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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