Paul's Letters and his Missionary Journeys

Paul's Letters

To gain a better understanding of the unfolding of the unique evangel of the Apostle Paul, here is the probable order in which his letters were written, and where they were written from, with approximate dates. No one can be dogmatic about the exact order, place or date of his letters. But through an in-depth study of the relevant historical details in the book of Acts, and the internal evidence within Paul's letters, a fairly accurate picture emerges concerning when and where Paul wrote his epistles. I would advise any student of the Scriptures to read through Paul's letters in this order, taking in to account the changes that were taking place during the Acts period.

EPISTLES

PLACE

DATE

1 Thessalonians

From Corinth, during an 18 month stay, on his 2^nd Journey, after a visit to Athens (3:1-2)

c.52 AD

2 Thessalonians

From Corinth, towards the end of his stay, on his 2^nd Journey

c.53 AD

Galatians

From Ephesus, during a 3-year stay (see Acts 20:31) on his 3^rd Journey (the second official visit to Jerusalem, described in Galatians 2:1-14, taking place in-between the 2^nd and 3^rd Journeys c.54 AD - see below)

c.55-57 AD

1 Corinthians

From Ephesus, near the end of his 3 year stay, on 3^rd Journey (Chp.16)

c.57 AD

2 Corinthians

From somewhere in Macedonia, on his way to Corinth, on his 3^rd Journey

c.57 AD

1 Timothy

From Corinth on his 3^rd Journey, while Timothy was back at Ephesus (1:3-4)

c.57 AD

Romans

From Corinth on his 3^rd Journey

c.57 AD

Titus

From somewhere between Corinth and Nicopolis, on 3^rd Journey (Evidently, Titus was in Crete, having been sent there by Paul from Corinth - 1:5). Some suggest that this letter was written later, after Paul's release. This is possible for there isn't any specific mention of him visiting Nicopolis on his original three Journey's, although, of course, he still could have visited it earlier

c.57-58 AD

The above letters constitute Paul's earlier ministry - the following letters constitute his later ministry while he is under house-arrest in Rome, known as the prison epistles.

Philippians

Rome

c.61-63 AD

Colossians

Rome

c.61-63 AD

Philemon

Rome

c.61-63 AD

Ephesians

Rome (Even though this letter is known as 'Ephesians', it is a circular letter addressed to 'all the saints who are believers in Christ Jesus')

c.61-63 AD

2 Timothy

Rome (It would appear, and is commonly believed, that Paul was released after his trial before Caesar, during which time he revisited many of the ecclesias that he had established on his previous Journey's. He may have visited Spain, which he had been planning on doing for many years. But he was eventually imprisoned again, during which time he wrote this final epistle to his beloved brother and fellow apostle, Timothy. Shortly after, according to tradition, Paul was beheaded)

c.68 AD

Paul's Missionary Journey's

1^st Journey - Acts 13:2 - 14:28

The First Jerusalem Council - Acts 15:1-35

2^nd Journey - Acts 15:36 - 18:22

The (possible) Second Jerusalem Council followed by Peter's visit to Antioch - Galatians 2:1-14

3^rd Journey - Acts 18:23 - 21:17

   It is evident from the book of Acts that Paul made four official visits to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30; 11:30, also 12:25; 15:1-30; 21:17-19), though he may have attended feasts there at other times. In three of these official, significant visits, Barnabas went with him. Paul recounts in Galatians 2 that Titus also went with them at the time when Paul's ministry was officially accepted by the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Now according to the Acts account, if the Titus in question was from Corinth, then he didn't come on the scene until the end of the 2^nd Journey, while Paul was in Corinth (18:7). In that case, this Council had to be later than the Council mentioned in Acts 15. Yet on the other hand, the Council of Acts 15 and the Council of Galatians 2 appear to be identical in detail. If this is the case, then the Titus of Paul's apostolic team would have joined them much earlier, probably on the First Journey, and he is not mentioned in the book of Acts.

   From the details of Galatians 1:15-2:1 and Acts 9:20-30, the following chronology of Paul emerges: After his conversion (c. 34 AD) he spends 3 years in Damascus, which also included a trip to Arabia early on, in which he probably visited Mount Sinai. Due to a plot to kill him, he escapes from Damascus and makes his first visit to Jerusalem since his conversion (c. 37 AD). He stays with Peter for 15 days, only getting to know the apostles, including Barnabas, and also James, the Lord's brother. (Galatians 1:19 is translated incorrectly in most versions. It should read "Yet I became acquainted with no one different from the apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord."). During these two weeks in Jerusalem, Paul moves freely amongst the brethren, but He doesn't visit the churches of Judea. Due to another plot to kill him, the brothers take him to Caesarea, after which he returns to his home town of Tarsus in Cilicia, traveling through Syria on his way. He then spends many years in Tarsus until Barnabas arrives to take him to Antioch. After a few years, they embark on the First Missionary Journey (c.46 AD).

   Sometime after their return, after a total period of 17 years from his conversion (3 + 14), Paul and Barnabas, along with Titus and some other brothers, make an official visit to Jerusalem (c. 50/51 AD). It is at this Council that Paul's ministry amongst the nations is officially accepted by those in Jerusalem. So this would strongly suggest that the First and Second Jerusalem Councils mentioned above are in fact one and the same Council. Yet it is still possible that there was another Council after the Second Journey.

The Secrets

Here is a summary of the new truth, or the 'secrets', that Paul gradually revealed through his letters. It is evident that there are two major groupings of his letters - the earlier, transitional letters and the later 'prison' ones. Yet the development of new truth throughout his letters is highlighted below. Although the exact order of his letters is unknown, the following summary will show that, even if there needs to be minor alterations to the above order, the pattern of the development of new truth remains.

Epistle

New Truth Revealed

1 Thessalonians

The snatching away of the Body of Christ ecclesia (commonly called 'The Rapture' or 'Great Snatch')

2 Thessalonians

The revealing of the timing of the 'Great Snatch' in relation to the prophetic details of the 'Day of the Lord'

Galatians

Justification by faith apart from works of Law, and the explanation of the revelation of his unique evangel and calling

1 Corinthians

Begins to reveal hints of the celestial destiny of the Body of Christ, including the new humanity, the spiritual, resurrection body, the secret of the resurrection, the order of the vivification of all, universal salvation at the consummation of God's plan, and an emphasis on abundant grace

2 Corinthians

Universal salvation, the Conciliation of the world, more on spiritual bodies, the Dais of Christ, and evidence of his unique revelations

1 Timothy

Universal salvation

Romans

A treatise on the evangel of God, including Justification by faith, the Conciliation, universal justification and salvation, the new humanity and the resulting battle between the flesh and the spirit

Titus

Confirmation of the new humanity and justification

Philippians

The ultimate subjection of All to Christ, the secret of Christ's universal headship, justification and the celestial destiny of the Body of Christ

Colossians

The secret Administration of grace, the secret of Christ, the maturity of the Body of Christ ecclesia, Universal Reconciliation, the new humanity and the celestial destiny of the Body ecclesia

Philemon

Grace

Ephesians

The revelation in full of the secret Administration of grace, the secret of Christ, the joint-Body ecclesia, its celestial destiny, mission and warfare, the new humanity, the seven-fold spiritual unity, the five-fold gifts, God's eonian purpose in Christ, the ultimate subjection of ALL

2 Timothy

This final letter contains valuable instructions for believers during these last days, especially for Evangelists and Teacher/Pastors who are to proclaim Paul's message. The emphasis is on the apostasy of the last days which had already begun even then

Scripture references for the above summary of Paul's teaching can be found in the article 'The Evangel of God and its Secrets'

Copyright © G Watts 2001; expanded 2002; 2005

Back To Article Links

EPISTLES	PLACE	DATE
1 Thessalonians	From Corinth, during an 18 month stay, on his 2^nd Journey, after a visit to Athens (3:1-2)	c.52 AD
2 Thessalonians	From Corinth, towards the end of his stay, on his 2^nd Journey	c.53 AD
Galatians	From Ephesus, during a 3-year stay (see Acts 20:31) on his 3^rd Journey (the second official visit to Jerusalem, described in Galatians 2:1-14, taking place in-between the 2^nd and 3^rd Journeys c.54 AD - see below)	c.55-57 AD
1 Corinthians	From Ephesus, near the end of his 3 year stay, on 3^rd Journey (Chp.16)	c.57 AD
2 Corinthians	From somewhere in Macedonia, on his way to Corinth, on his 3^rd Journey	c.57 AD
1 Timothy	From Corinth on his 3^rd Journey, while Timothy was back at Ephesus (1:3-4)	c.57 AD
Romans	From Corinth on his 3^rd Journey	c.57 AD
Titus	From somewhere between Corinth and Nicopolis, on 3^rd Journey (Evidently, Titus was in Crete, having been sent there by Paul from Corinth - 1:5). Some suggest that this letter was written later, after Paul's release. This is possible for there isn't any specific mention of him visiting Nicopolis on his original three Journey's, although, of course, he still could have visited it earlier	c.57-58 AD

Philippians	Rome	c.61-63 AD
Colossians	Rome	c.61-63 AD
Philemon	Rome	c.61-63 AD
Ephesians	Rome (Even though this letter is known as 'Ephesians', it is a circular letter addressed to 'all the saints who are believers in Christ Jesus')	c.61-63 AD
2 Timothy	Rome (It would appear, and is commonly believed, that Paul was released after his trial before Caesar, during which time he revisited many of the ecclesias that he had established on his previous Journey's. He may have visited Spain, which he had been planning on doing for many years. But he was eventually imprisoned again, during which time he wrote this final epistle to his beloved brother and fellow apostle, Timothy. Shortly after, according to tradition, Paul was beheaded)	c.68 AD

Epistle	New Truth Revealed
1 Thessalonians	The snatching away of the Body of Christ ecclesia (commonly called 'The Rapture' or 'Great Snatch')
2 Thessalonians	The revealing of the timing of the 'Great Snatch' in relation to the prophetic details of the 'Day of the Lord'
Galatians	Justification by faith apart from works of Law, and the explanation of the revelation of his unique evangel and calling
1 Corinthians	Begins to reveal hints of the celestial destiny of the Body of Christ, including the new humanity, the spiritual, resurrection body, the secret of the resurrection, the order of the vivification of all, universal salvation at the consummation of God's plan, and an emphasis on abundant grace
2 Corinthians	Universal salvation, the Conciliation of the world, more on spiritual bodies, the Dais of Christ, and evidence of his unique revelations
1 Timothy	Universal salvation
Romans	A treatise on the evangel of God, including Justification by faith, the Conciliation, universal justification and salvation, the new humanity and the resulting battle between the flesh and the spirit
Titus	Confirmation of the new humanity and justification
Philippians	The ultimate subjection of All to Christ, the secret of Christ's universal headship, justification and the celestial destiny of the Body of Christ
Colossians	The secret Administration of grace, the secret of Christ, the maturity of the Body of Christ ecclesia, Universal Reconciliation, the new humanity and the celestial destiny of the Body ecclesia
Philemon	Grace
Ephesians	The revelation in full of the secret Administration of grace, the secret of Christ, the joint-Body ecclesia, its celestial destiny, mission and warfare, the new humanity, the seven-fold spiritual unity, the five-fold gifts, God's eonian purpose in Christ, the ultimate subjection of ALL
2 Timothy	This final letter contains valuable instructions for believers during these last days, especially for Evangelists and Teacher/Pastors who are to proclaim Paul's message. The emphasis is on the apostasy of the last days which had already begun even then