Prison Epistles

Name and Scope

The term Prison Epistles (Korean okjung seosin, literally "letters written in prison") refers to the four letters in which Paul describes himself as a prisoner. It is not a biblical term but a classification used in grouping the Pauline Epistles. Paul calls himself "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" (Ephesians 3:1), "an ambassador in bonds" (Ephesians 6:20), and "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ" (Philemon 1:1). He also uses expressions such as "my bonds" (Philippians 1:13) and "Remember my bonds" (Colossians 4:18).

• Ephesians: Speaks of the church in which Jews and Gentiles have been made one body in Christ (Ephesians 2:14–17). This letter also contains the exhortation to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18).
• Philippians: A letter of thanks to the church at Philippi, which had supported Paul. It contains a hymn describing how Christ humbled himself and was then exalted (Philippians 2:9–11), and it repeatedly urges its readers to "rejoice in the Lord" (Philippians 4:4–6).
• Colossians: Exalts Christ, who is before all things and by whom all things were created (Colossians 1:15–17). At the same time, it warns against "philosophy and vain deceit" (Colossians 2:8).
• Philemon: A short letter asking Philemon to receive Onesimus, a slave who had left his master and come to Paul, as a brother (Philemon and Onesimus).

Background

According to the text, Tychicus delivered Ephesians and Colossians (Ephesians 6:21–22; Colossians 4:7–9), and Onesimus accompanied him to Colossae (Colossians 4:9). Philippians appears to have been carried back by Epaphroditus, whom the Philippian church had sent to Paul (Philippians 2:25–30). Colossians and Philemon both convey greetings from Epaphras, Mark, Luke, Demas, and Aristarchus (Colossians 4:10–14; Philemon 1:23–24). For this reason the two letters are commonly thought to have been written at about the same time.

Views differ on where Paul was imprisoned.

• Roman hypothesis: The traditional view. Its proponents cite the account of Paul living in his own rented house in Rome (Acts 28:16, 30), as well as the references in Philippians to "the palace" (1:13) and to "they that are of Caesar's household" (4:22). On this view the letters were written in the early 60s.
• Caesarean hypothesis: Regards Paul's imprisonment at Caesarea (Acts 23–26) as the setting in which the letters were written.
• Ephesian hypothesis: An imprisonment at Ephesus is not recorded in Acts; its occurrence is inferred from passages such as 2 Corinthians 1:8.

Interpretation and Debated Issues

• Authorship: Church tradition and many evangelical scholars hold that Paul wrote all four letters. Some critical scholars, citing differences in style and theology, attribute Ephesians and Colossians to Paul's disciples or successors.
• Scope: 2 Timothy was also written in confinement (2 Timothy 1:8, 1:16). Because it is generally classified with 1 Timothy and Titus among the Pastoral Epistles, however, it is usually not counted among the Prison Epistles.
• Philemon and slavery: Paul did not directly condemn slavery, but he asked that the slave be received as "a brother beloved" (1:16). Some interpreters read this as a principle that transforms the social order from within, while others regard it as counsel that remained within the limits of the institutions of the time.

In the Korean Church

Philippians is often introduced as the "Epistle of Joy" because it speaks of joy even in the midst of imprisonment. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13) is widely used as a motto and memory verse. Sermons sometimes also stress, however, that in its original context the verse concerns contentment in every circumstance (Philippians 4:11–13). The passage on the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6 is frequently treated in sermons and retreats on the theme of spiritual warfare.