The Value Of Determining The Purpose Of Paul's Epistles

Paul the Apostle was a very godly man one of many on long list of godly people who spent their lives serving God’s purpose. Paul was the author of several epistles, writing out the words of God to the people of the church. Have you ever wondered why Paul wrote out the epistle of Ephesians and the effects that the letter had on the congregation in which he wrote too? In the book of Ephesians, it is clearly shown that the Apostle Paul is the indeed the author of the Epistle of Ephesians. Paul’s epistles are intended for all of those who want to know Jesus Christ. The book of Ephesians is surrounded with the information that shows the discipline in which to develop into a true son and daughter of our Lord Jesus Christ. Studying the book of

Paul's letters to the church, also known as epistles, are considered some of the most important documents in the New Testament. Paul's writings continue to shape and forge church even today. His letters were written in some of the darkest, most intense moments of Paul's life, but they also celebrate the grace, love, and life changing power of Jesus. Paul's journey in faith is shown in raw, unapologetic honesty, and inspires Christians to maintain a forward momentum, and to run the race Paul speaks so passionately about in Hebrews 12:1. Paul is able to write with both confidence and humility as he writes about the Christian journey.

Paul is the author of the book of Titus. The book of Titus was written around the years 63-65 A.D. The letter was addressed to Titus who was a gentile and a companion of Paul. Paul called Titus his “True son”. Titus along with First and Second Timothy are called Pastoral Epistles. The reason for being categorized that way is because the letters emphasizes the reason for having leaders within the church. (Votaw, Clyde W. pg.130-38) The book 's theme is instructions to Titus on how to run the churches in Crete and to encourage Titus in faith. The first readers of this letter would be Titus, some of the leaders within the Crete churches, Zenas and Apollos who Paul gave the letter to give of Titus. Paul and Titus most likely visited Crete

Analyse the contribution that Paul of Tarsus had on the development and expression of Christianity.

Jesus is the center of Christianity, but without Paul, Christianity would never exist. Paul organized Jesus’s disciples after Jesus’s death. Paul introduced Christianity to Non-Jewish people. He was extremely talented at converting others. The New Testament is largely based off Paul’s teachings. Paul also shaped the way Christianity thinks, he was the man who took a small cult and shaped it so that it would become a world religion; Paul was the most important figure to the growth of Christianity, even more than Jesus of Nazareth.

Ephesians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. This is the same Paul who had previously persecuted the church. He is not writing to a particular church body, rather his intended audience was various churches in the surrounding vicinity of Ephesus. To encourage

Paul wanted to keep pressing west and therefore only occasionally had the opportunity to revisit his churches. He tried to keep up his converts’ spirits, answer their questions, and resolve their problems by letter. Fortunately, after his death one of his followers collected some of the letters, edited them and published them. His letters are some of the earliest Christian documents that we have. His letters became part of the New Testament of the Bible.

Paul’s letters pre-date the gospels. What do they reveal about the message that the apostle was preaching about Jesus at this early stage in Christian history? To what extent does it concur with Luke’s gospel?

Paul in his Epistle to the Romans was different because of the message. Many people would think that the messages are similar, but they are not. In the sermon, The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states, “The message in the Sermon is set firmly within the Jewish tradition. Jesus urges his listeners to a commitment to righteousness, which he defines with poignant simplicity.” (93) The message in this sermon is basically that Jesus wanted to touch his listeners by his words by always doing what is right and equal.

Paul's wrote four letters or PRISON epistles while in prison during his journeys, they were; Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. I doubt Paul expected to be thrown in prison but he knew he would be persecuted. He made a bad situation work for him and continued to preach and write gospels. Paul was a very good teacher and devout follower of Christ; he traveled thousands of miles, founded churches, preached wherever he could and endured horrific conditions. Paul was Forgiving-In the Book of Philemon when Onesimus, a slave, ran away from his master, Philemon, he ended up meeting Paul. Paul knew he was a thief and he was also friends with Philemon. After that meeting, Onesimus became converted and Paul wrote to Philemon, asking him

It seems strange that so little is known biographically about one of the most important figures in Christian history, but this only serves to add to the mystery and grandeur surrounding the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. Much, however, is known of the time after his conversion to Christ and what he did to contribute to Christianity in this period, and it is this that leaves a greater legacy than the simple facts of his life. The contributions that he made towards the cause of Christ and the spreading and formation of Christianity are what he is perennially remembered for.

Our source of knowledge of the apostolic work of Paul comes first from the Book of Acts. The epistles written by Paul serve to further our knowledge of his mission. These letters were written to churches that he had founded or churches that were known to him. Luke’s account of Paul introduces us to the basic facts about this important biblical figure. A more complete understanding of Paul’s journeys can be gleaned from his letters. These epistles were written almost at the time they occurred and they comprise some of the earliest works contained in the New Testament.

o What does Paul want to see happen in this epistle? Complete forgiveness and restoration. He wants all debt to be paid off. o Answer the three questions found under the following heading in Jensen’s discussion of Philemon: “XXX Application from Philemon.”

The book of Philemon is an Epistle written by the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome. It was written to his Christian friend Philemon. Paul's purpose in writing was to ask Philemon to forgive his runaway slave named Onesimus.

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, also known as the Pastoral Epistles, attempt to describe proper hierarchy in the early church. They reject the idea of having women being significantly involved in the community. Libertarian theology interprets Christianity through the viewpoint of the poor. Leftist theology is a more liberal political party. It advocates equality and rejects the idea of social hierarchy. These three ideas were considered heterodidascalia, or “the other teachings,” in the early church (Menendez, 185). The Pastoral Epistles attempted to limit the number and type of people who could have power and authority, and they did this by “[addressing] specific church leaders and [targeting] specific groups” (Menendez, 186). By narrowing the gap between the secular and religious groups, it is possible to “deepen the national dialogues” (Menendez, 187). Based on the conservative, Pastoral interpretations of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, there is no room for equality amongst the people and it seems to me like they are taking certain rights away from these different groups of people. If the Pastorals were more sensitive to the three issues stated above, it could allow a better understanding between the state and church.