THE PAULINE LETTERS INTRODUCTION The book of Acts is an excellent introduction to a study of the writings of the Apostle Paul; this account of his ministry provides a solid base on which to build such a study. In Acts we can read a narrative about the history of the early Church, while we can use Paul’s letters to gain more insight into his relationships with the congregations and individuals to whom he ministered. In this study we will examine correspondence from Paul to seven cities/regions (Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica) and three individuals (Timothy, Titus and Philemon). This notebook is designed to provide information to help you become more familiar with the Churches and people to which the letters were written; please use it as a foundation to supplement the Scriptural text. I wish to acknowledge that in compiling this material I have drawn heavily from the work of Dr. Thomas Lea and his excellent book “The New Testament: Its Background and message.” I recommend it highly or any serious student of Scripture. Dr. Lea was Dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is recognized as one of the leading theologians of the 20th century. THE LETTER TO THE GALATIANS Date: About AD 48-49, quite possibly while Paul was traveling to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) Destination: Galatia gained full status as a Roman province in 25 BC. During his first missionary journey Paul visited the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts chapters 13, 14). Message: This letter was written to converts in cities in Southern Galatia. False teachers called Judaizers apparently moved into the area after Paul and his friends moved on and taught a legalistic doctrine that forced the new believers to follow the Jewish practice of circumcision and obey Mosaic law and customs. It is likely that they also questioned Paul’s apostolic authority. Correcting these false teachings was a central theme of this letter. THE LETTERS TO THE THESSALONIANS Date: AD 51 and 52. After avoiding a riot in Thessalonica (Acts chapter 17), Paul and Silas left for Berea. Paul visited Rome then continued on to Corinth, where he rejoined Silas and Timothy. It was from this location that he wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians. After receiving questions from them he followed up with another letter. Destination: Thessalonica was the most important city of the Province of Macedonia, visited by Paul on his second missionary journey. The Thessalonian church was a strong and flourishing one, composed of Gentiles rather than of Jews, if we may judge from the tone of the two Epistles addressed to its members, the absence of quotations from and allusions to the Old Testament, and the phrase "Ye turned unto God from idols". Almost certainly Paul returned there on his 3rd missionary journey, both on his way to Greece (Acts 20:1) and again while he was going Jerusalem (Acts 20:3). Probably Paul was again in Thessalonica after his first imprisonment. The only other mention of the town in the New Testament occurs in 2 Timothy 4:10, where Paul writes that Demas has forsaken him and has gone there. Message: These letters explore many varied themes, but the subject of eschatology takes center stage in both. These two letters are commonly considered as Paul’s primary teachings on the doctrine of last things. THE LETTERS TO THE CORINTHINIANS Date: It is likely that First and Second Corinthians were two of several epistles written by Paul to the church at Corinth (1 Cor 5:9). 1 Corinthians was probably written in AD 55 while Paul was in Ephesus during his third journey (Acts 19). 2 Corinthians was probably written later that same year while Paul traveled through Macedonia (2 Cor 7:5, Acts 20) Destination: Corinth was one of the largest cities in Greece, with a population that probably exceeded 650,000 in Paul’s day. Jews had established a synagogue in the city, but religious practices were overwhelmingly pagan; Corinth had developed a reputation as one of the most immoral places in the world. Paul visited the city on his second missionary journey (Acts 18); there he met Priscilla and Aquila and began to share the Gospel in the synagogue. They were joined by Silas and Timothy, and Paul stayed in the city for about 18 months. Message: 1 Corinthians deals with a number of problems in the church: factions within the congregation, teachers of false doctrine, moral problems in the church and propriety in worship. In 2 Corinthians Paul deals with the many accusations of his detractors. THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS Date: Paul wrote this letter during his third missionary journey while he was in Greece, probably from Corinth (Acts 18). The most likely date was AD 57. Destination: The city of Rome needs no introduction; it was, in many ways, the center of the civilized world at the time of Paul’s ministry. The letter was written to the church in Rome though Paul had never been to the city. We have no record of any of the Apostles having been to Rome by this time, so it is assumed that the church there was established by believers who had left Jerusalem after Pentecost. It is likely that the church was comprised mostly of gentiles, but some references in the letter make it clear that many members of Jewish background were also present. Message: According to Dr. Thomas Lea, Paul wrote Romans with a threefold purpose: 1. He was seeking support for his projected visit to Spain (15:24, 28). 2. He wanted to explain his theology to the Romans and apply it to practical issues in daily life. 3. He wanted to urge the Romans to greater unity than they presently had (14:1-15:13). THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS Date: Paul composed at least four letters while imprisoned: Ephesians, Philemon, Philippians, and Colossians. If these were written while he was imprisoned in Rome (the most likely choice) the date of the letters would be AD 60-61. Destination: Ephesus was the most easily accessible city in the Roman province of Asia, both by land and sea; it was also the most important city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Paul had serious difficulties in Ephesus (Acts 19) but apparently developed a close and intimate relationship with the church there (Acts 20). He visited the city on his third missionary journey and ministered there at least two years (Acts 19:10). Message: Most of Paul’s letters were written to answer specific questions or address specific needs, but it is difficult to determine a specific occasion for which Ephesians was penned. It is, instead, a general statement of Christian truth concerning the Church, Christian unity, and the Christian life. THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS Date: Paul composed at least four letters while imprisoned: Ephesians, Philemon, Philippians, and Colossians. If these were written while he was imprisoned in Rome (the most likely choice) the date of the letters would be AD 60-61. Destination: Located in the province of Macedonia, Philippi was founded by and named for Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. Paul first visited the city during his second journey, accompanied by Silas, Timothy and Luke (Acts 16). One of the first converts there was Lydia, and it was in Philippi that Paul and Silas were imprisoned after causing a riot over the healing of a demon- possessed slave girl. Message: The primary purpose of this letter was to thank the church at Philippi for providing support to Paul while he was imprisoned. He also wanted to ease the concerns the church felt for him while he was in custody. The Philippians tended to have a spirit of disunity, and Paul warned them about it and urged them to practice more humility in their relationships to one another. Lastly, the Apostle gave a severe rebuke and warning against the Judaizers who wanted to dilute or add requirements for salvation. THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS Date: Paul composed at least four letters while imprisoned: Ephesians, Philemon, Philippians, and Colossians. If these were written while he was imprisoned in Rome (the most likely choice) the date of the letters would be AD 60-61. Destination: Colossae was located in the southwest corner of Asia Minor, 100 miles east of Ephesus. We have no convincing evidence that Paul ever visited the city; apparently the church in the city was established by Epaphras (1:7). Colossae was the smallest church addressed by Paul in the Scriptures, but apparently faced issues that he felt needed to be addressed. It is likely that Epaphras was with Paul in Rome when the letter was written. Though the church was predominantly gentile there were evidently some of Jewish background because Paul felt he needed to address some Jewish misunderstandings about the Gospel. Message: The content of this letter is remarkably similar to that of the letter to the Ephesians. The Colossian church, like so many others, was plagued by false teachers. The “Colossian heresy” (2:8) taught that salvation required not only faith in Christ but also secret knowledge and adherence to man- made regulations. THE LETTER TO PHILEMON Date: Paul composed at least four letters while imprisoned: Ephesians, Philemon, Philippians, and Colossians. If these were written while he was imprisoned in Rome (the most likely choice) the date of the letters would be AD 60-61. Destination: One of the most unique letters in the Bible, this brief (only one chapter) epistle was directed to Philemon, a resident of the city of Colossae who was a slave owner.