Tentative Chronology of Paul’s Life & Letters

1.          July 53: Paul comes to Ephesus and learns from Priscilla and Aquila (who had learned from a delegation in the spring) about the results of libertarian practices in Corinth. Paul writes The Previous Letter, in which he directs the Corinthians to be obedient to the kind of moral regulations set out in the Apostolic Decree (thus John Hurd, "The Origin of I Corinthians"). He sends it by sea.

2.          Dec 53: Timothy sets out for Macedonia.

3.          April 54: Chloe's people arrive in Ephesus; soon after, Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus arrive. Paul writes I Corinthians, which is a compromise between his original liberal preaching in Corinth and the subsequent "backlash" advice set out in the Previous Letter. He promises to leave Ephesus at Pentecost, and come to them via Macedonia. He sends the letter back by sea with Steph/Fort/Ach.

4.          May 54: Paul leaves Ephesus for Macedonia.

5.          Jun 54: Paul's second visit to Philippi.

6.          Aug 54: Paul meets Timothy in Achaia.

7.          Mid Aug - Mid Sept: Paul's second visit to Corinth, the "painful visit". His vacillating on Jewish issues with the Corinthians has done nothing but increase confusion, and, to exacerbate things, rival Jewish teachers have begun to influence the church successfully. Now there is not only the libertarian element (who had followed Apollos when he was there), but a conservative Jewish element, who now loosely allied themselves against Paul. Paul flees Corinth for his life, sailing back to Ephesus.

8.          Oct 54: Paul writes the Tearful Letter (partly preserved in II Cor 10-13) from Ephesus and sends it by Titus, who takes the land route. Paul announces that he is coming to the Corinthians "for the third time" (in the spring), when he will set everything to rights. He tells Titus that if he does not meet him in Corinth, he will meet him in Troas exactly one year later. During this month, the proconsul of Asia is murdered.

9.          Nov 54: Paul imprisoned in Ephesus

10.        Jan 55: Paul writes Philippians from prison. Soon after he becomes seriously ill.

11.        Mar 55: A shaken Paul is released from prison. He abandons his plan to travel to Corinth, not only to recuperate, but also not wanting to pain the church members again -- and still unsure of the outcome of the Tearful Letter.

12.        Apr 55: Timothy sets out for Macedonia (as Paul promised in Philippians).

13.        Oct 55: Paul leaves Ephesus and comes to Troas. He remains there for a month, waiting for Titus, during which time he evangelizes the city.

14.        Nov 55: Paul crosses over into Macedonia, where he later meets Titus.

15.        Mar 56: Paul writes II Cor 1-9 from Philippi, in which he tries driving a wedge between the libertarian and conservative factions in Corinth (thus Murphy-O'Connor, Paul: A Critical Life).

16.        Jun 56 - Nov 56: Paul evangelizes Illyricum (Rom. 15:19)

17.        Jan 57 - Mar 57: Paul's third visit to Corinth. He writes Romans in March.