Pauline Epistles

Pauline Epistles (referred to as the “Scriptures of the Dharma King Baolu” in Tang Dynasty Nestorianism) are letters written by the Apostle Paul to various churches regarding their internal situations or in response to inquiries about doctrine. These letters explain many difficult questions concerning Christian doctrine and clarify theological principles. They are crucial documents of Christianity and were later confirmed as canonical and included in the Christian New Testament at the First Council of Constantinople.

Out of the 21 epistles in the New Testament, Paul wrote 13. Their approximate writing times are:

50-51 AD, during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey: He wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians in Corinth (Acts 18:5, 11). He desired to return to Thessalonica but was hindered (1 Thessalonians 2:18), so he sent Timothy to encourage the converts and to report back on their condition. 1 Thessalonians was written after Timothy’s return, out of gratitude. 2 Thessalonians was written shortly thereafter.

52-56 AD, during Paul’s Third Missionary Journey: He wrote 1 Corinthians in Ephesus around 54 AD (1 Corinthians 16:8-10; Acts 19:22), and 2 Corinthians in Macedonia around 56 AD (2 Corinthians 2:12-14; Acts 20:1), addressing questions and correcting the chaotic situation among the Corinthian saints. In the winter of 56-57 AD, he wrote Galatians and Romans in Corinth (Acts 20:3). Some members of the churches in Galatia were abandoning the Gospel to follow Jewish law. In this epistle, Paul explained the purpose of the Mosaic Law and the value of spiritual religion. Paul’s letter to the Romans from Corinth was partly to prepare the Roman saints for his visit, as he hoped to see them. The letter also reaffirmed certain doctrines that had been disputed by some Jewish converts to Christ.

57-62 AD, during Paul’s First Imprisonment: From 60-62 AD, he wrote the so-called “Prison Epistles” in Rome: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon (Acts 28:30-31). Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is highly important as it contains Paul’s teachings on the church as the body of Christ. Paul’s letter to the Philippians primarily expressed his gratitude and deep affection for the Philippian saints, encouraging them not to be discouraged by his prolonged imprisonment. Paul wrote to the Colossians because reports indicated that the Colossian saints had fallen into serious error, believing that completeness came from strictly observing external doctrines rather than from cultivating Christ-like character. The letter to Philemon is a private letter concerning Philemon’s slave Onesimus, who had stolen from his master and fled to Rome. Paul sent Onesimus back with this letter, asking Philemon to forgive him.

62-64 AD, after Paul’s First Release: Paul wrote the so-called “Pastoral Epistles”: 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Among these, 2 Timothy was written during Paul’s second imprisonment, shortly before his martyrdom. Paul traveled to Ephesus, leaving Timothy there to curb the spread of certain absurd ideas, and planned to return later. He likely wrote 1 Timothy from Macedonia, encouraging and advising him to fulfill his duties. Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written during his second imprisonment, shortly before his martyrdom. The letter contains Paul’s final words and demonstrates his immense courage and trust in the face of death. Paul’s letter to Titus was written during his release from prison; he might have visited Crete, where Titus was serving at the time. The letter primarily discusses righteous living and discipline within the church.

Pauline epistles differ from modern letters; they were neither written for a highly literary audience nor were they entirely private correspondence. Most letters were specifically addressed to the churches of that time. These letters provide a glimpse into the state of the church from 50 to 70 AD, reflecting problems arising from pagan society, doctrinal confusion, and the challenges of heresy. Paul’s letters extensively expound on issues of faith, theology, and ethics, becoming one of the crucial foundations for later Christian doctrines and regulations, as well as important historical documents for studying early Christian thought.