By Ezra Cho
The PAPC 5th semester was completed by the grace of God with the theme “An Exegetical Study and Rhetorical Approach to the Epistle of the Romans.” This fifth PAPC semester was conducted in a unique format: two special lectures delivered during the Asia Directors’ Conference in Taiwan (January 15–17, 2026), followed by 10 hours of lectures and presentations from January 20 to February 3.
In the first lecture, Dr. Ezra Cho introduced “The Rhetorical Approach to Pauline Epistles,” offering a fresh rhetorical framework for interpretation. In the second lecture, Dr. Cho applied this rhetorical interpretation concretely to the Epistle to the Romans, providing a practical and historically grounded interpretation of Romans within its first-century context.
Through these lectures, PAPC members learned a methodology for independent, contextual, and textually faithful interpretation of the Pauline Epistles. Subsequently, thirteen PAPC members each delivered a 30-minute presentation, exegeting and analyzing assigned chapters of Romans through rhetorical interpretation and presenting messages that applied the text to practical ministry contexts. Dr. Mark Hui (Rom. 1:1-17, “The Righteous Will Live by Faith”); Vinent Lee (2:17-3:20, “The Law Cannot Make Us Righteous”); Dr. Samuel Palaka (3:21-31, “Righteousness is Given Through Faith in Jesus Christ”); Peter Kumar (4:1-25, “Justification by Faith Alone”); Ashem (5:1-21, “Peace, Hope, and Life through Justification in Christ”); Ison Hong (6:1-23, “Alive in Christ”); Dr. Yowan (7:1-25, “Through Jesus Christ”); James Tonsing (8:1-39, “Life in the Spirit: From No Condemnation to No Separation”); Caleb (9:1-33, “Not Human Effort, But God’s Mercy”); Active Kumar (10:1-21); Matthew (11:1-36, “That He May Have Mercy on Them All”); Batah (12:1-13:14, “Clothing Ourselves with Christ”).
The PAPC 6th semester will begin in the first week of March, 2026, and will be conducted in eight modules under the title “Missio Dei (Theology of Mission),” taught by Dr. Abraham Lincoln. We ask for your prayers that the thirteen Asian PAPC leaders may continue to grow and be equipped as leaders who possess both the knowledge of God and the heart of shepherds.