The Apostle Paul led three missionary journeys through what is now modern-day Israel, Syria, Turkey, and Greece. Paul spent significant time in several communities along these journeys.  At each stop, he would tell the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and what that means for the world.  Paul and his fellow missionaries would work to establish a church and then move to the next community.  The letters of Paul we have in our Bible are letters written to these faith communities to help continue the work of further building the church.  The notable exception is the book of Romans.  Paul writes the book of Romans before he visits Rome.

Paul’s letters are filled with gratitude.  He begins each letter by offering thanks to God and to the faithful people who are working on God’s behalf.  Paul’s consistent lesson in his letters is that gratitude is necessary.  As you read the letters of Paul, make a note of how often he expresses gratitude and how it shapes his work in building the church.

The Apostle Paul spent almost six years total under arrest in various ways.  He spent over two years under house arrest in Rome.  While imprisoned in Rome, Paul continued to share the good news of Jesus.  He could still correspond with the churches he started on his missionary journeys.  These powerful letters, written while arrested in Rome, are known as the Prison Epistles.  These letters are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  These letters are filled with encouragement.  Paul wants God’s people to understand that even under difficult circumstances, there is peace and joy because of the love and grace of Jesus, our Lord.  While imprisoned, Paul would write, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

The Book of Revelation is one of the more challenging books to read and understand.  Written by John while on the Island of Patmos, in this prophetic book, John writes about the vision of Christ he receives, which is ultimately a call for “patience” and “endurance” in the face of persecution.  Although much of the letter speaks about events in the future, the heart of the book of Revelation is found in the letters to seven churches in Asia (Chapters 2-3). These letters call us to remain faithful to Christ in the face of persecution.  The Book of Revelation is filled with symbols and visions that provoke a wide range of emotions.  Still, it is important to remember that the Book of Revelation opens with words of comfort, “Do not be afraid” (1:17), and just as Revelation opens, it also closes with the comforting words of Christ, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (21:3-4)  The Book of Revelation is written to bring comfort and encouragement to God’s children, even while we face challenging times.