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Module 7–The Story Behind the Prison Epistles Essay
Module 7–The Story Behind the Prison Epistles Essay
Frank D. Felker
Grand Canyon University: BIB-354
August 7, 2011
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Module 7–The Story Behind the Prison Epistles Essay
A Background to Paul’s Prison Epistles
Some of the most encouraging words of the Bible were written by a man imprisoned for
years by a totalitarian regime, the Roman Empire. Paul had been endeavoring to reach Rome for
years in order to proclaim the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ. He did not intend to go
there as a prisoner, yet that is what occurred. During the time of his incarceration he wrote
letters to the Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, and to a dear friend, Philemon; letters of truth,
love, encouragement, and salvation. “In compliance with the Lord Jesus’ will to have His gospel
brought to Rome, Paul came there, not as an apostle who was free to go about conducting his
ministry, but as an apostle in chains…” (Christian Inconnect, 2001).
Arrest and Confinement
Paul’s imprisonment began in Caesarea at the end of his third missionary journey. He
had spent over two years working in Ephesus and revisited churches that he had established in
Northern Greece (Macedonia) during his second missionary journey (Acts 20: 1-3). From there
he travelled to Jerusalem only to be mobbed by Jews. These Jews believed he had desecrated the
temple by bringing a Gentile into it. Paul was rescued by Roman soldiers, who then took him
into custody. Once enmeshed in the Roman judicial system, Paul was taken to the Roman
governor, Felix, in Caesarea. Felix, hoping to receive a bribe from Paul for his freedom, kept
him prisoner for two years. (Acts 24: 24-27). Felix’s successor, Festus, intended to placate the
Jews by transferring him to Jerusalem for trial. Paul, fearing assassination by the Jews, resorted
to his rights as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar in Rome (Acts 25: 9-11).
Paul was sent to Rome and arrived (after being shipwrecked off the island of Malta)
around A.D. 59 to 60. There he was held under house arrest for the next two years. His dates of
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Module 7–The Story Behind the Prison Epistles Essay
captivity are uncertain but have been dated c. A.D. 59-61 or as late as c. A.D. 61-63. (Nutzman,
S., 2002)
Continued Ministry
Although under house arrest, Paul was allowed limited freedom to continue his ministry.
He was allowed visitors and ministered to all who came to him. These even included the Jewish
leaders of the synagogue in Rome. He was also able to minister to the needs of the churches,
scattered throughout Macedonia and the Mid-East, by way of letters, or, epistles. It was during
this time that the Epistles we know as Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians were
written. These letters, written around A.D. 60 to 61, are known as his Prison
(imprisonment/captivity) Epistles.
Philemon:
“The letter to Philemon is arguably the best test-case of the apostle’s understanding of
reconciliation.” (Turner, M., 2007) Slavery, of course, was not illegal, or even uncommon,
during Paul’s life. A slave by the name of Onesimus (profitable or useful) had escaped from his
master Philemon. Onesimus had fled to Rome where he met and was converted by Paul. Paul
was now sending him back accompanied by a disciple, Trychicus and this letter. In Paul’s
eloquent plea to Philemon to accept the slave back as a brother in Christ, we are taught;
Christian courtesy, practical righteousness, the law of love, and Christian brotherhood. “I appeal
to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was
unprofitable to you and to me, I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my
own heart.” (Philemon: 1: 11-12, NKJV)
Colossians:
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Module 7–The Story Behind the Prison Epistles Essay
The church in Colosse had not been founded by Paul but perhaps by Epaphras, a fellow
disciple. Someone had come to Colosse and taught a new and dangerous philosophy, one which
eventually became known as Gnosticism, the basis of much heretical teaching, even today. As
Paul did with many of his letters, he asked that this one be read to other churches, especially in
Laodicea.
Ephesians:
The Epistle to the Ephesians was carried by Trychicus, concurrently with Colossians and
Philemon and is the most impersonal of Paul’s letters. It is possible the letter was meant for
more than one congregation, perhaps three or more. There are essentially three truths that make
up this Epistle: a Christian’s exalted position through grace; the truth concerning the body of
Christ; and a life lived in accordance with that position. (Scofield Study System, 2002)
Philippians:
It was at Philippi that Lydia and the Philippian jailor and his family were converted. The
letter appears to be written to a group that was especially close to Paul’s heart. Little is said of
doctrinal error and the main theme is unity in Christ. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is
gain.” (Philippians 1:21, NKJV).
Conclusion
In all of these “Prison Letters”, Paul repeatedly admonishes the disciples to be of one
with the Holy Spirit and one in mind. As we are reminded by Jesus in John 14: 18-19, “I will not
leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more,
but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live.” And again in John 16: 13, “However, when
He the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His
own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” We
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Module 7–The Story Behind the Prison Epistles Essay
have not been left as orphans but, rather, children, sons and daughters of God in the unity of the
Holy Spirit. “Four words sum up Pauline ethics: law, Spirit, love, Jesus. For Paul the law of
God, given by Moses, was a true expression of the will of God, but for the Christian at least it
has been superseded by the coming of the Spirit who produces love within the believer, in
accordance with the teaching and life of Jesus.” (Wenham, D., 1995) We, live as one, in Christ.
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Module 7–The Story Behind the Prison Epistles Essay
References
Christian Inconnect (2001), Historical Background to Paul’s Epistles: Colossians, Philemon,
Ephesians, Philippians, retrieved, August 7, 2011, from,
http://www.christianinconnect.com/bkgdpriepi.htm
Holy Bible, NKJV (2002), Scofield Study System, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Nutzman, S. (2002), Paul’s Prison Epistles-Short on Complaints and Long on Praise,
retrieved, August 7, 2011, from, http://www.ucg.org/
Quinn, J.D. (1978), “Seven Times He Wore Chains” (1 Clem 5. 6) Journal of Biblical
Literature,
97(4), 574, retrieved from, EBSCOhost, http://web.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu.
(Accessed, 8/7/2011.
Turner, M. (2007), Human Reconciliation in the New Testament with Special Reference to
Philemon, Colossians, and Ephesians, European Journal of Theology, 16(1), 37-47,
retrieved from, EBSCOhost, http://web.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu. (Accessed,
8/7/2011).
Wenham, D. (1995), Paul: Follower of Christ or Founder of Christianity? Grand Rapids,
MI/Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
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