Jesus was identified as the Son of God and the creator of all things. God spoke through Him to mankind, and salvation was made available through Him. He reigns above all. He is described as superior to all and worthy of praise. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He proved His power through miraculous works. Jesus was made to suffer and die, but He defeated death and the evil one. Jesus is the perfect merciful and faithful high priest.

Paul wrote to Philemon concerning Onesimus, a servant to Philemon. Paul took the opportunity to encourage those who ministered with Philemon and the local church. Onesimus became a believer through Paul’s teachings. Paul appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ and to forgive him of any debt and any wrong he may have committed. Paul reminded Philemon of the efforts Paul made to share the gospel with him and to grow him in Christ. Paul trusted Philemon to be gracious in accepting Onesimus in love. Paul asked Philemon to prepare a place in hopes he would be released from imprisonment and visit him again.

Paul wrote to Titus to encourage and instruct him as he established the church at Crete. Paul provided qualifications for elders with a focus on teaching and instructing with sound doctrine, living lives that were obedient to God’s Word, and the ability to lead and protect the church from false teachers and false doctrine. He instructed the church concerning the responsibilities. Paul urged unity and Christian fellowship in the church. Paul warned against foolish controversies concerning the Law and genealogies. He condemned anyone who caused division. He instructed Titus to warn the divisive person twice, then have nothing to do with him. Such a person was self-condemned.

Paul commanded Timothy to stay away from men concerned with personal desires and human logic. He encouraged Timothy to follow the teachings of scripture because it was God-breathed and would provide everything needed to equip the man of God for every good work. He challenged Timothy to preach the Word faithfully. Some would gather preachers who would tickle their ears and lead people from truth to myths. Paul believed his life would soon end but had hope in his eternal reward. Paul experienced persecution and was abandoned by others, but God was faithful. Paul looked forward to the possibility of seeing Timothy again. He sent word to greet others who served and ministered with him.

Paul referred to himself and Timothy as ministers of the gospel. Paul provided encouragement and instruction for Timothy. Timothy possessed a strong faith that was passed from his grandmother and his mother. Paul encouraged Timothy by writing that God would finish what He started in him. He was encouraged to maintain focus on the gospel, knowing the power of the gospel is not limited to human ability or his physical situation. He was encouraged to serve the Lord without compromising, to protect himself and the church from false teachings, and to refuse to engage in senseless arguments over man-made theology. He was to correct others in love with the intentions of bringing those who have been fooled and are being used for evil back to their senses.

Paul charged Timothy to encourage older men and to care for the widows who were alone. Children and grandchildren were to care for widows, relieving the burden on the church. Those who would not care for their family were unfaithful. He warned against preventing pastors from preaching. The church was challenged to provide a double portion to faithful overseers, and to protect church leaders. Paul encouraged Timothy to drink medicinal wine for his stomach. Believers were called to seek godliness instead of worldly riches because worldly riches would lead to temptation and sin. He told Timothy to teach the rich to be generous, and to remain faithful to the gospel.

Paul provided a list of qualifications for the offices of overseer and deacon. Qualifications were established for accountability and for the protection of the church. Paul encouraged the church to function in a Godly manner. Some would depart from the faith by trusting in false teachers and senseless superstitions. Paul called leaders to seek godliness, becoming an example to others. Believers were challenged to maintain hope in the Lord, their Savior. Timothy was charged to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching for the advancement of the gospel with the goal of seeing others grow in the Lord.

Paul considered Timothy a son in Christ. He encouraged Timothy to remain in Ephesus to refute false teachers and to encourage them in love to turn to the true gospel of Christ. Christ’s love and grace were seen through Paul, a chief sinner according to himself. Paul encouraged Timothy to remain faithful even while others chose to turn to false doctrines. He prayed for all to hear the gospel and believe. Paul was called by God to share the message of Christ to the Gentiles. He commanded believers to conduct themselves in a manner fitting to follow Christ. Salvation from sin was given, but believers would experience consequences of sin in this life.

Paul wrote this second letter to the church at Thessalonica on behalf of himself, Silvanus, and Timothy. He encouraged the church and complimented their faithfulness in the face of persecution, noting that those who persecute them would be judged by God. The lawless one works to deceive and destroy, but Jesus will return and put an end to him. Hold firm to the true gospel until that day. Imitate the example seen in Christ and the disciples. Paul warned against idle hands and instructed the church to have nothing to do with those who refuse to work that they may turn and do what is right.

Paul wrote on his and other disciples’ behalf to encourage and inform the church at Thessalonica. He complimented their faith and perseverance because word of their good works spread throughout the region. They turned from worshiping idols to worshipping the true God. Paul reminded the church that he and other disciples struggled to share the gospel with them through persecution and they received the Word as truth from God, not from man. Paul’s authority was of God, not of man. He did not seek man’s approval, but God’s alone. God was pleased to allow the Gentiles to hear the gospel and be saved. Paul longed to visit the church at Thessalonica in person but had been prevented.

Christians are to set their minds on things above, no longer practicing evil because they have been renewed in Christ. Christians are unified in Christ, loving one another, forgiving one another, and encouraging one another. Live according to the order God has established in the family and in the church. Encourage other believers and be a witness to unbelievers. Be full of grace and love. Paul completes this letter with encouragement and greetings to and from specific men and women who continued to minister to others.

News of the ongoing faithfulness of the church at Colossae reached Paul. He prayed for them to continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Jesus is the source and focus of all things. He is the head of the church and is reconciling the church to Himself through His sacrifice. Paul was a minister of the gospel by the grace of God. He sought faithfulness in ministry, even in times of struggles and challenges. Believers are alive in Christ. Jesus fulfilled the legal requirement that resulted from our sin. Paul condemned the following of traditions and man-made rules as a means of self-righteousness. Paul encouraged the church to ignore human philosophy that sought to trick or confuse them. He reminded the church that we may become righteous through Jesus Christ alone.

Paul put his faith and his hope in Jesus Christ. He was educated and had great zeal for following the Law, but he knew human effort was not good enough. Paul knew Christ would do all that was needed in those who put their trust in Him. Paul considered all he gained as loss compared to the saving knowledge of Jesus. As believers, we must look ahead to what is to come in Christ and refuse to allow the ways of the world to consume us. Paul encouraged the church to remain faithful, agree in the Lord, and rejoice in the Lord aways. The church is to hold firm in knowledge and in action to the teachings of Christ.

Paul thanked God for his partnership with the believers at Philippi. He encouraged them to remain faithful until the day of Christ’s return when they would receive their reward. Paul wrote that his persecution would help further of the gospel. He struggled with the desire to be at home with God in heaven, but he accepted the possibility of remaining to benefit others. He urged the church to be faithful, even in the face of persecution, follow the example of Christ in humility for the glory of God, and love one another, being unified in the work of God. Believers are light to the world. Paul sent Epaphroditus to celebrate God’s work and to encourage the church.

Christ followers walk in love and express the light of God. Paul compares the relationship between a husband and wife to that of Christ and the church. Children should honor their parents. Fathers should be consistent and clear in leading and teaching their children. One who serves another should serve as to the Lord. One who is served must remain humble, remembering that he and his servant are both accountable to God. Put on the armor of God to prepare for spiritual battles and attacks from the devil. Paul asked the church to pray for him to be bold in proclaiming the gospel. Paul sent word through Tychicus of his progress in ministry.

Paul was called as an apostle of Christ Jesus to share the mystery of the gospel given to him through the Spirit. Through the gospel, Gentiles are heirs together with Israel. Paul shared the gospel with humility and through suffering. He prayed for God’s people to possess and express the love of God which is beyond human comprehension. The church is the body, working together in unity to the glory of God. God gave spiritual gifts to believers to be used for the equipping of the saints for the building up of the body (The Church) till it reaches full maturity. Paul called the church to show love toward one another. Their change of heart was to be obvious through their actions, showing kindness and compassion toward one another.

God pre-ordained those who place their faith in Him to be His children and receive an inheritance. He seals believers with the Holy Spirit as a sign of the inheritance they will receive. Paul recognized the church as the body of Christ, for which Christ gave His life and of which He is now and will forever be the head. Believers are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. Believers were created for good works in Christ Jesus. Believers are one through the Spirit. Believers are being built together by the Spirit as a dwelling place for God.

Paul continued to address false teachers who taught justification through the Law, and that Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved. Paul wrote that false teachers would be under condemnation, and he wished they would emasculate themselves. Freedom in Christ allows believers to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, and believers no longer live according to the flesh. Believers bear one another’s burdens, doing good to one another. Believers are to boast in Christ and refuse to take pride in the flesh. Men who would teach anything according to the flesh boast in themselves.

Paul emphasized justification by faith in Jesus Christ because the Gentiles were being taught a works salvation by some of the Jews. God’s covenant with Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus. He completed the Law and offers freedom to those who place their faith in Jesus. Believers are adopted as children of God, becoming heirs of God. Paul was concerned that the Gentiles were returning to false gods and returning to captivity under the Law. Some Jews confused the Gentile believers and insisted they must live according to the Law. Believers are children of God who are born in the Spirit. Paul taught that believers were free, having no purpose in being held captive by the Law.

This letter was written by Paul to the church/churches at Galatia. The believers were primarily Gentile. Believers were being pulled away from the true gospel by men who claimed that Gentiles were required to be converted to Judaism through the Law. Paul wrote that the men who taught this false gospel were accursed. Paul defended his sincerity by reminding believers of his past persecution of the church, his experience of being confronted by Christ, his conversion to Christianity, and his call to preach the gospel. The true gospel is justification by faith in Christ and not by works. This gospel leads us to total surrender of our lives to Christ. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.