The Jews had been God’s special people for so long that the inclusion of others posed challenges to Jews in the early church. Unbelieving Jews stirred up trouble against Christians everywhere (Acts 6:12; 8:1; 13:50; 14:2; 17:13; 21:27). Worse, some Jews who accepted Christ clung to their old ways. They taught Gentile believers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). The apostles and elders came together and opposed such additions to the Gospel (Acts 15:6-33). When Judaizers persisted in spreading their false teachings, Paul wrote letters to defend the Gospel and to strengthen members in the true faith revealed by Jesus Himself (Galatians 1:11- 12). Chief of these defenses were Galatians and Romans. Paul’s other letters were as follows:
1 Corinthians – to a congregation started by Paul (Acts 16), giving Christ’s answers to problems hindering their spiritual maturity
2 Corinthians – to the same congregation, defending Paul’s Gospel ministry against accusations by false ‘apostles’
1 Thessalonians – to a congregation started by Paul (Acts 17), encouraging them and teaching about Christ’s second coming
2 Thessalonians – to the same congregation, continuing the themes of 1 Thessalonians. He warned the church of the coming rebellion, the great “apostasy” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
Paul’s four “prison letters” were written while awaiting his first Roman trial (Acts 28). They are:
● Ephesians – to a congregation started by Paul (Acts 18), welcoming Gentiles and revealing God’s plan for the church
● Philippians – to a congregation started by Paul (Acts 17), showing the joyful attitudes of Christians under severe stress
● Colossians – to a congregation started by Paul’s co-worker Epaphras (Colossians 1:7; 4:12), emphasizing that Christ is all we need
● Philemon – to Paul’s convert, asking him to welcome another convert, a former slave
Titus – to Paul’s coworker Titus (2 Corinthians 8:23), guiding his mission to strengthen churches in Crete
1 Timothy – to Paul’s coworker Timothy (Acts 16:1-3), guiding his ministry with the congregation in Ephesus
2 Timothy – also to Timothy, preparing him to carry on after Paul’s imminent execution (2 Timothy 4:6)