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By Root 1284 0

” worshiping without benefit of books and established rituals. Remember, when Paul was making his rounds, setting up new communities, there were no Gospels. Before the Gospels were written and circulated later in the first century, letters, also called “epistles,” provided the only means to “reach out and touch” other Christians. Although the Greek epistello, for “to send to,” was traditionally viewed as a more formal letter than a personal message, the terms “epistle” and “letter” are generally interchangeable today. Paul’s epistles, or letters to churches and individuals around the Mediterranean world, were the first written documents of the early Christian church. In them, Paul provided guidance on matters of theology, practical advice on local difficulties, and warnings against certain abuses and practices that Paul considered dangerous or sinful. These letters, which constitute nearly one half of the New Testament, cited Hebrew scripture, as well as Jesus, and include some of the most memorable phrases in Christian history, many of which are cited below in excerpts from these letters.

Paul’s letters were written as he traveled, and several of them were written from prison. They went out to the early churches, just as Jewish leaders in Jerusalem had earlier sent letters to Jewish communities spread throughout the Mediterranean to instruct or mediate. Probably written on papyrus sheets, which were rolled and tied, the letters would be hand-carried by Paul’s personal emissaries, who might read and even supplement the information in the letter. The first collection of these letters is thought to have been made around 100 CE.

Thirteen “epistles” were traditionally credited to Paul, who dictated them to an assistant but then added a personal postscript and his signature. Recent research suggests that some of “Paul’s letters” may have been written by later church leaders who used Paul’s name to lend authority to their writings. It is also assumed that Paul wrote other letters that have either been lost or discarded. In one of these thirteen letters (Colossians), Paul refers to a letter sent to another church that is missing.

The grouping of Paul’s letters in the New Testament is by length, from longest to shortest, rather than in chronological order, or relative importance. They are given the titles of the church or, in a few cases, the person, to whom they were sent. This section offers an overview of Paul’s letters, with a selection of noteworthy verses from each.

• Romans

In the longest letter, Paul addresses a church that he had not personally founded or visited. The letter was written around 58 CE, probably while Paul was in the Greek city of Corinth, and before the severe persecutions of Christians under Nero begin after 62 CE. Apparently, Paul was planning another journey to bring the Christian message to Spain and was hoping to visit Rome on the way. This letter was to serve as his introduction to the Roman Christians, both for himself and for his teaching. Before leaving for Spain, however, he returned to Jerusalem and was arrested.

Paul says that faith in Jesus leads to salvation, for Jew or Gentile. The new Israel is the successor to the old Israel but is by no means restricted to Israelites. One of the letter’s main points is that the Law, meaning strict Jewish Law, is powerless to save. Salvation to all humanity is offered through faith in Christ. Paul also says people must love one another, and love those who act against them.

For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

If God is for us, who is against us? (Rom. 8:31)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)

Let love be genuine; have what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not lag