A Summary Of Paul’s Ministry
Feature 1 – November 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine
A Summary Of Paul’s Ministry
The New Testament contains 27 books: the four Gospels, Acts, Revelation and the 21 Epistles. If we include Hebrews, 14 epistles were written by the apostle Paul. It is very probable that he wrote The Epistle To The Hebrews, even though we cannot prove it. Of the seven other epistles, James wrote one, his brother Jude wrote one, Peter wrote two, and John wrote three. As described in Acts, all these men of God were working together under Christ’s direction, despite the enemy’s efforts to divide (Acts 13–15; Gal. 1–2). Obviously, each one of them had a peculiar, or special, place. While all their writings are for our instruction and encouragement, in this article we will focus on Paul’s ministry, considering Hebrews along with his books.
God has given us seven reports about Paul’s conversion (Acts 9, 22, 26; 1 Cor. 15; Gal. 1-2; 1 Tim. 1; 2 Tim. 1). Please, carefully read these passages which provide many practical and spiritual lessons for us today.
Paul compared himself to a master-builder (1 Cor. 3:10-17; Eph. 3:1-13). His letters and other parts of the New Testament show that, with God’s help, he laid the foundation on which God’s Assembly, the Church, was built. The apostle was also involved in building on that foundation. Therefore, some of his spoken and written ministry presented completely new things, and this is one reason why the apostle was opposed by several Jewish and some Christian leaders. However, what he taught is in harmony with the Gospels and the teaching of the other apostles. They recognized that God was leading the apostle and accepted him, although not always immediately.
As a careful and faithful builder, Paul also made walls for protection and a door to let in what is good for the believers and to keep out what is not good. Furthermore, he included windows that allow us to look out, to accurately know and understand what is going on in this world now and will take place in the future. There is a roof to protect us from what comes from the enemy, but it lets in what comes from God, just as with the directions God gave Noah for building the ark in his day (Gen. 6).
Overview Of Some Epistles
In this brief overview we will focus on the epistles known to be written by Paul and the book of Hebrews. May the Lord give much blessing as we proceed.
Romans presents God’s good news of salvation for the age of grace, which started with the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) and will close at the rapture of the Church (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Th. 4:16-18). The period of grace introduces repentant sinners while still on earth to a wealth of unimaginable blessings now and for eternity. The Epistle To The Romans puts the redeemed ones – taken from among Jews and Gentiles – together on an entirely new foundation. They were chosen and known by Him from before the world’s foundation, according to God’s plan that had been kept secret. However, it was determined in God’s eternal counsel for all believers who belong to His Church, also known as His Assembly, to bring many sons to glory. God chose to reveal this plan only when the proper time had come. His purpose is that we, the many sons, might enjoy fellowship with God the Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of eternal life and of the Holy Spirit who came to dwell in us, now and forever. Set right with God, we are in a position where we are right with others, able to live in a way which is right before God. This includes being right with government authorities (Rom. 13) and with all fellow believers, even those who have different opinions (Rom. 14-15:7). Great privileges imply great responsibilities – and Romans shows us both!
First Corinthians teaches us about Christ and His Assembly with a special emphasis on the practical working out of God’s thoughts for each local gathering of believers. All are interconnected and interdependent. This includes matters of assembly discipline in relation to moral evil.
Second Corinthians shows God’s thoughts about restoration after failure, individually and collectively. It is a tragic misunderstanding to believe that these two epistles were only valid for the assembly in Corinth, to which they were written. All Scripture is for us today (1 Tim. 3:15-16), including all 21 epistles.
Galatians deals with doctrinal evil that the enemy designed to attack Paul’s doctrine. Such opposition may include various forms of legalism, but it deviates from God’s foundation, which always remains the same. Seeking restoration of those who departed from that foundation, Galatians shows the impact of the cross, not just as a symbol but as God’s way to truly deal with matters, whatever they may be. Therefore, the purpose or objective of this epistle is to bring restoration from fundamental error. God’s blessing will then be enjoyed.
Ephesians is a highlight among Paul’s epistles. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies! This letter shows God’s purpose for all believers of the present dispensation – His Assembly. His purpose is according to His counsel from before the world’s foundation, and it considers eternity to come. Ephesians details many blessings and challenges for the present age of grace and instructs us how to live for God’s glory.
Philippians teaches us about our Lord Jesus Christ: who He is, how He has lived, and how He is now in glory. It shows that all our resources are in Him and that the Holy Spirit helps us work things out as we follow our Lord Jesus and the apostle’s example.
Colossians confirms to us the same blessings as Ephesians while it instructs how to defend God’s truth against the enemy’s attacks. Such attacks are often through philosophy or human thinking. Colossae was somewhere in the center of today’s Turkey, not far from Ephesus, where Paul worked for over two years. People traveled from Colossae to Ephesus to hear the apostle speak.
First Thessalonians was the first of the inspired epistles that Paul wrote. It was written shortly after he had to leave that area in the south of Macedonia, part of present-day Greece. This letter presents the freshness of new life that all believers have as linked with Christ glorified, who sustains them. Because of further attacks, Paul followed this letter with a second one.
Second Thessalonians was sent to the same believers as the first epistle – not to correct it, as some say, but to provide additional help in view of those continued attacks. Paul desired to establish these believers further and confirm the blessed hope we have in the person of Christ.
First Timothy gives basic doctrine about the house of God. This epistle presents the greatness of God in relation to the present age of grace, the focus being on our great God. He has His house in this world, represented in each locality where believers live. Things need to be in order because it is His house (1 Tim. 1). This house is marked by prayer (1 Tim. 2), and it contains a great Treasure (1 Tim. 3). That is the reason it is under enemy attack (1 Tim. 4). God wants His house in order (1 Tim. 5) as it is His testimony to this world. This should not be taken as a call to change things with force but as a challenge for all believers to function for His glory in whatever situation they find themselves, namely as good stewards (1 Tim. 6).
Second Timothy presents God’s thoughts to us when, even in His house, things are not as they should be. However, the believers can always count on Him who is faithful and gives instructions to the believers who desire to be faithful to the Master, no matter what happens. Paul described man’s failures to honor God’s rights in His house. The apostle also taught the faithful how to keep what God has entrusted them and how to serve Him in difficult situations.
Titus emphasizes the importance of godliness and of maintaining sound doctrine. The Savior-God has a testimony in and to this corrupt world, for which reason He wants His house to be in order, with the right doctrine and practice.
Philemon is sometimes seen as an addition to Colossians, but it is a separate letter. It shows how Christianity has much to offer as it transforms people from the lowest of conditions to enable them to receive the highest blessings. It lifts them up in such a way that even a runaway slave like Onesimus can become a valuable member of Christ’s body, making him a useful instrument to the Master and to the believers. Philemon describes God’s grace for such a slave to be saved and to have him go back to his master, which was not viewed as a good thing in that society. The grace of God, as presented in Philemon, also gave instruction to Onesimus’ master and his family, and the local assembly, seeking for them to show grace toward this restored slave – a wonderful example! This short book presents the truth of the Assembly, the house of God and the body of Christ in the local and collective aspects of their corresponding responsibilities.
Hebrews is a marvelous epistle written like a treatise, essay or dissertation – a masterpiece. The writer’s name is not mentioned, probably intentionally, as many Jewish people were opposed to God’s new testimony which had started with the coming of the Messiah. Perhaps the main reason the author’s name is not mentioned is that Hebrews describes the Apostle, our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews opens with God’s greatness and shows that the Messiah is God Himself, visiting His people.
In magnificent terms with seven points, the author describes the greatness of God’s Son, who is also the eternal God (1:1-3). This is followed with seven quotations from the Old Testament about the greatness of the eternal Son (1:4-14), with an appeal to his audience and himself not to neglect God’s message (2:1-4). It had started with Messiah’s earthly ministry and continues from heaven.
This impressive introduction is followed by several points showing that the Messiah is the Son of Man announced in the Old Testament (Ps. 8, 80:17; Dan. 7:13). He is greater than the angels even though in the creation order angels are higher than humans. He is the Creator, yet as Man on earth He was always and in everything dependent on God. Being the Son of Man, He is higher than the angels and will reign over the whole universe.
Hebrews draws our attention to Him, seated at God’s right hand, in His association with the believers. Even though He is not visible to the world, with the eye of faith we see Him “crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9 NKJV) while He is rejected by His earthly people and absent from this earth. Hebrews encourages the believers to consider Him* at God’s right hand. Including Hebrews as written by Paul, his writings mention this blessed fact seven times (Heb. 1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1). Peter did so once (1 Pet. 3:22).
John’s gospel describes several presentations of Jesus’ greatness while He was ministering on earth. Yet, right from the beginning, He was rejected by His own people. The prophets announced this beforetime, such as in Isaiah 53:1, showing that God knew what would happen, as Matthew’s gospel confirms.
God has given us much in His Word. May we praise and thank Him for it!
ENDNOTE
* Throughout Hebrews, the Son of Man is presented as Jesus eight times, which is the number that emphasizes a new order of things. The name Jesus is linked with His other names six more times, either as Son of Man, Messiah, or Son of God. Thus, the name Jesus or Yeshua (Mt. 1) occurs 14 times in Hebrews.
By Alfred Bouter