Paul's Other Letters

Paul stated that he was the apostle to the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit sent him on his first missionary journey. While away from some of these cities he was concerned about their physical and spiritual welfare so he sent those he was mentoring to visit them and encourage them to remain faithful. Paul also wrote letters to them and to those he was training; i.e., Timothy, addressing specific concerns about doctrinal matters. Many have been preserved for us; however, at least one, the letter to the Laodiceans, was lost.

Studies from Paul’s other letters: 1 Galatians – Not Under the LAW 2 Ephesians – In Christ 3 Ephesians – Living as Children of God 4 Philippians – Imitate Christ’s Attitude 5 Philippians – Rejoicing in following Christ 6 Colossians – Freedom through Christ 7 Colossians – Holy Living in Christ 8 1 Thessalonians – Living to Please God 9 2 Thessalonians – Being Counted Worthy 10 1 Timothy – Worship and Leadership 11 1 Timothy – Advice about Myths, Relationships and Money 12 2 Timothy – Encouragement in being Faithful 13 2 Timothy – General Instructions to the Church 14 Titus – Setting the Church in Order 15 Philemon – Relationships between Christian Owners/Employers and Slave/Employees

Not Under the LAW

Setting: Paul established churches in Galatia on his first missionary trip. Following their establishment some "Christians" began teaching that the Law of Moses must also be followed. Paul wrote to correct this false doctrine.

Text: Galatians

Key Point: All who rely on observing the Law of Moses are under a curse. Christ came to redeem us from the curse as the Law because it was not based upon faith. But the righteous live by faith and one becomes a son of God through faith in Christ by immersion into Christ.

Word Study:

2:10 Remember the poor - It is doubtful this means think about or wish them well, but taking some action to alleviate their poverty from your abundance because of your love. The poor are not those who say they are poor.

In Christ

Setting: Paul established the church in Ephesus and taught for at least two years in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Many miracles were performed and many people were brought to Christ. Paul left shortly after a riot caused by Demetrius’ desire for personal profit as he was a silversmith making idols of Artemis (Diana).

Text: Ephesians 1-3

Key Point: All spiritual blessings are IN CHRIST, in Him, in the one he loves. The most important blessing is redemption, reconciled to God.

Word Study:

1:9 - Mystery of His will - God's plan to redeem man was not known until it was revealed through Jesus Christ that all men could receive salvation by obedience to the commands of Christ who gave His life as the atoning sacrifice

for our sins.

Living as Children of God

Text: Ephesians 4-6

Key Point: The Christ church is not an organization but a united functioning body with each part or member performing its function all of which are equal in importance.

Word Study:

5:3 - Sexual immorality, impurity - Mostly referred to as fornication meaning any sexual activity outside marriage. 6:12 – Spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places - All activities directed toward us by the Devil and his angels in an attempt to get us to yield to the temptations by our desires for them, such as lust, power and pride.

Imitate Christ Attitude and Actions

Setting: While a prisoner apparently in Rome because he was preaching Christ, Paul wrote to a church he had established following an unjustified beating after which he taught the jailer and his household about Christ.

Text: Philippians 1 - 2:18

Key Point: A Christian’s attitude should be just like Christ’s. He should be willing to do whatever it takes to be obedient even if it meant death.

Word Study:

1:11 – The fruit of righteousness – This is probably a result of the fruits of the Spirit producing a holy and righteous life pleasing to God allowing God to impute his righteousness as men are not righteous.

Rejoice in Following Christ

Text: Philippians 2:19 - 4

Key Point: Positions in life mean nothing. What really counts is to gain Christ and remain faithful being aware there are some so called Christians among us who think only of enjoying the present time.

Word Study:

3:6 - Legalistic righteousness – Adherence of the strictest religious tradition consists of obedience to minutiae external rules and regulations based upon man’s opinions. 3:9 - Righteousness that comes from the Law – This is self-righteousness coming from doing everything required by the Law, their duty. 3:17 - Pattern – example, fashion, figure, form, manner, or print. 4:5 – Gentleness – equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, not insisting on the letter of the law looking reasonably at the facts of a case. It is in contrast to contentiousness.

Freedom through Christ

Setting: The church in Colosse was established by Epaphras, chapter 1 verse 7. In his letter Paul warns them about false doctrine: a) what one eats or drinks, b) religious festivals, c) observance of special days such as Sabbath days,

worship of angels, e) one's perceived religious experiences, f) harsh treatment of the body and g) one's great knowledge.

Text: Colossians 1 - 2

Key Point: You are reconciled to God by Christ's physical body through death if you continue in your faith.

Word Study:

2:2 – Mystery of God – A Divine truth once hidden, but now revealed; i.e., “According to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested." (Romans 16:25). 2:8 – Basic principles of the world – Things lacking in value including such things as sensual desires, selfishness and pride, false humility, essentially the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

Holy Living in Christ

Setting: The church in Colosse was established by Epaphras, chapter 1 verse 7. In his letter Paul warns them about false doctrine a) what one eats or drinks, b) religious festivals, c) observance of special days such as Sabbath days,

worship of angels, e) one's perceived religious experiences, f) harsh treatment of the body and g) one's great knowledge.

Text: Colossians 3-4

Key Point: God's word must constantly be in our heart (mind) as we teach and admonish one another.

Word Study:

3:5 – Earthly man - The life of living for self, its lust, pride and sinfulness. 3:9 – Old self - One's former way of living for self and pleasure. Also called sinful nature.

Living to Please God

Setting: Paul's concern about the church in Thessalonica caused him to send Timothy to strengthen them and find out about their welfare. Upon Timothy's return Paul wrote to encourage them and relieve some of their concerns. He first went to Thessalonica after having been beaten in Philippi (Acts 17). Initially he was warmly received which caused the Jews to be jealous causing a great uproar. The citizens were more noble in Berea than Thessalonica.

Text: - 1 Thessalonians

Key Point: Following words of encouragement Paul gave instructions how to live to please God and prepare for Christ return.

Word Study:

2:4 – Test our hearts – Prove the genuineness of our hearts 4:13 – Fall asleep – In this case it appears to refer to someone who is dead.

Being Counted Worthy

Text: 2 Thessalonians

Key Point: From the beginning God chose those who obeyed Him to be saved and to punish those who refuse to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Word Study:

1:9 – Everlasting destruction – The idea is not extinction but ruin, loss, not of being, but of well-being. 2:3 – Man of lawlessness – Unrighteousness 2:4 – God's temple – The place where God dwells

Worship and Leadership

Setting: Timothy was mentored by Paul, traveled with him and was left or sent by Paul to newly established churches to continue teaching and training new Christian how to live for Christ, worship Him and become leaders.

Text: 1 Timothy 1- 3

Key Point: Christ came into the world to save sinners by their obedience to knowledge of the truth that there is only one mediator between God and man who came in the flesh as the atoning sacrifice, Jesus - the Christ.

Word Study:

1:3 – Myths – Unfounded tradition or imaginary 1:3 – False doctrine – Anything different from what was taught by Christ and His Apostles who were guided by the Spirit of God. 2:8 – Holy hands – Being unspotted by sin when approaching God, a righteous person. 2:9 – Modest dress – Attire that does not excite improper passions and desires of either man or woman.

Advice about Myths, Relationships and Money

Text: 1 Timothy 4 - 6

Key Point: Some Christians will abandon the faith and follow teaching of liars who have an unhealthy interest in worldly things for financial gain.

Word Study:

4:7 – Godless myths and old wives’ tales – Stories, tales, myths or fables are not based upon truth, not sound doctrine and should be avoided. These could have referred to specific writings or stories in Jewish traditional writings. 5:17 – Double honor - Twice the value – could be money thus salary or pay.

Encouragement in being Faithful

Text: - 2 Timothy 1- 2

Key Point: Select and give to qualified and faithful men the gospel message so they can teach others without arguing about words and foolish arguments that only produce quarrels.

Word Study:

1:14 – Good deposit – Since the Holy Spirit is to help guard this deposit it appears to be the Sound Doctrine entrusted to righteous and faithful men.

General Church Instructions

Setting: Timothy was mentored by Paul, traveled with him and was left or sent by Paul to newly established

churches to continue teaching and training new Christian how to live for Christ, worship Him and become leaders.

Text: 2 Timothy 3-4

Key Point: Some professing to be Christians but are not lovers of God will worm their way into minds of some in the Body swaying them into all kinds of evil. But those not swayed are to continue in the scriptures as all scripture is God breathed to be used to teach, rebuke correct and train.

Word Study:

3:2 – People – Someone within the church professing to be Christian but following the world. 3:16 – God breathed – The scripture referred to was divinely inspired conveying God's intended message.

Setting the Church in Order

Setting: Titus was a Greek student and follower of Paul. Paul sent him like others to various churches to provide additional teaching and encouragement. In this case he was sent to the Island of Crete.

Text – Titus

Key Point: Appoint qualified men to lead by a) encouraging sound doctrine b) refuting those who oppose it c) teaching everyone to live lives reflecting this doctrine and d) avoiding foolish controversies.

Word Study:

1:6 – Children who believe – The word translated believe is also translated trustworthy, faithful or reliable. The text following seems to imply not rebellious but respectful. 1:6 – Given to drunkenness – Also translated as not given to wine, drunkard or addicted to wine. Probably does not mean one who never takes a drink of an alcoholic beverage regardless of circumstances. 1:10 – Rebellious people – Unruly, rebellious; not a united assembly, church 2:1 – Sound doctrine – The teaching of Christ as taught by Paul and the other apostles of Christ. 2:5 – Busy at home – Performing tasks for the good of the family, not being idle or a busy body meddling into others affairs. 3:5 – Washing of rebirth and renewal – The act of washing a spiritual cleansing. Rebirth refers to birth again, a new creation. This appears to be a reference to burial by immersion in water following a death to sin for the forgiveness of sins and a resurrection into Christ as new spiritual creation.

BibleWay Publishing Related Study

Servants in the Kingdom,

Relationships between Owners/Employers and Slave/Employees

Setting: Philemon lived in Colosse, was converted, provided assistance to Paul and had a slave Onesimus who escaped. Onesimus located Paul who was a prisoner in Rome, obeyed the gospel and provided much needed assistance to Paul. But as a runaway slave and Christian he had to return to his owner to make things right.

Text: Philemon

Key Point: An example of what one must do who has sinned against another even though he is currently performing a needed function in another location and how the one sinned against must act toward the repenting brother who sinned against him.

Text and illustrations reproduced from the study “Paul's Other Letters”. The original PDF is the reference copy.