As the author of 13 epistles, the apostle Paul was the most prolific writer in the Bible. He wrote these letters within an eighteen-year period while he was on his missionary journeys. The first nine epistles were addressed to various churches in Greece and in Asia Minor. The last three were pastoral in nature and were addressed to church leaders Titus and Timothy. Paul’s personal letter to a Christian convert named Philemon contained the apostle’s request for his escaped servant to be reinstated in his master’s household.
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The following epistles are listed in the order by which the letters were written (dates are only approximate):
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Galatians
Written around AD 49 or in AD 55, this was possibly one of the earliest letters of Paul to have survived into the 21st century. Paul started off with a short greeting to the churches of Galatia and wasted no time in addressing the issue of legalism. Certain teachings reached the people of Galatia. These teachings required them to follow Jewish customs even though Paul had previously taught that they had been redeemed through faith in Jesus Christ and not by following the law. Paul countered these teachings with an assertion that Christ had set them free from the yoke of the Jewish law and they need not take up the burden of following Jewish customs to be redeemed. He also encouraged them to be cautious against false teachers and to let the Holy Spirit guide their lives.
1 Thessalonians
This letter was written by Paul to the church in the Greek city of Thessalonica shortly after its foundation. He opened it with a short greeting to the members of the church and some words of appreciation for their unwavering faith and their good example. He encouraged them to continue living a life that pleased God, continue to love each other, live a quiet life, work hard, and encourage each other. The last few verses of 1 Thessalonians contained Paul’s practical encouragement to the members of the church in Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians
Paul’s second letter showed the depth of his admiration for the faith of the members of the church in Thessalonica and their love for each other. He was aware of the hardships they suffered and in the letter, he encouraged them to trust in God to deliver them from persecution. He also admonished them to test those who claimed that they knew the exact moment of the Lord’s second coming. Paul assured them that Christ would return, but no one really knew when and where it would be. He ended the letter with a request for prayers, an exhortation for them to work hard, and not to waste their time with idleness.
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians was one of Paul’s longest letters, and he used it to address a variety of subjects, which ranged from church matters to personal issues.
The personal issues included:
* Instructions to refrain from lawsuits against Christians and to reconcile disputes within the church
* Instructions to refrain from sexual sins
* Marriage matters
* Spiritual gifts
* Love as the greatest
Church matters that included:
* The conflicts between members
* Spiritual pride
* The consumption of food previously sacrificed to idols
* Instructions on orderly public worship and how to conduct the Lord’s supper
* Tongues and prophecies
* The resurrection of Christ, those who died, and the body
2 Corinthians
Just like Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the second letter is also remarkable because of its length. In the first few chapters of this letter, Paul reminded the Corinthians that God is the source of all comfort and encouraged them to rely on Him during moments of weakness and conflicts. Two chapters (8 and 9) were dedicated to the Macedonian churches’ generosity to the Christians in Jerusalem and a personal call for the Corinthians to match their generosity. Paul wrote the last chapters to defend his authority as an apostle of Christ, cautioned the Corinthians against false prophets, and reminded them of his many trials while he served as an apostle. He later added to these with exhortations on how to live harmoniously and to “greet each other with Christian love.”
Romans
Paul’s epistle to the Romans is considered to be his longest and most organized among the letters he wrote to various churches. He was in Corinth when he wrote the letter and was making plans to sail to Rome and see the new converts in the city. In this epistle, Paul poured the full force of his intellect and his rabbinical education in his explanation of God’s relationship to man. The letter to the Romans was a back to basics kind of epistle wherein Paul explained that all have sinned and everyone deserved to be punished for violating God’s laws.
God, however, provided a way for a man to be redeemed from the yoke of the law and the punishment for the sins committed through the death of Jesus Christ. According to Paul, sin’s power was broken when Christ was crucified, and man was no longer bound with the law after his sacrifice. He also assured them that God’s salvation and mercy were available to anyone, whether the person was an Israelite or a Gentile. The last few chapters were peppered with exhortations on how to live properly, as well as a promise to visit them very soon.
Ephesians
The letter to the church in Ephesus was written during one of the lowest points in Paul’s life as it was penned during his imprisonment in Rome. However, it was unique as its intended audience was not only the members of the church in Ephesus but also to churches in other areas in Asia Minor. It was dispatched to Ephesus through his co-worker Tychicus, along with the letters to the Colossians and to Philemon.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was divided into two parts: the first three chapters addressed doctrinal issues while the rest dealt with the practical matters. He opened the epistle with God’s plan to redeem his creation through Jesus Christ and that those who believed in Jesus were made alive in him. From the fourth chapter onward, Paul taught the believers how to live as ‘children of light’ which were practical recommendations on how people should behave toward their spouses, children, employers, and fellow Christians.
Philippians
The short epistle to the church in the Greek city of Philippi was written during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. Despite his circumstances, the letter brimmed with joy, contentment, and encouragement. It began with Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer, and the next few verses glowed with his confidence in Christ in spite of the uncertainty of his situation and his future. The second chapter contained a commendation of Timothy and Epaphroditus. While the third chapter echoed his earlier teachings against legalism. He ended his letter to the church in Philippi with words of encouragement and an appreciation of the Philippians’ financial gifts to him when he was in need.
Colossians
The letters to the Colossians and to the Ephesians were divided into their doctrinal parts and their practical parts. Just like in the letter to the Ephesians, he opened the letter to the Colossians with thanksgiving and prayer. He then cut immediately to the heart of the matter and addressed the gradual mix of pagan teachings and philosophies with Christian beliefs. Just like in other epistles, he had to address the issue of legalism and reiterated that Christ had died to set them free. He ended the epistle with reminders on how to live properly and how to deal with other people.
Philemon
Written and dispatched at the same time as the epistles of Colossians and Ephesians, Philemon was one of Paul’s personal letters which included those he sent to Titus and Timothy. Paul met and converted a servant named Onesimus to Christianity after he escaped from his master Philemon who was a member of the church in Colosse. Paul sent Onesimus back to his master with a letter asking him to forgive his servant, take him back, and consider him as a brother in Christ.
Titus
Paul’s last letters were mostly personal but no less brilliant than their predecessors. Titus, the recipient of this letter, was one of Paul’s assistants whom he trusted to lead a church in the island of Crete. The letter contained his instructions to Titus on how to properly lead a church and reminded him to promote the right teachings. He encouraged Titus to remind the members of the church to submit to the authorities and to refrain from quarrelling with or slandering each other.
1 Timothy
Timothy was a leader in the church in Ephesus, and Paul’s letter to his young protégé was written before the apostle’s final imprisonment in Rome. Paul knew the pressures the young church leader went through, so the letter was full of instructions on church matters, such as Timothy’s responsibilities to the converts, church leaders, and worship. Paul also repeatedly cautioned Timothy against false teachers in his first letter.
2 Timothy
Paul’s second letter to Timothy contained a sense of urgency. It was obvious from the start that the apostle was suffering in prison. It was penned before his execution in Rome around 66 or 67 AD, which made this letter more poignant. He knew that his end was near, and the letter contained additional teachings to the man he treated as his own son and an urgent request for Timothy to come as quickly as he could. Although Luke was with him, it was at this time in his life that Paul felt the acute sense of being alone. However, he assured the recipient that he did not feel any grudge against his friends who had abandoned him.
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* Keathley, J. Hampton, III. “4. The Pauline Epistles.” Bible.org. Accessed November 2, 2016. https://bible.org/seriespage/4-pauline-epistles.
** Stamps, Donald C., and J. Wesley. Adams, eds. The Full Life Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1992.
*** Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996.
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where are all of Paul’s letters today, who has them, or are they all gone.
you presume here that Paul wrote all the letters ascribed to him. Many scholars would contest this, suggesting strongly that they were written by others in his name. How would you respond to this please?
It depends on the scholar you ask of course, but we would certainly be open to discussion and adding additional information or even changing items in the article due to new information.
We know that Paul’s letters were written by Amanuenses, like part scribe, part speech writer. Some of them (like Tertius) even proclaim themselves in the letter. The concept that Paul didn’t write these letters based on writing style is a premise that has been disproven. It’s often spouted by arm-chair scholars who haven’t kept up on scholarship or people who just can’t let go of what they learned when new evidence arises. It’s VERY likely Paul write all these letters… except for Hebrews. However, even the early Church didn’t think Paul wrote Hebrews, which is why it’s at the end and not in order of length with the rest of Paul’s letters.
Paul was beheaded under orders of Caesar Nero in 64AD.
All letter were written before that.
Correct some of your dates.
Charlie the dates are approximations as is the date when he died.
Paul could not have died at 64 ad as after his 1st imprisonment in Rome 62 ad he visited Spain, he left Titus in Crete, he left Timothy in Ephesus, he went to Greece where he wrote the 1st letter to Timothy and stayed the winter to Nicopolis where he wrote to Titus.
It is possible that he died in 67 ad before Neros death but after the winter of 66 ad where he wrote to Timothy 2nd letter from Rome
I do not squabble over WHO actually put ink to parchment. It would seem that Luke wrote some as he was instructed by Paul. I only know that ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY THE INSPIRATION (God breathed) OF GOD. Therefore, they we actually “written” by the Holy Spirit. As to style of writing, is it not possible that God could have inspired each of the writers in their own style? After all, is it not God who gives us each our style?
Amen!
Should we not settle who is indeed in charge of scripture and its authority.
2 Peter 1 (KJB)
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²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The greatest part of “faith”, is believing what God hath said…that is why there were old testiment prophets…They were instructed by the inspiration of God’s Holy Ghost…to pour out his Spirit, into the spirit of written text/scripture.
We aught to heed the warnings of trusting in “scholars” by their own wisdom…
1 Corinthians 1 (KJB)
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¹⁹ For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
²⁰ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Maybe the Holy Ghost just changed Paul’s “style” to confuse the modern day Hebrew and Greek “scholar”
It seems that the dispute is over style, grammar, etc. What about the conflict in the message in his letters? Paul states in Romans 8:14, “those who are led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God.” Being led by the Holy Spirit and following the laws that are to be written in your heart and mind are all part of the last covenant Jesus die for. Without this last covenant found first in Jeremiah and later in Hebrews, Gentiles like myself had no right to become part of God’s family. Many of Paul’s letters created rules and rituals that go against this last covenant we are “all” under. This is where I find the conflict. The statement that all the words in the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit is not correct. Even Paul or someone using Paul’s name makes reference in his letters that this is him speaking and not God.
1Co 7:12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.
There are mixed messages within Paul’s letters and it is those mixed messages that has been used by man to divid God’s family. For some reason, many Christians have forgotten the last covenant that Jesus died for and the reason Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit.
Heb 8: 10-13 10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.
Following the laws that are supposed to be put in your heart <3 this IS the new convenient, and what most Christians are deceived about. The law of God was never to be “re-written” or made void, God’s hats tee doesn’t change, nor does God’s law.
Romans 3:31 “Do we then make the law void through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
Romans 8: 3, 4 “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us.”
1Ti 5:9
A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
1Ti 5:10
having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
1Ti 5:11
But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,
1Ti 5:12
thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.
Paul wrote this to Timothy. Does this sound like one of God’s laws or something Jesus would tell His apostles? Did this instruction, which became a law in the Catholic Church, come from God or man?
I cannot image or can I find any place in the new testament where Jesus would have said or followed such an instruction.
Doesn’t sound like His one law…”love one another as I have loved you”…
This wasn’t apart of God’s old covenant and it is not a part of the new covenant in Hebrews that Jesus died for.
If you read Hebrews, the old laws of the first covenant were done away with the establishment of His new covenant.
Paul could not have died at 64 ad as after his 1st imprisonment in Rome 62 ad he visited Spain, he left Titus in Crete, he left Timothy in Ephesus, he went to Greece where he wrote the 1st letter to Timothy and stayed the winter to Nicopolis where he wrote to Titus.
It is possible that he died in 67 ad before Neros death but after the winter of 66 ad where he wrote to Timothy 2nd letter from Rome
I have to ask all of you, do you think knowing when Paul died is the secret answer you will need to know to get into Heaven? Today’s church is divided into over 40,000 denominations and those divides are largely a result of Paul’s writings. Each one of those denomination can pick up a Bible and defend their beliefs because of what is written in the verses found in the Bible and mostly in Paul’s writings.
And I have to asked Tim or those who agree with Tim, if all of the words in the Bible are God inspired, do you know anyone that is following all of them? Are you going to say they’re all inspired, but you only have to follow some of them, but not all of them? Do you or your church follow Paul’s instruction of a woman is to be silent in church? If not, and if they are inspired word’s of God, who allowed us to change them? That is how we got to all of these different denominations.
Are all 73 books of the Catholic Bible inspired? Are the 81 books of the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible inspired? Are the 66 books of the Protestant Bible inspired?
God knew what was going to occur in the future and that was the reason for eliminating the old laws and creating new ones. New ones that He will be placed in each individuals heart and He gave us the Holy Spirit to help guide us in that decision making, not religious decision making, but everyday life decisions. It is called the New Covenant and in many cases Paul’s letters were leading you back to the Old Testament laws and their teachings; and in many places, Paul was leading you to the New Covenant and the Holy Spirit. That is why I believe Paul did not write all of his letters.
I do believe Jesus die so a new covenant would be created, not so we could go back to old Jewish laws, but so we could be led by the Holy Spirit.
I apologize to the others in this chain for preaching, but this world is really screwup and we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not old testament teachings if we are going to make it.
Romans 8:14, “those who are led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God.”
I find it so interesting that one of the Most important things Christ wanted was “unity” in the Body – HIS BRIDE!!! And yet almost every Blog gets hung up with the little nits and often trying to disprove the WORD OF GOD. A lot may have been lost in translations but it is still the WORD OF GOD and you either believe it or you don’t. We can’t determine what we like or don’t like. I love what Billy Graham said – The Bible says it, I believe it and that settles it. God wants to present a Bride to HIS perfect SON that is Holy and without Blemish, that is hard when the Bride is not united within. God Bless