The Pauline Epistles

Part II
 Saint Paul
• Born in Tarsus to a literal Jew family
• Sent at the age of 16 to Jerusalem to continue his
Jewish religious education at the feet of Gamaliel
• Highly educated- Greek philosophy
• Speaks Hebrew as fluent as Greek
• Hebrew name is Saul, Greek name is Paul
• Not of the 12 disciples nor the 70 apostles
• Never met Jesus during His life on earth or listened
to His sermons
 Between Ascension and 40 AD
• A zealous fanatic Jew, could not accept Christ
• Perplexed of Stephen’s final sermon
• Saw his glorious face and witnessed his
forgiveness to his murderers
• Yet he was satisfied with Stephen's death
• He thought what a danger, a great Jew like
Stephen is converted to Christianity
• He decided to bring orders to kill all Christians
 40 AD- 50 AD
• Christ met him on his way to Damascus,
• Send him to Ananias who baptize him after his
eyes opened, stayed in Damascus for days
• Preached in Damascus for a while to the Jews
• The Jews wanted to get rid of him and kill him
• Jerusalem, the disciples did not trust him
• Barnabas introduced him to the disciples
• Preached in Jerusalem till they wanted to kill
him
• He went to Arabia for 3 years
 3 Missionary Trips
• He journeyed 3 times to preach mainly to the
gentiles since most of the disciples could not
• Each journey started and ended in Antioch
lasted for 3-4 years. A few month per city
• He first talked to Jews in the temple, usually a
few believed then he turned into the pagans
• Early believers were a mix of Jews and Gentiles,
Jews wanted the others to keep their tradition.
Sabbath, circumcision, Law
 2 Imprisonments
• He went back to Jerusalem ( 1st ecumenical council)
• When he heard about a problem in a church he
sent them a letter
• Rome was his ultimate goal since it’s the heart of
the Roman empire and the world. He wrote to
them before he went there
• Eventually went there in chains, stayed in jail for 2
years, released, imprisoned again and then got
martyred
 Pauline Epistles
• Till year 50 AD, there was no written new
testament. All inspired bet. (50 AD - 100 AD)
• Gospel according to St. Mark and
• 1st and 2nd Thessalonians ( during 2nd trip )
• 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Romans and Galatians
during his 3 trip
• Ephesians , Philippians, Colossians, Philemon
during 1st imprisonment
• After 1st imprisonment: 1st Timothy, Titus, Hebrews
• 2nd imprisonment: 2nd timothy
 Structure
• Sender
• Receiver
• Apostolic blessing
• Encouraging message
• Body of the letter ( faith and main message)
• Practical application
• Greetings and conclusion
Christ is the Head of
• One of the prison epistles
the Church • Epapharus started a church
• a) Jewish services (2:16),
b) Pagan mythology and
philosophy (2:8, 18), and
c) Angelic worship (angels
having power over people)
• Sufficiency of Christ
• ―But Christ is all and in
all‖ (3:11).
• Sent with Tychicus
―Therefore, though I might • Onesimus, the runaway
be very bold in Christ to
command you what is fitting
slave.
• Displeased his master
Philemon ( theft )
• During his imprisonment
accepted Christ and
became a true Christian.
• St. Paul was about to send
him to his master and
asking that he forgive him
The Bishop of • After 1st imprisonment.
Ephesus From Macedonia
• St. Paul preached him ( 1st
trip ). Travelled together
then Ordained him a
bishop
• Timothy was facing several
difficulties because of a
false doctrine that was
turning people away from
Church.
• A lot of pastoral care and
social relationships
The Bishop of • Same time like 1st Timothy
Crete • From Macedonia
• Crete dealt with
circumcision, Jewish myth,
and the observances of the
law.
• Titus also accepted Christ
because of St. Paul
testimony
 • Written to Jew believers
Supremacy of
• No mention of a sender
Christ
• Wanted to comfort their not
being able to join the temple
and no more share in Jewish
priesthood
• Jesus is superior to angels,
prophets, Moses, Aaron,
Melchizedek
• Jesus is the ultimate high priest
• In short, there is more to be
gained in Christ than to be lost
in Judaism
 • a) To endure the
Final Instruction difficulties.
b) To be faithful.
c) To fulfill his duties in
enduring with the Gospel.
d) To remind him that God
gives us a Spirit of power
and not of fear.
e) To admonish him and
give him a charge to teach
and practice correctly. f) To
encourage him to ―exhort,
convince, rebuke‖(4:2).
 • Written in his 2nd
Final Instruction imprisonment
• He knew his hour is near
• St. Paul was about to meet
his death (4:6 )
• Four things:
• 1) Friends, 2) Cloak, 3)
Books, 4) Parchments (4:2)
• 2nd Timothy 4:7-8
• Crown of righteousness