Paul’s Ministry

Bible Matters 559: Paul’s Ministry

As you study Paul’s epistles, one recognizes verses in all his epistles that align with God’s gospel of Love.  The gospel of Love verses are more readily apparent in his later works.  In this ministry, I’ve documented God’s gospel of Love found in Romans, Hebrews, Timothy and Titus.  The gospel of Love found in Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians are in process. 

The epistles of Peter and James are wrought with God’s gospel of love.  Verse, after verse with more than two or three verses addressing each of the six-point gospel of Love elements.  Clearly, both of these men understood God’s message that Jesus delivered.  God directed Peter and James to meet with Paul. 

Galatians 1:18-19 – Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

I had a man tell me that Paul didn’t learn anything from Peter and James.   That man also told me that only Paul was sent to the Gentiles.  He referenced this one verse. 

Acts 9:15 – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

Paul may have been a chosen vessel to the Gentiles, but so were all of the other 12 apostles and disciples that chose Jesus.  Check the ministries for the apostles.  Most traveled around Persia, Turkey,  the Mediterranean, Europe and even Thomas in India.  In both Matthew and Mark, Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  The testimony of the witnesses is clear, that God sent the disciples throughout the world.

Mark 16:14-15 – Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

That man said the other disciples stayed in Jerusalem and pushed religious laws and circumcision for salvation.  I know of no verse in the bible where it states that Jesus’s apostles pushed for salvation by circumcision.  Peter testified the opposite, to the Pharisees, apostles and elders, that salvation is only by belief and faith in Jesus Christ.  With a pure heart the Holy Ghost is sent to the Gentiles that hear the word of the gospel.   Not by works of religion, like circumcision!

Acts 15:1,5,7-11 – And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

You know that the Nicolaitans pushed for acts of religion to replace the grace of God for salvation.  The exact origin of the Nicolaitans is unclear. Some Bible commentators believe they were a heretical sect who followed the teachings of Nicolas—whose name means “one who conquers the people”—who was possibly one of the deacons of the early church mentioned in Acts 6:5. It is possible that Nicolas became an apostate, denying the true faith and became part of a group holding “the doctrine of Balaam,” who taught Israel “to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.” Clement of Alexandria says, “They abandoned themselves to pleasure like goats, leading a life of self-indulgence.” Their teaching perverted grace and replaced liberty with license.

Other commentators believe that these Nicolaitans were not so called from any man, but from the Greek word Nicolah, meaning “let us eat,” as they often encouraged each other to eat things offered to idols. Whichever theory is true, it is certain that the deeds of the Nicolaitans were an abomination to Christ. They, like the Gnostics and other false teachers, abused the doctrine of grace and tried to introduce religious laws in its place (2 Peter 2:15, 19; Jude 1:4).

Jesus commends the church of Ephesus for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans as he does (Revelation 2:6).  No doubt the leaders of the Ephesian church protected their flock from these destructive heresies and kept their people from committing the same evil deeds. All sin is hateful to Christ, as it should be to His followers, as we hate men’s evil deeds, not the men themselves. For the church at Pergamos, Jesus had not commendation, but censure. Unlike the Ephesians, they actually embraced the teachings of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:15). Jesus warns them that unless they repent, they are in danger of the judgment that is sure to fall on those who teach false doctrine, attack his church, and destroy his people. The sword of judgment is poised over their heads, and His patience is not limitless (Revelation 2:16; 19:15).

The lesson for you is that the gospel Jesus delivered has been plagued by those of the Nicolaitan spirit. The only way to recognize false teaching is to be intimately familiar with truth through the diligent study of the word of God out of the mouth of two or three witnesses. 

The disciples did not push for salvation by acts of religion and yes, they all went to the Gentiles to spread the gospel.      

 The widely accepted chronological order of Paul’s letters is outlined below:

Early Letters (During Missionary Journeys)

Galatians (~48–50 AD): Addressed to the churches in Galatia, defending salvation by grace.

1 Thessalonians (~50–51 AD): One of the earliest extant Christian documents, offering encouragement and eschatological instruction.

2 Thessalonians (~51 AD): A follow-up to the first letter, correcting misunderstandings regarding the return of Christ.

·        Paul’s meeting with Peter and James, occurred around this time period.  We also know that Mark and Luke discipled under Paul.  The works of Peter, James, Mark and Luke clearly present God’s gospel of Love, as documented in this ministry.  Paul did in fact learn from disciples that walked with Jesus, including Peter, James, Mark and Luke.  Post visit epistles, clearly outline God’s gospel of Love.  God arranged for Paul’s ministry to be directed by knowledgeable disciples of Jesus. 

The Corinthian Correspondence & Romans

1 Corinthians (~54–55 AD): Written from Ephesus to address various factions, moral issues, and church order within the Corinthian church.

2 Corinthians (~55–56 AD): Paul’s defense of his apostolic ministry and the integrity of the gospel.

Romans (~57 AD): Written from Corinth; a comprehensive, systematic explanation of salvation and Christian theology.

Prison Epistles

Ephesians (~60–62 AD): Addressed to the church at Ephesus regarding the universal church and Christ’s reconciling work.

Philippians (~61–62 AD): A warm, affectionate thank-you note for financial support and a call to unity and joy.

Colossians (~61–62 AD): Written to counteract false teachings and assert the supreme preeminence of Christ.

Philemon (~61–62 AD): A private, personal letter to a slave owner urging him to welcome back his runaway slave, Onesimus, as a Christian brother.

Pastoral Epistles – These clearly contain God’s gospel of Love!

1 Timothy (~62–64 AD): Advice to his young co-worker regarding church leadership, doctrine, and the appointment of elders.

Titus (~63–65 AD): Instructions on organizing the church, teaching sound doctrine, and appointing godly leaders in Crete.

2 Timothy (~67 AD): Paul’s final, poignant letter, written from a Roman dungeon shortly before his execution, urging Timothy to remain faithful and carry on the ministry.

Note: While dates can vary slightly among biblical scholars, this sequence represents the general academic consensus on how Paul’s ministry timeline aligns with his written works.

The conclusion is clear.  God wants you to live God’s gospel of Love.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.