Overall : Letters + Acts by date

Order Group Letters To church in: Continent Date: A.D

1st Early Galatians Province of Galatia Asia Minor 48

2nd Early 1 Thessalonians City of Thessalonica Europe 51

3rd Early 2 Thessalonians City of Thessalonica Europe 51

4th Major I Corinthians City of Corinth Europe 54 / 55

5th Major 2 Corinthians City of Corinth Europe 55 / 56

6th Major Romans City of Rome Europe 55 / 56

7th Prison Ephesians City of Ephesus Asia Minor 61

8th Prison Colossians City of Colossae Asia Minor 61

9th Prison Philemon (Friend – Philemon) --- 61

10th Prison Philippians City of Philippi Europe 62

11th Pastoral 1 Timothy (Co-worker – Timothy) --- 62

12th Pastoral Titus (Co-worker – Titus) --- 63

13th Pastoral 2 Timothy (Co-worker – Timothy) --- 64

Overall : Paul’s Letters

Why are these called the Prison Epistles ?

Written from Paul in prison

Every letter talks about His imprisonment + chains Ephesians – chapter 3: 1, 4:1, 6:20

“I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you” (Eph. 3:1)

Colossians – chapter 1:24, 4: 3,10,18“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains” (Col.

4:18)

Philemon – verses 1, 10, 13, 23I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, (Philemon 1:13)

Philippians – chapter 1: 7,13,14,17“it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ”. (Phil. 1:13)

Where were they written?

Ephesus ? Caesarea ? Rome ?

From : ROME Because - Writes about –

‘Caesar’s Household’ (Phil. 4:22)

‘Imperial Guard’ (Phil. 1:13) Church leaders confirm written

in Rome

Date : A.D 61 - 62

To : 3 Locations

Situation Acts 28: 17 – 30 Appealed : to be Tried by Caesar in Rome Because : in Judah - Jewish leaders plotted to

kill him Could : Roman Citizen Imprisoned : 2 years House Arrest (not prison) : pay for his place

+ food Chained : to Roman Guard 24 hours / day Flexible : People visit + Share Gospel + Write

letters Awaited : Trial – Death Penalty OR Set Free

Content Deal - more with general teaching / less

with individual questions (as 1 Corinthians + Thessalonians did)

To - Churches maturing in their faith

Who - needed to receive deeper teaching that would enlighten + stabilise them

Message Being Imprisoned was God’s Greater plan (not a

waste of time) Lord’s Plan = enabled to evangelise: Roman Governors

+ Caesar + Guards / Soldiers + Government + Judges + Jewish Leaders

Paul took every advantage of being in chains to – Share the Gospel (with Jewish leaders + visitors + every

guard)

Disciple new believers (e.g. Onesimus – Philemon 1:10)

Teach the church in Rome

Write letters / teaching to Ephesus + Colossae + Philemon + Philippi

Personal Challenge Do I trust God’s Greater plan ? – even when I go

through times of low position or suffering ?

Do I look to God’s work + impact through me in my situation ? – or ignore the present + only look to better times ?

Do I take advantage of every situation I’m in to be used by God ? – even when its difficult, dull or painful ?

How do these Prison Epistles differ ?

To Churches

Individual Ephesians Colossians Philippians

Philemon

Respond to Problems ! No

problem Colossians (Legalism + Gnosticism)

Philemon (Division: Slave - Master)

+ 1 Corinthians

Ephesians

Philippians

+ Romans

Approach Personal

Theological Philippians Philemon

+ 2 Corinthians

Colossians

Ephesians

+ Romans

Central Themes Ephesians

Church

Colossians Christ is Supreme

Philemon Reconcile

Philippians Unity + Joy

Letter To Problem Theme

Ephesians Church None Church Nature + Purpose

Colossians Church Extra for Salvation

Christ Supreme + All-Sufficient

Philemon Individual Division ex-slave+Master

Reconciliation to Slave as Brother

Philippians Church None Unity + Joy

Summary : Paul’s Prison Letters