Paul’s LettersThe Unchanging Gospel in a Changing Church

A 24-lesson journey through Paul’s letters

One unchanging gospel.
Real churches. Real problems.

Paul wrote real letters to real churches facing real problems—and he applied the same unchanging gospel to each changing situation.

Start with Lesson 1 View all 24 lessons

This week

How to Read Paul’s Letters Well

Lesson 1

Primary reading

Philemon 1–25

Supporting passages: 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; 2 Peter 3:15–16; Colossians 4:16.

Open the lesson

Big idea

Read the letter before borrowing the verse.

Paul’s letters are ancient correspondence and authoritative Scripture. We read them within the whole Bible, the whole letter, and the immediate passage.

Before Lesson 2

Meet Saul before he became Paul

Read Acts 7:54–9:31, Galatians 1:11–24, and Philippians 3:4–11. Watch for what Saul trusted, what Christ interrupted, and what grace redirected.

Preview Lesson 2

A simple reading framework

Context is the road to faithful application

1

Whole Bible

Where does this letter fit in God’s story of creation, fall, promise, Christ, church, and new creation?

2

Whole Letter

Who wrote, to whom, from where, and why? How does the argument develop?

3

Passage

What is Paul doing here, and how does this paragraph serve the whole letter?

Learn how to use the framework