Pauline Epistles

Definition and Meaning

The Pauline Epistles are the thirteen letters in the New Testament traditionally attributed to the apostle Paul. They are Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Of these, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are called the Prison Epistles because Paul is thought to have written them while imprisoned. First and Second Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles because they give pastoral instruction to church leaders. Hebrews, whose author is not identified, is generally not counted among the Pauline Epistles.

Biblical and Historical Background

According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul founded churches over the course of several missionary journeys. The Pauline Epistles are letters he sent to those churches and to his coworkers. They are generally dated to the mid-first century and are regarded as among the earliest documents in the New Testament.

Scholars widely accept seven of the letters as written by Paul himself: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. The authorship of the remaining six is debated. Conservative denominations and seminaries in Korea generally regard all thirteen as Paul's work.

Paul's teaching on justification (God's declaring sinners righteous) had a major influence on the Reformation. Martin Luther drew on Romans and Galatians to emphasize justification by faith. John Wesley is said to have experienced his conversion in 1738 while listening to a reading of Luther's preface to Romans.

Use in Korean Churches

• Worship: The benediction pronounced at the close of worship is based on 2 Corinthians 13:14 (13:13 in Korean Bibles). At the Lord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 is frequently read, and at wedding services, 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5.
• Debate over spiritual gifts: First Corinthians 12–14 addresses the gifts of the Spirit, including speaking in tongues. These chapters lie at the center of the divide between cessationism and continuationism. Full Gospel churches hold that the gifts continue today, while some Reformed theologians hold that they ceased with the apostolic age.
• Ordination of women: First Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:12 are frequently cited in the debate over the ordination of women. Denominations such as the Korean Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap) ordain women as pastors, while others, such as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong), do not.