Overview of Paul’s Letters

Next to Jesus, the Apostle Paul dominates more of the New Testament than anyone else. God inspired him to write thirteen letters, far more than any other author in the New Testament. These letters address a variety of audiences and tackled numerous theological and practical issues faced by the early church.

Paul’s Letters to Churches

Most of Paul’s letters were written to Christian communities. Paul preferred to visit these churches in person, but it often was not possible. His letters were an important “second best.” While we are privileged to have these writings as Scripture, it is mind-boggling to realize that most of these letters dealt with situations that arose after Paul had already founded the churches. That is to say, Paul had already given them the basic fundamentals of the gospel in person. His letters are dealing with crises and filling in the details.

Take 1 Thessalonians. Paul had to leave the church at Thessalonica before it was fully founded. He sent this letter back there from Corinth to deal with some misunderstandings they had about the second coming of Jesus. He was not able to stay long enough to finish teaching them about such things. 2 Thessalonians similarly deals with another misunderstanding they had about whether the judgment was already in progress.

Galatians addressed a whole region that was in danger of turning to works of the Jewish Law for their salvation rather than fully relying on Jesus. 1 and 2 Corinthians addressed many long and painful misunderstandings and the disobedience of some in the congregation there. Colossians warned the church about a Jewish religious movement that might corrupt the church.

You can see that these letters addressed specific situations and largely reflect not Paul’s central preaching but his inspired attempts to fix problems. Romans is a more general presentation of his teaching since it serves in some ways as an introductory letter to them giving a defense of the way Paul understands the gospel. Still, that situation shaped it. Of all these letters, Ephesians is the least situational, with some suggesting it may have been a letter shared around by several churches in what was called Asia Minor.

Even though Philemon was addressed to an individual, it is clear that the letter was read in front of the whole house church. In a sense, then, it is also a letter to a church. Paul encourages Philemon to receive back his servant Onesimus. They had become alienated from one another. In the process, the servant had become a believer.

Paul’s Letters to Individuals

Paul also wrote three additional letters to individuals: 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. These are known as the Pastoral Epistles. They provide guidance for church leadership and pastoral care. Timothy and Titus were two of Paul’s central co-workers. In that respect, these letters serve as a kind of deposit of Paul to the next generation of leaders.

By addressing both broader church communities and specific individuals, Paul’s letters offer a wide view of the theological and practical concerns of the early Christian movement. They provide guidance, encouragement, and timeless wisdom that continue to inspire and inform us as believers today.