Slideshow image

December 1, 2025

Four Letters of Faith: Galatians and the Prison Epistles

by Jason Neill

Scripture reading: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, & Colossians

A mnemonic (pronounced "nuh-MAA-nik") device “is a memory aid designed to enhance the recall of information by forming associations between simple phrases, images, or concepts and more complex ideas” (source: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/mnemonic).

I learned one such device while sitting in a Bible class at seminary. I was seated in the back row, but I heard my professor loud and clear. I even chuckled to myself after he shared what I’m about to tell you.

He said an easy way to remember the order of the Apostle Paul’s letters, specifically, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, is to use the mnemonic phrase: “Gentiles eat pork chops.” We can easily remember the order of these books with this silly phrase.

Since we are reading these four books this week, I thought I’d pass along this memory device I learned, as well as provide a quick overview of these four, important letters. Let’s dive right in.

Galatians: Freedom in Christ

Galatians was written by Paul in A.D. 49.

During Paul’s first missionary journey (see Acts 13-14), he and Barnabas planted churches in the cities of Antioch in Pisidia (see Acts 13:14-52), Iconium (see Acts 14:1-6), Lystra (see Acts 14:6-19), and Derbe (see Acts 14:20-21) in the Southern region of Galatia.

  • The Problem: Following Paul and Barnabas’ missionary endeavors, a group, often called the “Judaizers,” infiltrated these churches. They claimed that to be a Christian, to be rightly related to God, to be justified (e.g., declared righteous in God’s sight), a person must not only believe in Jesus for eternal life but must undergo the religious ritual of circumcision.
  • The Attack on Paul: To make their case more persuasive, they had to discredit the authority of the Apostle Paul. They attempted to do so by claiming he was not really an Apostle since Jesus did not pick him as one of the twelve.
  • The Result: The believers in these cities bought it, hook, line, and sinker. They turned away from the Gospel of grace toward works.
  • Paul's Response: Paul addresses his accusers by defending his Apostleship in chapters 1–2, the gospel of grace in chapters 3–4, and the application of the gospel in chapters 5–6.

The Prison Epistles: Letters from House Arrest

The next three letters (Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians) are known as the Prison Epistles. They are named after Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, which occurred in A.D. 60–62. The background for this confinement can be found in Acts 25:1-13 (Paul's appeal to Caesar) and Acts 28:11-31 (Paul's arrival in and ministry from Rome).

Ephesians (A.D. 60–62)

  • Founding: Paul founded the church at Ephesus during his third missionary journey and spent three years there (see Acts 19:1-41; 20:17-38, especially verse 31).
  • Content: In this brief letter, Paul addresses the spiritual wealth the believers at Ephesus, and all Christians, possess in chapters 1–3. Chapters 4–6 address the walk of the believer (e.g., how Christians ought to live).

Philippians (A.D. 60–62)

  • Founding: Paul founded the church at Philippi during his second missionary journey and spent perhaps a month there, scholars conjecture (see Acts 16:11-40).
  • Purpose: The reason for Paul’s writing is to thank the believers at Philippi for their recent financial gift (see Philippians 4:15-20) and to address a conflict between two believers within the church (see Philippians 4:2-3).
  • Content Summary:
    • Chapter 1: Paul provides an update regarding his circumstances.
    • Chapter 2: Introduces the great Christological hymn (2:5-11), demonstrating that Christ’s humility is a model for all believers.
    • Chapter 3: Explains knowing Christ is of utmost importance compared to everything else.
    • Chapter 4: He thanks them for their financial gift, encourages them that God will meet their needs, and offers his closing remarks.

Colossians (A.D. 60–62)

  • Founding: Paul was not the founder of the church at Colossae.
  • Purpose: Nevertheless, he wrote to correct false teaching the believers at Colossae were facing.
  • Content Summary:
    • Chapter 1: Paul offers a greeting and introduces his topic of the supremacy of Christ.
    • Chapter 2: He tackles the false teachings.
    • Chapter 3: Addresses how believers are to live considering the supremacy of Christ.
    • Chapter 4: Offers Paul’s closing remarks.

Application From Galatians (Freedom in Christ):

  • The Danger of "Adding": The temptation to add something to the pure gospel of grace has been around since the first century. The Apostle Paul had to address it, and sadly, we must as well in our day. Reread chapters 3–4. The Gospel is about grace alone, not grace plus works. Rest in the freedom Christ has already secured for you.
  • A Professor's Warning: As New Testament professor, Zane Hodges wrote: “False doctrine in today’s church often begins like this: ‘If he is really saved, he will…’ The ways of completing this statement are extremely numerous: ‘…he will be baptized.’ ‘…he will never deny the faith.’ ‘…he will persevere in good works.’ And so on. Without exception these claims focus a person’s heart on what he does, or does not, do. There is no escape from this conclusion. If I cannot trust completely in Christ and what He did on the cross, then the cross can give no peace about my eternal destiny. I must trust, at least partly, in what I do for Him” (The Gospel Under Siege in A Free Grace Primer, pp. 387-388).