These four books of the New Testament were written by the Apostle Paul between 50 and 60 A.D. Paul's intent with his letters to the churches was to clear up doctrine, ensure the message of Jesus was correctly understood and taught and to encourage or rebuke as necessary. In Galatia some believers were heretically teaching that while Jesus offered salvation, works were also necessary for it. In his letter to the Ephesians he stresses that Christians are saved by grace alone as a gift from God and "not by works so that no one would boast" (Eph 2:9). The letter to the Philippians has a different tone. Though Paul was a prisoner of Nero while he wrote it, he speaks often of joy and rejoicing. He tells us the secret to joy during trials and encourages us to live in peace despite our circumstances. With his letter to the Colossians, he again corrects bad theology by combating Gnosticism. He tells about the fullness of God in Jesus (Col 1:19 and 2:9) and warns those who worshipped angels (Col 2:18) that they have lost their connection to God. Through these 4 books, Christians come to a better of understanding of who Jesus is, what He offers and how to live out our faith in Him. Reading the Bible is different than reading any other book. It is more than a narrative about God, it is more than a story of broken individuals and the trials they faced. It is more than a set of rules and regulations. It is even more than a love letter. It is the very essence of Jesus. It is about Him, but there is more than that. It is God's conversation with us. It is alive. It is active. It is a 2-way conversation.
