What are Paul’s Letters?
In this session we focus on a seemingly mundane type of literature: the letter. This literature should be very familiar to us, as almost all of us have written a letter (or more likely, an e-mail) to either a friend, a colleague, or a business. More likely, we’ve written hundreds of them! Even though many of the letters in the New Testament are probably a bit longer than most of ours, nevertheless they share many characteristics. By their nature letters are reflections of the personal relationship between the writer and the recipient: they seek to create, sustain, or deepen that relationship. In a real sense, when we read Paul’s letters to his churches, we are eavesdropping on that relationship, literally reading someone else’s mail! But if we imagine ourselves to be members of the church Paul was writing to, then these letters can truly come alive for us in surprising ways. Give that a try!
Bible Lab 1 – 1 Thessalonians
This earliest Christian writing in the New Testament is fairly brief and you can easily read it in one sitting. If you try that, look for the different sections as you read: salutation, thanksgiving, body, and the final greetings and benediction. What do you learn about Paul’s relationship with this young church? What is Paul thankful for? If you imagine yourself as a member of this church, what is the lasting impression of this letter?
Bible Lab 2 – Paul’s Second Journey
Yay for a map exercise! Get out your study Bible and find a map of Paul’s journey’s (typically in the back). Luke describes Paul’s second journey in Acts 15:36-18:22. As you follow it along, trace Paul’s route on your map through these major stops:
- Antioch (start)
- Galatia
- Philippi
- Thessalonica
- Athens
- Corinth
- Ephesus
- Jerusalem
- Antioch (end)
Bible Lab 3 – Philemon
This unique letter is not only the shortest of Paul’s letter that survives, but it is also the only one addressed to an individual person and not to a church. It is a touching plea for the freedom of a runaway slave, Onesimus, owned by Paul’s friend and fellow Christian, Philemon. After reading the letter, let these questions guide your thoughts:
- What is Paul asking Philemon to do?
- What is the basis for Paul’s request? What does Paul expect of Philemon and why?
- Why do you think the early church preserved this letter?
- What does this letter say to us today?
