"The Message"

 Paul in Prison

Part 9 in the mini Series

Paul, the Testimony of the Lord’s Prisoner

Dear Gentle Readers,

From the end of the book of Acts until his death Paul spent more time in prison than most do even today (I believe that Paul received his greatest revelation the of all). In his understanding of what God was doing. It’s when God suspends all of our activity (running around being busy) that we stop and hear that still small voice speaking love to us in our inactivity. First let’s get the time line out of the way. Again I turn to my colleague and friend Dr. Jerry Wayne Bernard from Scripture Research and Director of Scripture Institute for the dating of the 6 letters that are considered the "Prison Epistles" of the apostle Paul. Paul's 6 Epistles written after the Acts period (AD 64 - 69) are:

AD 64 - (9th letter) -

1st Timothy

out of prison & from Macedonia

Now, after Paul's release from prison (AD 64-67) he writes his first epistle as an Apostle to Timothy. The epistle to Titus is soon to follow. The two young ministers must have the correct organizational set up (for each local assembly) with order and structure.

AD 65 - (10th letter) -

Titus

out of prison & from Macedonia

Following his release, Paul begins his unrecorded 4th missionary journey. His travel takes him east to Macedonia (1 Tim. 1:3) where he preaches the hope of the eternal life promised long ages ago (Titus 2:1). During this period, he wrote two pastoral epistles, 1st Timothy and Titus. Both of these young men needed further instruction by the apostle concerning organization and structure of the local assemblies.

AD 67 - (11th letter) -

2nd Timothy

from prison in Rome

Here we find Paul in prison (AD 67-69) for the second and last time. Throughout Paul's imprisonment, the activities of the young preachers still banded together with him. He would send them out to various places with messages from him and then they would return with news from the churches. However, at the writing of 2nd Timothy, Paul replaced Titus (at Crete) with Artemas (Titus 3:12). Then Titus was sent to Dalmatia after his visit with Paul at Nicopolis, the winter before Paul's last imprisonment (Titus 3:12 and 2 Tim. 4:10). Tychicus is sent to Ephesus to visit and obviously reports back to Paul with one more important visit to Ephesus coming later (2 Tim. 4:12). Luke remained a companion of Paul in his final imprisonment (2 Tim. 4:11). Finally, Timothy is told to come and be with Paul in his last imprisonment (2 Tim. 1:8; 2:3). Paul wanted Timothy's fellowship badly (2 Tim. 4:9, 21). Remember, Timothy was with him in his first imprisonment. He is told to bring with him Mark, who now can be of great use. Paul's attitude in 2nd Timothy is one of quiet resolve, waiting for his final appointment of death. He still speaks of the promise of life as his main message (2 Tim. 1:1, 10, 11).

AD 68 - (12th letter) -

Ephesians

a prison epistle & circular letter

AD 69 - (13th letter) -

Philemon

a prison epistle to one man

AD 69 - (14th letter) -

Colossians

a prison epistle to complete the Word of God

Timothy must have completed his journey to see Paul (Colossians 1:1 & Philemon 1:1) and bring his friend Demas, whom he picked up in Thessalonica. This caused great joy for Paul (Col.4:14). These last epistles contain further truth that was revealed by the Holy Spirit only to Paul. The divine (and very important) revelation of "the mystery" of the Body was given only to Paul and is explained in Ephesians (a circular letter to be carried to several churches), and Colossians. This truth is put into practical application in the epistle to Philemon concerning his run away slave. This subject, "the mystery" is the cap stone of Church teaching.

Paul was the only one who received the revelation of "the mystery" (Eph. 3:3). If it had been known before Paul's calling, it would have been mentioned by someone. It was not to be taken to the Jew first. This new revelation of "the mystery" of the body (Eph. 3:9) must be made known to all men because it "had been hid in God." Every mystery in the Word of God was taught and revealed as it was received from God. The "mystery of Christ" was revealed little by little until it became very clear (Eph. 3:5). Paul sent the message to Ephesus (or Laodicea) and Colossae by the hand of Tychicus (Col. 4:7 & Eph. 6:21). For Tychicus had previously spent time in Ephesus and would be the likely candidate to carry the letter to Ephesus (or Laodicea) and Colossae. So the 14 epistles close with the high and heavenly revelation of this new Body of Christ. Paul's life did not end in discouragement. It ended in great joy and peace as was found in Philemon. The fact is, Paul is optimistic of his release by their prayers and a miracle of God (Philemon 22).

The concluding statement of Paul in Colossians 1:25 is, "...to complete the Word of God." I heard my friend, Russ Schaefer say that this statement should be enough for us to conclude that Colossians is the last writing of Paul, the Apostle. Paul's last words were about GRACE. In Colossians we find that the Christian is "complete in Christ," the Word of God is complete and that there is nothing to be added to the Christian experience. This epistle closes the fourteen epistles with the high and heavenly revelation.

The identifying mark of Paul's 14 epistles is:

These fourteen epistles are identified as Paul's in 2nd Thessalonians 3:17, 18. He says, "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." This is the way that Paul signed "every epistle." His "mark" was: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." And here are the fourteen references that mark Paul's epistles.

1st Thess. 5:28 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."

2nd Thess. 3:18 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

1st Cor. 16:23 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

2nd Cor. 13:14 - "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

Gal. 6:18 - "Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

Rom. 16:20 & 24 - "...The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."

Phil. 4:23 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Heb. 13:25 - "Grace be with you all. Amen."

1st Tim. 6:21 - "Grace be with thee. Amen."

Titus 3:15 - "Grace be with you all. Amen."

2nd Tim. 4:22 - "Grace be with you. Amen."

Eph. 6:24 - "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."

Phile. 1:25 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

Col. 4:18 - "Grace be with you. Amen."

Next time we’ll look a wee bit deeper into this wonderful message given only to our Apostle, Paul!

Love,

Denis