paul’s life. Instead of being a persecutor of the people of the Way, that is, Christians, he was now a missionary, especially to the Gentiles. 

In the course of his missionary work, Paul visited many communities. Among the communities he visited, as a result of his missionary journeys were Ephesus, Thessalonica, Corinth, Syria, Rome, Philippi, Galatia, Pamphylia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Beroea and Athens.

The life of Paul is a proof that when one is in Christ, one is a new creation; old things are passed away. Map of Europe showing Macedonia and Philippi.

Reasons for the Letters or Epistles of Paul

We all have reasons for writing letters to people we know. It may be for greetings, to ask after their well-being, or to pray with and for them.

Paul wrote his Epistles for many reasons. One of such reasons was to encourage believers in Christ. He also wrote to correct false doctrines and quarrels among believers. For example, Paul wrote to ‘his son’ Timothy to be wary of false prophets: those who frowned at eating some foods. In addition, Paul wrote to proclaim the good news of the Lord Jesus. He said,

‘This is a faithful saying and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’

The epistles of St Paul

Paul is generally known as an apostle to the Gentiles. It has been shown that he wrote about two-thirds of the New Testament. He wrote many letters as a means of encouraging believers and sustaining the faith in God through Jesus Christ. Among the epistles are: Letters to the Romans, (I and II) Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, (I and II) Thessalonians, (I and II) Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Paul was indeed uniting the Christians in these communities through his letters.

Moral lessons

God has power to transform lives. Paul who was once a great persecutor nof Christians became a great preacher of the gospel of Christ.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

1 enumerate the major communities visited by Paul and his companions.

2 explain the need for Paul to write letters (epistles) to each of these communities.

3 list the letters of St Paul.

WRAP-UP (CONCLUSION)

Teacher goes over the topic once again to enhance better understanding

Exercise

1 Mention six communities visited by Paul.

2 Give two reasons why Paul wrote to some of these communities