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The Pauline Bootcamp

The Pauline Bootcamp was originally developed in 1995 by the Teaching-Eldership of Trinity Grace Fellowship comprising Stephen Rodabaugh and Robert Walsh.  It served as a detailed introduction to Paul's Gospel.  The Bootcamp was later revised in 2005 and included in this revision were two additional modules:  Pauline Apologetics by James Hilston (not yet included) and Pauline Justification by Stephen Rodabaugh (not yet included).  The Teaching-Eldership of  Three Rivers Fellowship has since revised several modules and included the entire Bootcamp herein.  These later TRF revisions are noted in the Session References.

The Bootcamp was designed as a four part series, with three modules per part.  To understand how the Pauline Bootcamp is designed, click on the Design Button to download the Bootcamp layout.

Session One (Revised)

The Identification and Necessity of Paul's Gospel

In this first session we identify the term "Paul's Gospel", show that Paul was given a distinctive gospel by the Savior Himself, and discuss the necessity of having an understanding of this great doctrine.

Session Two

In many places Paul describes his gospel as the great mystery, hidden from before the foundation of the cosmos.  The creedal importance of this concept is defined and discussed.

Session Three

The Place of Paul's Gospel in God's Electing Decrees

This session documents the distinctive place of the content of Paul’s gospel in the logical ordering of the decrees of election within the Godhead.

Paul's Gospel: The Subject of the Great Mystery

Session Four (Significantly Revised)

Local Church Polity: The Pauline Apostleship

This outline provides an introduction to the series of Bootcamp modules devoted to Pauline Ecclesiology.  In it we examine the important words that are found in the inspired text that specifically address Paul’s Apostleship and the men that formed that bond. We also look at the permanency of this apostleship showing that it ends with the death of the great apostle himself. Thus, in this regard the Pauline Apostleship is a temporary extension of Paul’s ministry to the Body of Christ and does not contain the characteristic of eternal succession as heretically claimed by the Papacy (with regard to Peter).  If time permits we shall also show that the Pauline Apostleship is a completely different one than that of the Israel’s Twelve (Mat 19:28).

This version has been adapted and modified from the original outline, authored by Stephen Rodabaugh, 1995, 2005.

Session Five (Significantly Revised)

Local Church Polity: Its Infrastructure and Officers

In this session we examine the local assembly polity established by Paul the Apostle for Body saints. In his epistles Paul has laid down principles by which we are to design our local assemblies for fulfilling the purpose of the local gathering together of Body saints as outlined in Eph 4 and discussed below.   Herein we discuss the saints of the assembly, their role and purpose, and detail the officers of the assembly.  The offices of deacon and bishop are detailed and the characteristics of each office and those fulfilling those roles are examined.

Session Six (Revised)

Local Church Polity: The Conduct of Its Ministry

In this outline, we address the many facets of assembly life.  These include the roles of "non-elder" men and what can be expected of them in terms of service to the assembly.  We also look at the role of women in the assembly using the great Phoebe as an example.  Widows and family life are addressed, along with the proper view of assembly finances.

Herein we also examine the important role of music and assembly life.  Unlike, today's mega-church "rock concerts" the purpose of music is shown to be that method by which emotion and the objective truth of doctrine are married and burned into the hearts and souls of each assembly saint.

Finally, the issue of booting up or starting  a Pauline assembly is addressed.

Session Seven

The Eternal Hope of the Body of Christ

In this session the eternal hope to which the Body of Christ is redeemed is defined and enumerated.  It is heavenly in nature, not earthly, and shows that the Body of Christ is the completion of Christ's non-incarnate Humanity.  As Christ is the fulness of the Godhead Bodily, so the Body  of Christ is the fulness of His Humanity, just as a wife is the glorious extension of her husband.

Session Eight (Slightly Revised)

The Hope of the Body of Christ II:

The Rapture - Battle

In this session, the second under the theme of Pauline Eschatology is dedicated to the Doctrine of the Rapture.  The Rapture is that event when Christ takes His Church (His Body) to Himself.  At the Rapture, the Body of Christ (Christ's extended non-incarnate humanity), fights its way through the demonic realm, taking its rightful position with Christ upon the Father's Throne, and ruling the entire created order.  It is the hope of the Body of Christ, which provides "comfort" to the Body-saint's soul.

Session Nine (Revised)

The Judgment Seat of Christ

This session completes our unit on Pauline eschatology by refocusing on the Rapture-Battle and its intimate relationship to the Judgment Seat of Christ by which that portion of the Third Heaven allotted to each member of the Body of Christ is formally declared and justified;

Session Ten (Slightly Revised)

The Work of Mastering Paul's Gospel: The Role of Epignosis

Every saint in each Dispensation (Gentile, Jew, and Body of Christ) is compelled by regeneration to master their eternal hope and its corresponding details.  This detailed grasp/understanding is called "epignosis".  In this session, we define important terms, the concept of epignosis, and examine its relationship to Paul's Gospel.

Session Eleven (Revised)

Pauline Witnessing to an Evangelical / Fundamentalist World

This session, together with the previous and succeeding sessions, examines the practical implications of Paul’s gospel; and this session is particularly devoted to the issue and necessity of proclaiming Paul’s gospel to an unsaved world, even to unsaved evangelicals and fundamentalists in that world. We affirm that the distinctiveness of Paul’s gospel is non-optional for salvation, that it is the very template of perseverance for the Body of Christ into its Hope in the Third Heaven.

Session Twelve (Revised)

The Work of Honoring Paul's Gospel: Holidays, Rituals, Symbols

This outline addresses the practical issues of life and lifestyle of the professing Body saint.  In accordance with Christ's atonement for HIs body, we are not to celebrate religious rites, rituals, or holidays.  Gal 4 and Col 2 clearly indicate that the atonement of our Savior has appropriated for His body a relationship to Him as our Head, which is non-ceremonially expressed.

(Bonus) Session Thirteen

Pauline Apologetics: Defending the One Faith

The objective of this session is to present the biblical methodology by which we are to adequately and properly defend the Faith against the attacks and criticisms launched against it.

Coming soon

(Bonus) Session Fourteen

Pauline Law and Justification of the Body of Christ by Pauline Works Before Others

This session complements the preceding bootcamp sessions by giving additional and fundamental aspects of Paul's distinctive gospel, aspects which shape the practical ramifications of Paul's gospel.

Coming soon
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