Many Christians wonder why there is such an emphasis on Paul and his letters in the New Testament. As we attend Bible studies and church services, a lot of what we learn comes from Paul’s teachings. Why do Paul’s letters take up so much space in our Bibles, and how do they apply to us today? Paul’s letters continue to be relevant for the modern church because they are not only impactful for spiritual growth, but also make the words and teachings of Jesus tangible, practical, and applicable for daily life.
Jesus called Paul in Acts 9:1–16, and Paul became an apostle. Paul went on missionary journeys to spread the gospel, plant churches, and teach Christians what it meant to live for Christ in the context of their lives. Throughout his ministry, he wrote helpful, Spirit-filled letters to various churches in need of guidance. Paul’s letters addressed questions about salvation, Christian living, suffering, and expectations. He wrote specific letters to specific churches because each of them had unique issues, cultural contexts, and needs. Paul’s message about Jesus was consistent across each letter, but the reasons for writing each letter varied.
One reason Paul wrote to the churches was to promote unity. During Paul’s lifetime, being a follower of Christ was still new. The community of believers included Jews, who were familiar with the Old Testament and Jewish tradition, and Gentiles, who had left pagan religions to follow Jesus. Because of this, there were varying opinions about how Christians were supposed to live and what they should avoid doing. Paul’s goal was to help these Christians understand that there was a new way of living rooted in freedom from both the weight of the law and legalistic standards. Instead of focusing on lifestyle decisions that can cause division like food, practices, or traditions (Col 2:20–23), Paul promotes unity by teaching that we are one united body in Christ, no matter our ethnic or religious heritage, and should focus on walking worthy of our call and keeping the unity of the Spirit (Eph 4:1–6)
Paul also wrote as a pastor—he planted many of the churches he wrote to and cared about their well-being. The books of 1–2 Timothy and Titus are considered Paul’s pastoral epistles. He wrote these personal letters to his two co-laborers who were sent to pastor new churches and who needed guidance. Both Timothy and Titus were pastoring their own churches, and Paul shared wisdom to equip them for effective ministry. In these letters, he gave these pastors instructions on the order of worship, how the church should operate, and gave expectations for what their leadership should look like. Paul addressed issues of church conduct, leadership roles and responsibilities, Christian behavior, and good works toward others.
Throughout these letters, Paul also shared bits of his testimony, his whereabouts, and his own wrestlings as a follower of Christ as a form of encouragement. For example, instead of wasting away in sadness or focusing solely on changing his circumstances, Paul used his time in prison to write what we call the Prison Epistles—Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. He also showcased his suffering in ways that help us see him as a fellow human rather than an elevated personality. In his letter to the Romans, he expressed a frustration we all feel when we don't practice what we preach and end up doing what we hate when we wrestle with sin (Rom 7:15–17). Paul also shared his testimony of being called as an apostle in his letter to the Galatians, writing about the chaos that ensued due to his prior persecution of the church he was now trying to serve. In all of these letters, Paul ensured that he was not only instructing others but also reminding them that he shared in the same work, conviction, and instruction, with the same goal of sharing Christ.
Paul wrote to the early church, which looked a bit different from today’s church, but its challenges often mirror our own. The earliest Christians asked: How does the gospel impact marriage and singleness? How do we navigate a pagan culture in light of Christ’s mission? What expectations should I have of the government given my gospel-centered convictions? Paul addressed each of these questions in his letters, and they remain questions that Christians often ask today. We all want to know how to navigate singleness and marriage with integrity as well as how to love those in our culture who don’t know the Lord. Paul’s letters don’t have all the answers, but they offer timeless principles that ring true for us today.
Paul’s letters also provide theological explanations of the gospel and help believers understand what obedience to Christ looks like—both in practical Christian living and in accomplishing the church’s mission. They show us what active—and sometimes messy—discipleship looks like. Through his testimony, his investment in building healthy Christian communities, and his application of Christ’s teachings to everyday life, Paul’s epistles continue to equip the church to follow Jesus faithfully today. He teaches us about discipleship relationships, sexual ethics, money, spiritual gifts, singleness and marriage, conflict, and even work as worship.
When we read the Gospels, we learn what Jesus said and what he considered important. In the Pauline Epistles, we learn how to faithfully apply Jesus’s teachings to our circumstances. Studying these letters helps us see that Christ’s love and his teachings cover every area of life and that there are practical principles that can be applied to even the smallest decisions we make on a day-to-day basis.
RightNow Media has produced original studies for all thirteen Pauline Epistles. For your next RightNow Media study, consider choosing one of Paul’s letters like The Book of 1 Corinthians with Eric Mason, where you can learn about unity, corporate worship, and the importance of being in the body of Christ. Check out the full list of RightNow Media studies on Paul’s letters:
As you study Paul’s letters, keep a few questions in mind:
Paul’s letters remain relevant for many reasons, but a key point to remember is that they help the church consider how we should live in light of what Jesus has done. By studying the words of Paul, we can find solace in knowing we are not alone in our desire to serve God faithfully amid chaotic circumstances.
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