hurches to which they
were addressed, but passed on to the other churches.

+Qualifications of Paul.+

1. Intellectual. He was not only pre-eminent as a
missionary, but even more remarkable as a writer. "He
was the greatest thinker of his age, if not of any age,
who in the midst of his outward labors was producing
writings which have ever since been among the mightiest
intellectual forces of the world and are still growing."

2. Spiritual. He had been converted in a wonderful
way and had received a special revelation from Christ
(Acts 9:3-15; 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:11, 12). He had
been called to his great work among the Gentiles by Christ
and the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:15; 13:2). He was
absolutely absorbed in the work of Christ and in making
known His gospel.

+How the Epistles are Best Understood.+--Each one
should be studied in the light of the occasion which called
it forth and in connection with the church, group of
churches, or the individual to which it is addressed.

+Titles and Groups.+--The thirteen Epistles fall naturally
into four groups; in each of which is set forth some
great doctrinal and ethical truth.

First Group, First and Second Thessalonians. "These
Epistles are short, simple, and practical. They may be
regarded as illustrating Paul's earlier missionary instruction
to his converts--hence the name 'Missionary Epistles,'
sometimes applied to them. They treat of but one
doctrinal subject--the second coming of Christ." It should
be borne in mind, however, that Paul speaks of Jesus
Christ as "The Lord," "Our Lord," about twenty-five
times in First Thessalonians; this shows how thoroughly
he believed in the Deity of Christ.

Second Group, Galatians, First and Second Corinthians
and Romans. "This group is the great repertory of
Paul's doctrinal and ethical teaching. Galatians and
Romans deal chiefly with his doctrine of justification by
faith. They are designed to disprove the current Jewish
teaching (which was invading the churches) that men
might be saved by obedience to the Mosaic law. On the
contrary Paul maintained that the sole basis of salvation
is the grace of God to be appropriated by faith on man's
part."

Third Group, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and
Philippians. "This group is predominantly Christological.
Errors had invaded the churches addressed, which
tended to degrade the person and work of Christ, and the
Apostle writes with a view to showing his pre-eminence