The Pauline Letters

DAVID S. DOCKERY

Thirteen letters in the New Testament bear the name of Paul. They inform us about Paul, his beliefs, his ministry, and his activity. The letters generally focus on issues within the life of the church. As various issues and problems developed, help from the apostles was often sought. Sometimes messengers brought word to Paul of problems in the churches. His letters responded to these concerns. As a result the writings contain instruction; advice; rebuke; and exhortation in theological, ethical, social, personal, and liturgical matters.

Paul's Letters were written over a span of less than twenty years. His place among the writing apostles came by virtue of his intimate relationship and personal encounter with the risen Christ and the instruction he received from the Lord. These special experiences qualified him to be classified as one of the apostles, equal in authority to the twelve appointed by Jesus.

The Acts of the Apostles traces the key events in the life of Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor, who became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. That story starts with his approving presence at the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:58-8:3). He had studied the Jewish law with the great rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3). He surpassed his peers with a tremendous zeal to uphold the traditions of his people (Acts 26:5; see Gal. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:5). As he traveled to Damascus to persecute the believers there, he encountered the exalted Christ, and his life was radically changed (Acts 9:1-31).

Later he spent time alone with God in Arabia (Gal. 1:17). Here he came to realize that the crucified Jesus was raised from the dead, and He is Lord of all (Acts 9:5). The good news of salvation accomplished by Jesus' death and resurrection was the message to be proclaimed to all (Gal. 2:15-21). Surprisingly, Paul learned that this good news applied equally to both Jews and Gentiles (see Gal. 3:28). Paul's mission was specifically focused on the Gentiles, whom Paul had previously rejected (see Acts 9:15; Gal. 1:15-17). Paul ministered in Antioch from where his mission work (with Barnabas) began (Acts 11:25-26; 13:1-3). Three mission journeys took him across the four Roman provinces of Galatia, Asia, Achaia, and Macedonia. From these various locations he wrote his Letters (see the chart showing the relationship between his writings and his mission work, p. 540).