As part of the New Testament Survey Course, Session 18 provides an overview of the four letters Paul wrote during his imprisonment in Rome. Though it is likely a person assisting Paul wrote these letters given that he was chained continually to one of the Roman guards for these 2 1/2 years. (Course taught at Harare Theological College - 2016).

2. Overall : Letters + Acts by date

3. Order Group Letters To church in: Continent Date: A.D
1st Early Galatians Province of Galatia Asia Minor 48
2nd Early 1 Thessalonians City of Thessalonica Europe 51
3rd Early 2 Thessalonians City of Thessalonica Europe 51
4th Major I Corinthians City of Corinth Europe 54 / 55
5th Major 2 Corinthians City of Corinth Europe 55 / 56
6th Major Romans City of Rome Europe 55 / 56
7th Prison Ephesians City of Ephesus Asia Minor 61
8th Prison Colossians City of Colossae Asia Minor 61
9th Prison Philemon (Friend – Philemon) --- 61
10th Prison Philippians City of Philippi Europe 62
11th Pastoral 1 Timothy (Co-worker – Timothy) --- 62
12th Pastoral Titus (Co-worker – Titus) --- 63
13th Pastoral 2 Timothy (Co-worker – Timothy) --- 64
Overall : Paul’s Letters

4. Why are these
called the
Prison Epistles ?

5. Written from Paul in prison
 Every letter talks about His imprisonment + chains
 Ephesians – chapter 3: 1, 4:1, 6:20
“I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you” (Eph. 3:1)
 Colossians – chapter 1:24, 4: 3,10,18
“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains” (Col. 4:18)
 Philemon – verses 1, 10, 13, 23
I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf
during my imprisonment for the gospel, (Philemon 1:13)
 Philippians – chapter 1: 7,13,14,17
“it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my
imprisonment is for Christ”. (Phil. 1:13)

6. Where were they written?
Ephesus ?
Caesarea ?
Rome ?

7. From : ROME
Because -
 Writes about –
 ‘Caesar’s Household’ (Phil. 4:22)
 ‘Imperial Guard’ (Phil. 1:13)
 Church leaders confirm written in Rome
Date : A.D 61 - 62

8. To : 3 Locations

9. Situation
 Acts 28: 17 – 30
 Appealed : to be Tried by Caesar in Rome
 Because : in Judah - Jewish leaders plotted to kill him
 Could : Roman Citizen
 Imprisoned : 2 years
 House Arrest (not prison) : pay for his place + food
 Chained : to Roman Guard 24 hours / day
 Flexible : People visit + Share Gospel + Write letters
 Awaited : Trial – Death Penalty OR Set Free

10. Content
 Deal - more with general teaching / less with individual
questions (as 1 Corinthians + Thessalonians did)
 To - Churches maturing in their faith
 Who - needed to receive deeper teaching that would
enlighten + stabilise them

11. Message
 Being Imprisoned was God’s Greater plan (not a waste of time)
 Lord’s Plan = enabled to evangelise: Roman Governors + Caesar + Guards /
Soldiers + Government + Judges + Jewish Leaders
 Paul took every advantage of being in chains to –
 Share the Gospel (with Jewish leaders + visitors + every guard)
 Disciple new believers (e.g. Onesimus – Philemon 1:10)
 Teach the church in Rome
 Write letters / teaching to Ephesus + Colossae + Philemon + Philippi

12. Personal Challenge
 Do I trust God’s Greater plan ? – even when I go through times of
low position or suffering ?
 Do I look to God’s work + impact through me in my situation ?
– or ignore the present + only look to better times ?
 Do I take advantage of every situation I’m in to be used by God ?
– even when its difficult, dull or painful ?

13. How do these
Prison Epistles
differ ?

14. To
Churches Individual
 Ephesians
 Colossians
 Philippians
 Philemon

15. Respond to
Problems ! No problem
 Colossians (Legalism + Gnosticism)
 Philemon (Division: Slave - Master)
+ 1 Corinthians
 Ephesians
 Philippians
+ Romans

16. Approach
Personal Theological
 Philippians
 Philemon
+ 2 Corinthians
 Colossians
 Ephesians
+ Romans

17. Central Themes
Ephesians Church
Colossians Christ is Supreme
Philemon Reconcile
Philippians Unity + Joy

18. Letter To Problem Theme
Ephesians Church None
Church
Nature + Purpose
Colossians Church
Extra
for Salvation
Christ
Supreme + All-Sufficient
Philemon Individual
Division
ex-slave+Master
Reconciliation
to Slave as Brother
Philippians Church None Unity + Joy
Summary : Paul’s Prison Letters