The Pauline Epistles
Romans through Philemon
Introduction
Paul wrote thirteen epistles that begin with his name as the first word of each epistle. These all appear in our bible in a group with nine church epistles written to seven churches and the four pastoral epistles. These are not placed in the bible in the order they were written. (For the authorship of Hebrews see our PP 618 Hebrews study).
It is in Paul's thirteen epistles that we have the doctrines of the church, which is Christ's body. Each epistle begins with his name as the first word of each his epistles, and each starts with the words, grace and peace, which was not a greeting Paul, but as an opening statement that both come from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God wanted the church, which is Christ's body to understand that they are saved by grace in this dispensation (through faith), and that God is at peace with us (not emnity) because of Christ's payment for our sins at Calvary. Paul wrote to the body of Christ and preached the gospel of the uncircumcision.
The apostle John wrote seven letters to seven churches that were in Asia in Revelations 2-3, but these were letters to churches that were of the circumcision (Jewish churches), as John was a minister of the circumcision, ministering the gospel of the circumcision along with Peter and the rest of the apostles to Israel.
Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
John, Peter and the other ten apostles were ministers (apostles) to the nation of Israel. Jesus told them to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel:
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus himself was a minister to the circumcision (the Jews):
Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Chapter One
Paul's Thirteen Epistles
Romans, 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st Thessalonians, 2nd Thessalonians, 1st Timothy, 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon
The order of the Epistles
Paul's Epistles to Seven Churches:
I.
Romans 16 Chapters
II.
1st Corinthians 16 Chapters & 2nd Corinthians 13 Chapters
III.
Galatians 6 Chapters
IV.
Ephesians 6 Chapters
V.
Philippians 4 Chapters
VI.
Colossians 4 Chapters
VII.
1st Thessalonians 4 chapters & 2nd Thessalonians 3 Chapters
Paul's Pastoral Epistles:
I.
1st Timothy 6 Chapters & 2nd Timothy 4 Chapters
II.
I Thessalonians 4 Chapters & 2nd Thessalonians 3 Chapters
III.
Titus 3 Chapters
IV.
Philemon
The order they appear in is from largest to smallest, beginning with the epistles to the seven churches, and then they end with the smaller pastoral epistles in the same order.
The order the Epistles were written in:
Galatians
The book of Galatians was written sometime after the Acts 15 Jerusalem council. Paul mentions the churches in Galatia having be so soon remove the grace of Christ (Galatians 1:6) unto another gopsel, which implies that the grace of Christ is the gospel he preached unto the churches of Galatia when he went through on his first missionary journey in Acts 16.
So the mystery of the gospel had to have been revealed to Paul before his first and second missionary journeys. Who would go on a mission trip to Asia and not have a gospel to give unto them? Not Paul. Some teach Paul preached numerous gospels. Shun those that teach these profane and vain babblings.
There is much debate as to whether Galatians was written before Thessalonians. Galatians appears first on my list because it appears before Thessalonians, and Paul went to Galatia twice before he ever went to Thessalonica.
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
If he had the gospel given to him before his first missionary journey (and he did) then he had it in Acts chapter thirteen, because we read of nothing denoting any new revelations at that time or before.
Paul received the gospel of the grace of God on the road to Damascus as he mentions in Galatians chapter one, and that is the only gospel he ever preached.
Fourteen years later (Galatians chapter two) it says Paul went to Jerusalem and told the twelve the gospel that he preached unto the Gentiles, and it was the same gospel he received originally.
We know this because he makes no mention of receiving another one here, or in Acts 15 at the Council in Jerusalem:
Galatians 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Paul introduces his distinct ministry to the uncircumcised as compared to the ministry of Peter and the eleven other apostles who were all apostles to the circumcision:
Two Gospels at the same time:
Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
We just saw also in verse seven two different gospels being preached by two different people to two different groups. Paul (the apostle of the Gentiles) preached to Gentiles the gospel (good news) of the uncircumcision.
Peter and the elven (apostles to the circumcision) preached the gospel of the circumcision (also called the gospel of the kingdom earlier, to the Jews (the circumcised).
The Apostleship of the Gentiles
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
This means that they recognized that the program had changed with the saving of Saul of Tarsus (Paul) as the apostle to the uncircumcised (Gentiles) and they were no longer under the obligation to eventually go and preach to the Gentiles as commanded by Christ in the "great commission because Israel had rejected her King and the kingdom.
That is why God raised Saul of Tarsus (Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles) to go to them, in spite of Israel. Salvation was no longer of the Jews. Paul also introduces "a new creature" in Galatians 6:15 and mentions those in Peter's group as being the Israel of God.
Sorry, its not you, stop being anti-semitic and stealing Israel's promises, seriously, the Israel of God is believing Israel at that time, its not believe Gentiles!
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
1st Thessalonians
The book of 1st Thessalonians was written during the time mentioned in Acts 18. The mysteries of the rapture and Iniquity are first mentioned here.
The rapture is mentioned as being taught to the people of Thessalonica on Paul's second missionary journey, it is also mentioned in 1st Corinthians so that refutes the idea of the Acts 28 crowd who think Paul didn't get the mystery until after Acts 28.
He was preaching, his gospel (called interchangably the gospel of God, the gospel of Christ, and our gospel in 1 & 2 Thessalonians) since the begining which was a mystery.
Paul never preached the gospel of the Kingdom to the Jews. He preached about the rapture which is a part of the mystery as well, and he was preaching about the mystery of iniquity, so don't tell me Paul didn't know the mystery until Acts 28. Paul did receive more revelations later on in Acts, but he knew much of the mystery early on in his preaching.
2nd Thessalonians
The book of 2nd Thessalonians was written during the time mentioned in Acts 18, sometime soon after 1st Thessalonians was written.
1st Corinthians
The book of 1st Corinthians was written during the time of Acts 20.
2nd Corinthians
The book of 2nd Corinthians was written during the time of Acts 20.
Romans
The book of Romans was written during the time of Acts 20 while Paul was at Corinth: The mystery of Israel's blindness in part is mentioned prior Acts 28 as we see it in Romans 11:25, and the actual mystery program is mentioned in Romans 16:25:
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
"But Now"
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest,
Paul said "but now" is made manifest (the revelation of "the mystery", not a single one but, a group of mysteries were then made manifest. It didn't say, "But later" will be made manifest.
Philemon
The book of Philemon was written during Paul's house arrest in Rome mentioned in Acts 28, we know this because of the numerous references found in the short book to Paul being in bonds with Onesimus. There is no doctinal teachings found in Philemon.
Paul does however tell Philemon that if he wants his ministry to be more effectual (effective) he should forgive Onesimus by showing the grace that he had been teaching others all along. Sometimes people can hold grudges and it can hinder your work for the Lord.
Because this epistle is placed last it holds the spot of the episles crowning jewel. It tells everyone what Paul told Philemon. You preach grace, now live it!
Ephesians
The book of Ephesians was most likely written in Acts 28: The mystery of the church
Collosians
The book of Colossians was written during Paul's house arrest in Rome mentioned in Acts 28.
Philippians
The book of Philippians was written during Paul's house arrest in Rome in Acts 28 as evidence in its pages declare.
1st Timothy
The book of 1st Timothy was written post Acts 28 after Paul's release, and before his re-arrest. The mystery of godliness is first mentioned in chapter three.
Titus
The book of Titus was written post Acts 28 after Paul's release and before his re-arrest. Titus was told to ordain elders as Paul had been doing for quite some time now which you can read about in Acts 14:23.
Act 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
The churches mentioned were in Antioch, Iconnium, Lystra, Derbe, and Lycaonia. Would to God we were about this work today. Why aren't we? Let's get busy following our pattern, the apostle Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles.
2nd Timothy
The book of 2nd Timothy is my favorite epistle because it it the answer to the problems the church is facing today. It was written in Rome after Acts 28 when Paul was re-arrested and eventually put to death.
It's pages are filled with all the neceessary information for all the denominations to leave all the mess behind that man-made religion has come up with over the years as they have all left the sound doctrine given to the apostle Paul.
If you want to know whys all the Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers have not been able to perfect the saints to do the work of the ministry, and edify the body of Christ it is because they have not followed the pastoral advice given by our pattern Paul to Pastor Timothy in this most amazing epistle. Let's get back to it shall we? Will you help?
Chapter Two
Things found in Paul's writings not found anywhere else.
The church which is Christ's body
