Bible Challenge: Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians

Today we have three letters to some of the largest congregations in the early Church.  The time that we are in is somewhere between 50 and 75 A.D.

The letter to the church at Ephesus - which was a really vibrant, cosmopolitan, city.  Was in all likelihood written by a close disciple of Paul.  It was the custom of that time that a senior student would write in the name of the master after the master's death.  So this letter was probably written after Paul's death.  So it is probably later than 62 A.D.  The book focuses on the reconciliation to God and the Church's roll in helping us claim that reconciliation.

The letter to the church at Philippi - which was a stop in a main road between the East and the West in the Empire.  This is the first church established by Paul in Europe and he had a close relationship with them.  This letter was written by Paul himself while he was in prison and waiting for his trial.  The letter focuses on proclaiming the Gospel and doing it in the face of trouble and finding the joy in the midst of trial and suffering.

The letter to the church in Colossae - which was not far from Ephesus.  The church was apparently not founded by Paul and had several other teachers teaching different things than Paul was.  There seemed to be a combination of Paul's teaching, more traditional Jewish practices and rituals and gnostic philosophies.  Paul is working holding the church to what he believed to be the true teachings of Jesus.