The Key of the Bible, Biblical commentary · Part 2 · Section 2
II. EPISTOLICAL BOOKS.
THE EPISTOLICAL BOOKS of the New Testament, are, All the Epistles, written by the Apostles; the Apostles being oft-times unable to instruct by their personall presence, supplyed that by writing Epistles. These Epistles are either written, 1. To the Beleeving Gentiles, Or 2. To the Beleeving Iews; as was formerly noted,
To the beleeving Gentiles, The Apostle Paul wrote his Epistles, which are either 1. Generall written to whole Churches: Or 2. Particular to some select particular persons. Some do rank Pauls Epistles thus, according to the persons to whom they were written, viz.
Pauls Epistles were written either
To whole Churches, either in
Europe, as to the Churches at
Rome. — in Italie.
Corinth. in Grecia
Thessalonica in Grecia
Philippi.—in Thracia
Asia, as to the Churches at
Galatia in Asia Minor
Ephesus in Asia Minor
Colosse in Asia Minor
Iudea, and in other Nations dispersed, as the Epistle to the Hebrewes.
To particular persons; as to
Timothy.
Titus.
Philemon.
Others endeavour, and that not unprofitably to marshall Pauls Epistles, in the Order of times and seasons, wherein they were severally written, which Order is not observed as they are placed in our Bibles. And though the punctuall time when every Epistle was written, cannot evidently and infallibly be demonstrated either by the Epistles themselves, or other Ecclesiasticall Histories, yet we may have good probabilities hereof, as may appeare in this Type or Table ensuing, viz.
Pauls Epistles were written, 1. Before his Bonds and Captivity at Rome. 2. In his Bonds and Imprisonment there.
I. Before his Bonds and Captivity at Rome, as these seven Epistles in this Order, viz.
1. First of all seems to be written the I. To Thessal. From Athenes by Tychicus. For Paul by reason of the tumultuous Jews going from Thessalonica to Berea, and thence to Athenes Act. 17. thence he confirmes the Thessalonians in the faith by his first Epistle, written about seventeen years after his Conversion, ninth yeare of Claudius, and nineteenth yeare after Christs passion, when the Councell at Ierusalem was held. Hieron.
2. About the same time, and in the same place Paul seemes to have written the II. To Thessal. by Tychicus also. For what he had written in the former of Christs coming, and of the end of the world, he further explaines in this, and vindicates.
3. The I. To Timothy seems written by Paul, from Laodicea, of Phrygia Palatina, sent by Tychicus the Deacon, when returning the second time from Ierusalem, he passed through the Region of Galatia and Phrygia, Acts 18.23. and before he returned to Ephesus, Acts 19.1. For he promiseth to Timothy, that he would shortly come thither. 1 Tim. 3.14. viz. in the nineteenth yeare after his Conversion, (as is thought) in the eleventh of Claudius, and the one and twentieth after Christs death.
4. Next seems written the I. To Corinth, from Ephesus, while Paul stayed there, Act. 19.9. (and this rather then from Philippi, as the Greek postscript intimates,) and before he went through Macedonia,) 1 Cor. 16.5. for he passed through Macedonia, after his three years abode at Ephesus. See Acts 19.1.8.10. compared with Act. 20.1. about the end of which time he is supposed to write this Epistle at Ephesus before Pentecost. For he saith, I will tarry at Ephesus, until Pentecost; 1 Cor. 16.8. which when he wrote, he seems plainly to be at Ephesus: And this Pentecost went before that Pentecost, when he intended to be at Ierusalem, Act. 20.16. which fell out about the sixty fourth yeare after Christs death, in the ninth of Nero, which yeare coming to Ierusalem with the Contribution, he was cast into Bonds, in the thirtieth yeare after his Conversion, Athanas. in Synops. Chrysostome.
5. Not much after this first Epistle, Paul wrote his II. To Corinth, from Philippi when after Demetrius his tumult, he left Ephesus and came into Macedonia, Acts 20.1, 2, 3. for then he must needs come to Philippi, (which was the first city upon the coast of Macedonia, Act. 16.12.) Hither referre that promise of his that he would come to Corinth, with them of Macedonia, 2 Cor. 9.4. that is there said to be done, when after he had passed thorough Macedonia into Greece, he had stayed three moneths, Ast. 20.2, 3. and after, we never read that he returned into Greece.
6. In the same passing through Macedonia; At Nicopolis not farre distant from Philippi, before he came into Greece, Paul is supposed to have written his Epistle To Titus whom he cals from Creet to Nicopolis, because there he had determined to winter, Tit. 3.12. though he seems after to have altered his purpose, and to have wintred in Grecia, as is thought at Corinth.
7. The eminent Epistle to the Romanes seems to have been written, whilst Paul was wintring at Corinth. For after that, we read not that he returned to Corinth, but having wintred in Greece because of the treacheries of the Jewes, returning through Macedonia, he came into Syria with the Contribution, whence at last he was carried bound to Rome, in the sixty fourth yeare of Christ, the ninth of Nero, and in the thirtieth year after his own Conversion. So that the II. To Corinth, To Titus, and To the Romans, all these three seems to bewritten, as is said, and all within the space of halfe a yeare: but the Epistle to the Romans seems to be the last he wrote before he came captive to Rome. Origen & Chrysost prove it was written after both the Epistles to Corinth: because in both those Epistles he stirs them up to a Collection for the poor Saints at Ierusalem, 1 Cor. 16.1. to 6. 2 Cor. 8. and 9. which contribution he saith he had received from the Churches of Macedonia and Achaia, Rom. 15.25. to carry it into Iudea; and he brought it to Ierusalem, in his last journey into Syria, described Act. 20. and 21. as himselfe testifies in his Apology before Felix, Act. 24.17.
II. In his Bonds and imprisonment at Rome, and this under, 1. His former. 2. His later imprisonment.
I. VnderUnder his former imprisonment, when he was in more free custody at his first coming to Rome Act. 28.16, 20, 30, 31. Then probably he wrote his Epistle to the Hebrewes, for he promiseth the Hebrews to come and see them, Heb. 13.23. therefore then he had some hopes of liberty, or it may be he had liberty at that time and preached in Italy. whence perhaps the Epistle is said to be written, not from Rome, but from Italy.
II. VnderUnder his latter imprisonment when he was clapt up in close… restraint. Then he wrote his other six Epistles (in which he mentions his chains) and probably he wrote them in this order, viz.
1. To the Galatians to whom he writes that he beares in his body the mark… of the Lord Iesus, Gal. 6.17. i. e. either his chaines, torments, or brands.
2. To the Ephesians, to whom he mentions his chain, Eph. 6.20.
3. To the Philippians, whom he salutes in the name of divers of Caesar's houshould, Phil. 4.22,
4. To the Colossians whom he requests to remember his bonds, Colossians 4.18.
5, To Philemon, Paul wrote being a Prisoner and now aged, Phil. 9. and it is thought he wrote this Epistle after his first Apology, in which all men forsook him, but the Lord stood by him, and delivered him from the mouth of the Lyon, 2 Tim. 4.17. Therefore having some dawnings of hope that he should be delivered, he desires Philemon to prepare him a lodging, for I trust (saith he) that through your prayers I shall be given unto you, Phil. 22. but the Lord had otherwise determined. Some think this Epistle was written after the II to Timothy, because there he bids Timothy and Mark to come to him, whom here he intimates to be with him, ver. 1.24. But others collect rather the contrary, 1 Partly because here he desires a lodging to be provided for him, ver. 22. but in that Epistle he is not solicitous about his lodging, but about his departure out of this life, 2 Tim. 4.6. 2 Partly because, there he complains that Demas had forsaken him, 2 Tim. 4.10. But here he salutes Philemon in Demas his name, ver. 24. Therefore this Epistle was written before Demas his desertion, or Demas had returned againe unto him.
6. Last of all, a little before his Martyrdome (whichfell out in the thirty seventh yeer of Christ, in the fourteenth yeer of Nero, & in the thirty fifth yeer after his own conversion) Paul wrote his II. to Timothy, as all Circumstances evince, and the Epistle it selfe intimates. I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand, 2 Tim. 4.6.
This noting the severall times of the Apostles writing his Epistles is usefull, To let us see why the Apostle wrote so variously about the same things, as Circumcision and other Ceremonies, As; To the Romanes, that they should receive the weake, &c. about Ceremonies and indifferent things, Rom. 14. 1. &c. But to the Galatians, and Colossians, utterly condemns use of Circumcision, &c. Gal. 5.2. &c. Col. 2, the reason is the difference of times, Chrisostome. Ceremonies were alwayes Mortales, mortall; at Christs death became Mortuae, dead; onelyonly Moses must be honourably buried, for the weak Iewes the use of them was permitted a while; but after that they became Mortiferae, deadly to them that used them.
But here Pauls Epistles shall be considered according to the method and distribution of all the Books of the New Testament first proposed: and that the rather, because so we shall view them as they stand in order in our Bibles.
And first of Pauls Generall Epistles to whole Churches, which are nine, viz.