2023
Epistles of the Apostle Paul
October 2023

“Epistles of the Apostle Paul, Part 3,” Liahona, Oct. 2023.

Epistles of the Apostle Paul

Part 3

parchment with ink bowl and writing tool

Illustration by Elspeth Young

1 Timothy

  • To Timothy, a Church leader in Ephesus (a city in modern-day Turkey)

  • Likely written from Macedonia in about AD 64–65

  • Purpose: To help Timothy better understand his Church duties

  • Key teachings: Warnings about false doctrine, responsibilities of Church leaders, advice on how to minister, and encouragement to do good works

2 Timothy

  • To Timothy, a Church leader in Ephesus (a city in modern-day Turkey)

  • Written from Rome in about AD 64–65

  • Purpose: To offer strength through trials and encourage the Church to continue strong after Paul’s death

  • Key teachings: Apostasy, gaining eternal life through Jesus Christ, and blessings and challenges of discipleship

Titus

  • To Titus, a Greek convert

  • Written from Nicopolis (a city in modern-day Greece) in about AD 64–65

  • Purpose: To strengthen Titus as he led the Church in Crete (an island in Greece)

  • Key teachings: Hope for eternal life, qualifications of bishops, living righteously, and doing good works after baptism

Philemon

  • To Philemon, a convert in Colossae (a city in modern-day Turkey)

  • Written from Rome in about AD 60–62

  • Purpose: To urge Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, who had joined the Church

  • Key teachings: Extending forgiveness and finding unity as brothers and sisters in the gospel

Hebrews

  • To Jewish members of the Church in Jerusalem

  • Probably written from Rome in about AD 60–62

  • Purpose: To encourage Jewish Christians to stay strong in their faith instead of returning to the law of Moses

  • Key teachings: The nature and mission of Jesus Christ, the Melchizedek Priesthood, trusting in Christ, and a discourse on faith