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1 of 4 I desired two things: To see Christ in the flesh, and to listen to Paul preaching from the pulpit ~St. Augustine

(1) 1st Thessalonians

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(2) 2nd Thessalonians

(3) 1st Corinthians

(4) 2nd Corinthians

- Written in (fall) year 57 A.D. few months after the first epistle - Written from Macedonia (Most likely Philippi) during the 3rd Missionary Trip and was sent by the hand of Titus - In this epistle the apostle is revealing his feelings and service as an apostle - It also encourages charitable deeds for the needy in the church in Jerusalem & Judea; as a fruit of faith - The epistle contains an intense defense from St. Paul about his apostleship against false teachers who tried to deceive the believers about St. Paul and his personality, specially after the first epistle

- Written at the beginning of 53 A.D. - Written in (spring) year 57 A.D. few months after the first epistle - Written from Ephesus during the - Written from Corinth during the 2nd Missionary Trip (Acts 18: 1-16) - Also, written from Corinth during 3rd Missionary Trip (Acts 19: 1-20:1) the 2nd Missionary Trip (Acts 18: 1- - The epistle addressed some - The epistle did not address neither 16) problems in the church of Corinth: Theological nor dogmatic issues; as - St Paul continues the topic of the Controversies, sexual immorality, the entire church was from the second coming clarifying the signs accepting a church member who Gentiles with no members from that come before it sinned with his stepmother, suing Jewish background each other in civil courts. - The apostle emphasized the - The epistle delivers the feelings of importance of having a job - Also, the epistle answered some St. Paul the apostle as a shepherd confronting those who left their concerns for the people of Corinth: towards the people of Thessalonica, work and obligations, believing that Wedlock & Virginity, Eating from the Lord's day is at hand with general commandments to idols sacrifices, Eucharist and the table of the Lord, Spiritual gifts, and pursue a holy life the resurrection of the dead - The only Theological topic addressed in the epistle was the second coming

Written at the end of 52 A.D.

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine - IL

Page 2 of 4 I desired two things: To see Christ in the flesh, and to listen to Paul preaching from the pulpit ~St. Augustine

(5) Galatians
- Written at the end of 53 A.D. - Written from Corinth during his service there for 3 months at the end of the 3rd Missionary Trip - While St Paul was serving in Corinth, news reached him about Judaizers in Galatia; and he wrote the epistle confronting them - Judaizers are the Christians from Jewish background trying to enforce Gentiles to adopt the Jewish faith as the gate to Christianity - St. Paul totally refused such concept - Also this epistle came to defend St Paul apostleship; as some Christians from Jewish background were doubting it. This is also found in to the 2nd epistle to the Corinthians. - Also this epistle has some similarities with the theological concept of the epistle to the Romans, but the later is broader.

(6) Romans
- Written at the beginning of 58 A.D. - Also, written from Corinth during his service there for 3 months at the end of the 3rd Missionary Trip - Till the time of writing the epistle St. Paul did not visit Rome yet, though he had the desire to visit and preach in Rome. He knew several people there, and this epistle was an introductory step for his visit to Rome.

(7) Philemon
- Written in the year 62 A.D. - The apostle wrote it during his first imprisonment in Rome

(8) Colossians
- Written in the year 62 A.D. - The apostle wrote it during his first imprisonment in Rome

- The first epistle out of four to address - St. Paul did not preach in Colossi, individuals most likely never visited it. - So it is more private and personal, as it does not address any theological, dogmatic nor Church rites - Probably, Epaphras who preached in Colossi, who also visited St. Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome. - He delivered him the news about a heresy that is a combination of Greek philosophy associated with agnostic thinking and eastern mysticism - The epistle focused on describing Christ as the Head of the Church, higher than all who preceded Him; and through Him only is the salvation

- The target of the epistle is the mediation of St. Paul between - This epistle is the most powerful Philemon - One of the recognized explanation for the Christian faith and members in the church of Colossi - and the free salvation for all, whether Jews his runaway slave Onesimus who or Gentiles believed on the hand of St. Paul - Also, the epistle assures that man is - The epistle provided a practical only acquitted by the faith in Christ and not by the literal work of the Law application on equality among people, even between slaves and masters as and judaization brothers in Christ, in a decent, kind and humble approach from St. Paul

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine - IL

Page 3 of 4 I desired two things: To see Christ in the flesh, and to listen to Paul preaching from the pulpit ~St. Augustine

(9) Ephesians
- Written in the year 62 A.D. during

(10) Philippians

(11) Hebrews
- Written sometime between the 1st and 2nd imprisonment, i.e. between

(12) 1st Timothy

- Written in the year 67 A.D. - Written from Macedonia before the second imprisonment that lead to St. Pauls martyrdom. - This is a pastoral letter, St. Paul wrote it toward the end of his life to his disciple Timothy bishop of Ephesus. - St. Paul wrote in this letter many guidelines for the service, including: systems in the church, warnings about false teachers, their false teachings, and the responsibilities of a shepherd toward his flock.

- Written in the year 62 A.D. the first imprisonment in Rome - Written during the first - This epistles is similar to the imprisonment in Rome. epistle to the Colossians, as both are spiritual letters compromising - The epistle to the Philippians is a of 2 sections: one section is spiritual letter thats essentially Theological and the other is focusing on the joy in the Lord. It Practical doesnt have major debates or controversies. - Unlike the epistle to the Colossians, this epistle was not - This is also a letter of written to address specific heresy. However, it had a common theme thanksgiving, compliments and encouragement to the Philippians with Colossians emphasizing the because of their generous person of Christ as the source of donations and gifts. richness for the church, and emphasizing the body of Christ where all believers are united to one head, Christ the Lord of glory.

the years 64-68 A.D. Written from Italy by the hands of Timothy
- The purpose of this epistle was to

encourage the Jews (the Hebrews) who have believed in Jesus to abide in the faith and to confront persecution from their brethren. Whether physical persecution or challenges and doubts regarding the faith in Christ.

- While the epistle to the Colossians focused on the Christ of the Church, this epistle focused on the Church of Christ.

-For this reason, the epistle came to confirm the superiority of Christ above all sources of Jewish pride: the prophets, angels, Moses, Aaron, priesthood, sacrifices, and the covenant between God and their fathers

- This epistle has more quotes and references from the old testament (verses, events, rituals) than any other epistle

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine - IL

Page 4 of 4 I desired two things: To see Christ in the flesh, and to listen to Paul preaching from the pulpit ~St. Augustine

(13) Titus

(14) 2nd Timothy

** General Notes

- Written almost at the same time - Written in the year 68 A.D. as the first epistle to Timothy in the year 67 A.D. - Written during the 2nd imprisonment in Rome that lead to - Written before the second St Pauls martyrdom short after imprisonment and after St. Paul writing this letter visit to Crete island where he left his disciple Titus to become a -This is a second letter to Timothy bishop there. bishop of Ephesus, the disciple of St. Paul, and is the last of all - Could be written from either epistles written. Ephesus, Corinth or Nicopolis (Greece) -This is also a farewell letter as St Paul was aware that his execution - This is too a pastoral letter, very was near, thats why the letter similar to the 1st epistle to Timothy, contains many pastoral advises this letter contains guidelines for from a preacher, a shepherd and a the service: systems in the church, father to his son and disciple, to be warnings about false teachers, strong in front of the persecution, their false teachings, and the and to keep the pure faith. responsibilities of a shepherd toward his flock.

- The epistles above are listed in chronological order.

- The dates mentioned above are all estimated as there is no consensus

about the accurate dating of St Pauls epistles.

- St Paul epistles could be segmented into: 13 epistles to the gentiles and

1 epistle to the Jews.

- Another segmentation could be: 10 epistles to congregations and 4 to

individuals

- One could summarize St Pauls epistles and their orders as follows: 1. Two during the 2nd Journey: Thessalonians 1 & 2 2. Four during the 3rd Journey: a) Corinthians 1&2 [various questions & defending his apostleship] b) Galatians & Romans [heresy of Judaizers] 3. Four during the 1st imprisonment in Rome: a) Philemon [personal letter to forgive a runaway slave] b) Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians [Life in Christ] 4. Four after the 1st imprisonment a) Hebrews [The whole old testament is pointing to Christ] b) Timothy 1&2 and Titus [Guidelines and pastoral letters with farewell in 2nd Timothy]

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine - IL