Prison Epistles

1. The word “epistle” is derived from the Greek word epistole, which translates to “letter” or “message.”

2. More than just a personal correspondence, it was instructional and contained a certain level of authority as written by someone generally regarded as a teacher or leader.

So the NT is made up of:

The four Gospels (Life and events of Jesus Life): Matthew, Mark and Luke (Synoptic) John

One Historical Book: Acts

One book of Eschatology (End Times)

One epistle by Jude

One Epistle by James

Three Epistles by John

Two Epistles by Peter

Fourteen Epistles by Paul (Four from Prison)

3. Most of Paul’s writings were written over a span of 15 years. (The Prison Epistles were some of the last)

4. In approximately AD 60, he arrived in Rome and was imprisoned later that year. For the next two years, Paul would live under house arrest in Rome.

Paul's Roman Imprisonment.

A. Why was he in Prison?

1. Paul was no stranger to jail. Acts 16: Paul and Silas singing at Midnight.

2. In Acts 21 The Jews set themselves against Paul for his teachings on Jesus.

3. Paul claimed his Roman Citizenship. (Tarsus was a Roman city but not in Rome)

4. He met with Festus and Felix and Agrippa. (Procurators) (Cesarea)

5. He was shipwrecked but eventually arrived in Rome.

6. Once in Rome the book of Acts at its conclusion tells us that he was under House arrest for 2 years

B. Why did Paul write from Prison?

1. He was able to write because as a Roman citizen he was allowed visitors.

2. He wanted to encourage Churches he had planted.

3. He wanted correct Churches he had planted.

4. He wanted to assist Churches he had never visited.

5. He wanted to encourage a friend.

C. How did these letters get to the Churches?

1. He sent most with the messengers who had brought them.

2. He sent one with a run away slave.

D. What books did he write from Prison? CEPP

1. Ephesians.

a. At the time Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was written, the city of Ephesus was a commercial and religious center of Asia Minor.

b. Paul had visited Ephesus towards the end of his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18-21) and again on his third missionary journey, where he had spent nearly three years ministering to the church and its believers there (Acts 19:1-41). 

c. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians wasn’t written to correct any wrong behavior or address problems in the church. It was a letter of encouragement.

2. Philippians.

a. Paul had also visited the church in Philippi during his second missionary journey (Acts 16) and again on his third journey through the region (Acts 20:1-6).

b. Upon learning that Paul had been imprisoned in Rome, the church in Philippi sent Epaphroditus to Rome with financial aid for their brother Paul.

c. The letter doesn't address any major spiritual issues but recognizes the pressure upon the Church as they served God.

3. Colossians.

a. Paul himself never visited Colossae.

b. It was founded by Epaphras, one of his many converts on his third missionary journey.

c. False teaching and heresy had taken root in Colossae. Paul wrote to refute it.

4. Philemon

a. Paul wrote this letter to an old friend.

b. It was his shortest letter and addressed only the subject of an escaped slave.