OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKS EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS, C0L0SSIANS, 1 &2 THESSALONIANS, 1 &2 TIMOTHY,

TITUS AND PHILEMON

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this lesson is to provide and overview of key events of Bible books Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 &2 Thessalonians, 1 &2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKS EPHESIANS,

FACTS ABOUT EPHESIANS

Author, Date and Place of Writing The author identifies himself as Paul (1:1; 3:1; cf. 3:7,13; 4:1; 6:19-

20). Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and

the verbal similarity of many parts to Colossians, among other reasons, as grounds for doubting authorship by the apostle Paul.

However, this was probably a circular letter, intended for other churches in addition to the one in Ephesus (see notes on 1:1,15; 6:21-23).

Paul may have written it about the same time as Colossians, c. a.d. 60, while he was in prison at Rome (see 3:1; 4:1; 6:20; see also chart, p. 2261

Ref:http://www.biblestudytools.com/ephesians/

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS

The letter opens with a sequence of statements about God's blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to God's wisdom, forethought and purpose. Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to God. The climax of God's purpose, "when the times will have reached their fulfillment," is to bring all things in the universe together under Christ (1:10). It is crucially important that Christians realize this, so in 1:15-23 Paul prays for their understanding (a second prayer occurs in 3:14-21).

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OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKS PHILIPPIANS,

FACTS ABOUT PHILIPPIANS

The early church was unanimous in its testimony that Philippians was written by the apostle Paul (see 1:1).

Internally the letter reveals the stamp of genuineness. The many personal references of the author fit what we know of Paul from other NT books.

It is evident that Paul wrote the letter from prison (see 1:13-14). Some have argued that this imprisonment took place in Ephesus, perhaps c. a.d. 53-55; others put it in Caesarea c. 57-59. Best evidence, however, favors Rome as the place of origin and the date as c. 61. This fits well with the account of Paul's house arrest in Ac 28:14-31.

When he wrote Philippians, he was not in the Mamertine dungeon as he was when he wrote 2 Timothy. He was in his own rented house, where for two years he was free to impart the gospel to all who came to him.

Ref: http://www.biblestudytools.com/philippians/

MAP OF PHILIPPIANS

PICTURE PHILIPPIANS

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS

Paul's primary purpose in writing this letter was to thank the Philippians for the gift they had sent him upon learning of his detention at Rome (1:5; 4:10-19).

However, he makes use of this occasion to fulfill several other desires: (1) to report on his own circumstances (1:12-26; 4:10-19);

(2) to encourage the Philippians to stand firm in the face of persecution and rejoice regardless of circumstances (1:27-30; 4:4);

(3) to exhort them to humility and unity (2:1-11; 4:2-5); (4) to commend Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippian church

(2:19-30); and (5) to warn the Philippians against the Judaizers (legalists) and

antinomians (libertines) among them (ch. 3). .

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKS COLOSSIANS

FACTS ABOUT COLOSSIANS

That Colossians is a genuine letter of Paul (1:1) is usually not disputed. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to Paul.

In the 19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch. 2 was second-century Gnosticism. But a careful analysis of ch. 2 shows that the heresy referred to there is noticeably less developed than the Gnosticism of leading Gnostic teachers of the second and third centuries.

Also, the seeds of what later became the full-blown Gnosticism of the second century were present in the first century and already making inroads into the churches. Consequently, it is not necessary to date Colossians in the second century at a time too late for Paul to have written the letter.

Instead, it is to be dated during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, where he spent at least two years under house arrest (see Ac 28:16-31). Some have argued that Paul wrote Colossians from Ephesus or Caesarea, but most of the evidence favors Rome as the place where Paul penned all the Prison Letters (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon). Colossians should be dated c. a.d. 60, in the same year as Ephesians and Philemon.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/colossians/

MAP OF COLOSSIANS

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS

Colosse: The Town and the Church Several hundred years before Paul's day, Colosse had been a leading city in

Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). It was located on the Lycus River and on the great east-west trade route leading from Ephesus on the Aegean Sea to the Euphrates River (see map, p. 2288). By the first century a.d. Colosse was diminished to a second-rate market town, which had been surpassed long before in power and importance by the neighboring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis (see 4:13).

What gave Colosse NT importance, however, was the fact that, during Paul's three-year ministry in Ephesus, Epaphras had been converted and had carried the gospel to Colosse (cf. 1:7-8; Ac 19:10). The young church that resulted then became the target of heretical attack, which led to Epaphras'svisit to Paul in Rome and ultimately to the penning of the Colossian letter.

Perhaps as a result of the efforts of Epaphras or other converts of Paul, Christian churches had also been established in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Some of them were house churches (see 4:15; Phm 2). Most likely all of them were primarily Gentile.

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS

Purpose and Theme Paul's purpose is to refute the Colossian heresy. To accomplish this

goal, he exalts Christ as the very image of God (1:15), the Creator (1:16), the preexistent sustainer of all things (1:17), the head of the church (1:18), the first to be resurrected (1:18), the fullness of deity in bodily form (1:19; 2:9) and the reconciler (1:20-22).

Thus Christ is completely adequate. We "have been given fullness in Christ" (2:10). On the other hand, the Colossian heresy was altogether inadequate. It was a hollow and deceptive philosophy (2:8), lacking any ability to restrain the old sinful nature (2:23).

The theme of Colossians is the complete adequacy of Christ as contrasted with the emptiness of mere human philosophy.

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKS1 & 2 THESSALONIANS

BACKGROUND OF THE THESSALONIAN LETTERS

It is helpful to trace the locations of Paul and his companions that relate to the Thessaloniancorrespondence. The travels were as follows: Paul and Silas fled from Thessalonica to Berea. Since Timothy is not mentioned (see Ac

17:10 and note), it is possible that he stayed in Thessalonica or went back to Philippi and then rejoined Paul and Silas in Berea (Ac 17:14).

Paul fled to Athens from Berean persecution, leaving Silas and Timothy in Berea (see Ac 17:14).

Paul sent word back, instructing Silas and Timothy to come to him in Athens (see Ac 17:15; see also note on 1Th 3:1-2).

Timothy rejoined Paul at Athens and was sent back to Thessalonica (see 3:1-5). Since Silas is not mentioned, it has been conjectured that he went back to Philippi when Timothy went to Thessalonica (see note on 3:1-2).

Paul moved on to Corinth (see Ac 18:1). Silas and Timothy came to Paul in Corinth (see 3:6; Ac 18:5). Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians and sent it to the church. About six months later (a.d. 51/52) he sent 2 Thessalonians in response to further

information about the church there.

PICTURE OF THESSALONIANS

FACTS ABOUT 1 THESSALONIANS

Both external and internal evidence (see 1:1; 2:18) support the view that Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians (from Corinth; see note on 3:1-2). Early church writers are agreed on the matter, with testimonies beginning as early as a.d. 140 (Marcion). Paul's known characteristics are apparent in the letter (3:1-2,8-11 compared with Ac 15:36; 2Co 11:28). Historical allusions in the book fit Paul's life as recounted in Acts and in his own letters (2:14-16 compared with Ac 17:5-10; 3:6 compared with Ac 17:16). In the face of such evidence, few have ever rejected authorship by Paul.

It is generally dated c. a.d. 51. Weighty support for this date was found in an inscription discovered at Delphi, Greece (see map No. 13 at the end of this study Bible), that dates Gallio's proconsulship to c. 51-52 and thus places Paul at Corinth at the same time (see Ac 18:12-17 and note on 18:12; see also chart, p. 1673). Except for the possibility of an early date for Galatians (48-49?), 1 Thessalonians is Paul's earliest canonical letter.

FACTS ABOUT 2 THESSALONIANS

Paul's authorship of 2 Thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 Thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it has more support from early Christian writers. Objections are based on internal factors rather than on the adequacy of the statements of the church fathers. It is thought that there are differences in the vocabulary (ten words not used elsewhere), in the style (it is said to be unexpectedly formal) and in the eschatology (the doctrine of the "man of lawlessness" is not taught elsewhere). However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. A majority still hold to Paul's authorship of 2 Thessalonians.

Because of its similarity to 1 Thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letter -- perhaps about six months. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Paul probably penned it (see 1:1; 3:17) c. a.d. 51 or 52 in Corinth, after Silas and Timothy had returned from delivering 1 Thessalonians; see also Introduction to 1 Thessalonians).

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF 1 & 2 THESSALONIANS Two letters that Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica are preserved in the New Testament.

The first letter — 1 Thessalonians — was written to a community of believers who had been Christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months.

We learn from the Book of Acts that during Paul's stay in the city of Thessalonica, he preached in a Jewish synagogue on three successive Sabbath days. He evidently stayed in the city for some time thereafter and continued his work among the Gentiles.

Although his ministry was successful to the extent that he won converts to Christianity from both Jews and Gentiles, he did encounter opposition, especially from Jews who resented very much that he was able to win Jewish followers. Because of this opposition, Paul wisely left the city for fear that the newly formed Christian community would be persecuted as he had been.

He regretted that he must leave the Christians before they were well established in the faith, but he hoped that he might visit them again in the near future. When sickness prevented him from returning, he sent his colleague Timothy to strengthen the group and then report back to Paul on the progress that had been made. When Timothy returned to Paul with the good news that the members of the church were standing firm in their new faith, Paul wrote the First Epistle to the Thessalonians.

REF: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/n/new-testament-of-the-bible/summary-and-analysis/1-and-2-thessalonians

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OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF 1 & 2 THESSALONIANS Paul's Second Epistle to the Thessalonians is in one sense a follow-

up to the first letter. Evidently, the first letter was well received. People were satisfied with Paul's explanation concerning those who died and were ready and willing to suffer persecution if need be in order to remain true to the gospel that Paul preached. However, some members of the Christian community were so overly zealous about Paul's teaching that the end of the age was near at hand that they stopped making any plans for the future. Indeed, some of them stopped doing any work at all, believing that in this way they were demonstrating their faith in the nearness of the great event. Those who did not work were a burden to those who did work, and this situation constituted a new problem. Paul addresses this concern in his second letter.

Ref:http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/n/new-testament-of-the-bible/summary-and-analysis/1-and-2-thessalonians

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF 1 & 2 THESSALONIANS The two letters to the Thessalonians are of interest from a historical point of view

because they reveal conditions that existed in the newly formed Christian communities. They are also of value in that they indicate something of the extent to which the early church was influenced by Jewish apocalypticism in its beliefs concerning the second coming of Christ and the setting up of the messianic kingdom. Jewish apocalypses taught that there would be a resurrection of the dead in connection with other events that would usher in the new age. Paul was able to make use of these apocalyptic conceptions in answering the questions that so troubled the Christians in Thessalonica.

Both of Paul's letters to the Thessalonians were addressed to this one church and were occasioned by the problems associated with that particular group of church members. It is quite unlikely that Paul anticipated any further use to be made of his letters. Little if anything in them throws much light on the theological issues involved in Paul's interpretation of Christianity. The letters do, however, indicate the type of instruction that Paul gave to newcomers in the Christian movement.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/n/new-testament-of-the-bible/summary-and-analysis/1-and-2-thessalonians.

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKS1 & 2 TIMOTHY

FACTS ABOUT 1 & 2 TIMOTHY

Author Both early tradition and the salutations of the

Pastoral Letters (1,2 Timothy; Titus) themselves claim Paul as their author (1:1; 2Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1).

http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-timothy/.

PAUL'S JOURNEY, 1 & 2 TIMOTHY

FACTS ABOUT THE BOOK OF 1 & 2 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy was written sometime after the events of Ac 28 (c. 63-65), at least eight years after Paul's three-year stay in Ephesus (see Ac 19:10 and note).Recipient

2 Timothy: After Paul's release from prison in Rome in a.d. 62 (Ac 28) and after his fourth missionary journey (see map, pp. 2486-2487), during which he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul was again imprisoned under Emperor Nero c. 66-67. It was during this time that he wrote 2 Timothy. In contrast to his first imprisonment, when he lived in a "rented house" (Ac 28:30; see note there), he now languished in a cold dungeon (see 4:13 and note), chained like a common criminal (1:16; 2:9). His friends even had a hard time finding out where he was being kept (1:17). Paul knew that his work was done and that his life was nearly at an end (4:6-8).

Ref: http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-timothy http://www.biblestudytools.com/2-timothy/

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF 1 & 2 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy Paul is writing to Timothy, a native of Lystra (in modern Turkey). Timothy's father was Greek,

while his mother was a Jewish Christian (Ac 16:1). From childhood he had been taught the OT (2Ti 1:5; 3:15). Paul called him "my true son in the faith" (1:2; see note there), perhaps having led him to faith in Christ during his first visit to Lystra. At the time of his second visit Paul invited Timothy to join him on his missionary travels, circumcising him so that his Greek ancestry would not be a liability in working with the Jews (Ac 16:3). Timothy helped Paul evangelize Macedonia and Achaia (Ac 17:14-15; 18:5) and was with him during much of his long preaching ministry at Ephesus (Ac 19:22). He traveled with him from Ephesus to Macedonia, to Corinth (see Ac 20:3and note), back to Macedonia, and to Asia Minor (Ac 20:1-6). He may even have accompanied him all the way to Jerusalem. He was with Paul during the apostle's first imprisonment (Php 1:1; Col 1:1; Phm 1).

Following Paul's release (after Ac 28), Timothy again traveled with him but eventually stayed at Ephesus to deal with the problems there, while Paul went on to Macedonia. Paul's closeness to and admiration of Timothy are seen in Paul's naming him as the co-sender of six of his letters (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1,2 Thessalonians and Philemon) and in his speaking highly of him to the Philippians (Php 2:19-22). At the end of Paul's life he requested Timothy to join him at Rome (2Ti 4:9,21). According to Heb 13:23, Timothy himself was imprisoned and subsequently released -- whether at Rome or elsewhere, we do not know.

Timothy was not an apostle. It may be best to regard him as an apostolic representative, delegated to carry out special work (cf. Tit 1:5).

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF 1 & 2 TIMOTHY

2 Timothy Paul had three reasons for writing to Timothy at this time:

Paul was lonely. Phygelus and Hermogenes, "everyone in the province of Asia" (1:15), and Demas (4:10) had deserted him. Crescens, Titus and Tychicus were away (4:10-12), and only Luke was with him (4:11).

Paul wanted very much for Timothy to join him also. Timothy was his "fellow worker" (Ro 16:21), who "as a son with his father" (Php 2:22 ; see note there) had served closely with Paul (see 1Co 4:17). Of him Paul could say, "I have no one else like him" (Php 2:20). Paul longed for Timothy (1:4) and twice asked him to come soon (4:9,21). For more information on Timothy see Introduction to 1 Timothy: Recipient.

Paul was concerned about the welfare of the churches during this time of persecution under Nero, and he admonishes Timothy to guard the gospel (1:14), to persevere in it (3:14), to keep on preaching it (4:2) and, if necessary, to suffer for it (1:8; 2:3).

Paul wanted to write to the Ephesian church through his letter to Timothy (see note on 4:22).

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKSTITUS

FACTS ABOUT TITUS

Author: The author is Paul. Paul possibly wrote from Macedonia, for he had not yet reached

Nicopolis (see 3:12). The letter was written after he was released from his first Roman imprisonment (Ac 28), probably between a.d. 63 and 65 -- or possibly at a later date if he wrote after his assumed trip to Spain.

Location was Crete :The fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Crete lies directly south of the Aegean Sea also Paul's experiences there in Ac 27:7-13). In NT times life in Crete had sunk to a deplorable moral level. The dishonesty, gluttony and laziness of its inhabitants were proverbial (1:12).

Ref: http://www.biblestudytools.com/titus/

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MAP OF CRETE BOOK OF TITUS

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF TITUS

The letter is addressed to Titus, one of Paul's converts (see 1:4 and note) and a considerable help to Paul in his ministry. When Paul left Antioch to discuss the gospel with the Jerusalem leaders, he took Titus with him (Gal 2:1-3); acceptance of Titus (a Gentile) as a Christian without circumcision vindicated Paul's stand there (Gal 2:3-5).

Presumably Titus, who is not referred to in Acts (but is mentioned 13 times in the rest of the NT), worked with Paul at Ephesus during his third missionary journey (see map, p. 1724). It is likely that he was the bearer of Paul's severe letter to the Corinthian church (see Introduction to 2 Corinthians: Occasion).

Paul was concerned about the possible negative reaction of the Corinthian church to his severe letter, so he arranged to meet Titus at Troas (2Co 2:12-13). When Titus did not appear, Paul traveled on to Macedonia. There he met Titus and with great relief heard the good news that the worst of the trouble was over at Corinth (2Co 7:6-7,13-14).

Titus, accompanied by two Christian brothers, was the bearer of 2 Corinthians (2Co 8:23) and was given the responsibility for making final arrangements for the collection, begun a year earlier, in Corinth (see 2Co 8:6,16-17 and notes).

Following Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment (Ac 28), he and Titus worked briefly in Crete (1:5), after which he commissioned Titus to remain there as his representative and complete some needed work (1:5; 2:15; 3:12-13). Paul asked Titus to meet him at Nicopolis (see map, p. 2487) when a replacement arrived (see 3:12 and note). Later, Titus went on a mission to Dalmatia (see 2Ti 4:10 and note), the last word we hear about him in the NT. Considering the assignments given him, he obviously was a capable and resourceful leader.

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BOOKSPHILEMON

FACTS ABOUT PHILEMON

Writer: The apostle Paul; his only surviving letter about an individual

Date: c AD62; carried by Tychicus together with the Letters to the Colossians and the Ephesians

Where written: By Paul under house arrest in Rome Reader: Philemon at Colossae; Why: To ask Philemon to forgive and welcome back the

runaway slave Onesimus, now a brother in Christ. The Letter is a model of forgiveness, love, and tact

REF:http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CPn18Philemon.htm

MAP OF PHILEMON

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF PHILEMON

Recipient, Background and Purpose Paul wrote this letter to Philemon, a believer in Colosse who,

along with others, was a slave owner (cf. Col 4:1; for slavery in the NT see note on Eph 6:5).

One of his slaves, Onesimus, had apparently stolen from him (cf. v. 18) and then run away, which under Roman law was punishable by death.

But Onesimus met Paul and through his ministry became a Christian (see v. 10). Now he was willing to return to his master, and Paul writes this personal appeal to ask that he be accepted as a Christian brother (see v. 16).

REF: http://www.biblestudytools.com/philemon/

Questions

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