Pauline Epistles
The term given to the 13 books Paul wrote – Romans to Philemon. These letters of Paul, were written to meet certain specific situations in particular churches, and are therefore generally pastoral in tone and content. Consequently, they do not reveal the whole of his thoughts and preaching regarding Christian faith and practice. However, the principles governing his specific exhortations are authoritative for faith and practice today. He focused on the message of hope for all peoples of all times, announcing that no one is excluded from the loving plan of God, yet stating a personal response is asked of each of us. He confidently wrote victory is assured amidst the apparently overpowering forces of darkness and evil in the world. The letters of Paul, were written to meet certain specific situations in particular churches, and are therefore generally pastoral in tone and content. Consequently, they do not reveal the whole of his thoughts and preaching regarding Christian faith and practice. However, the principles governing his specific exhortations are authoritative for faith and practice today. He focused on the message of hope for all peoples of all times, announcing that no one is excluded from the loving plan of God, yet stating a personal response is asked of each of us. He confidently wrote victory is assured amidst the apparently overpowering forces of darkness and evil in the world.
Paul emphatically asserts that “the gospel which was preached by me” is independent of any human source or agency, having come to him directly “through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rom 16:25,26; Gal 1:1,11,12; Eph 3:2-10). Yet his teaching is the same as that of the other apostles with the Bible presenting a unified message in the NT even though he ministered to a different audience than some other writers (1 Cor 15:3-5,11; Gal 2:6-9). His writings are essential, inspired works included in the Bible for our benefit today.
See also: Johannine epistles, Paul.