The Order of the Church Epistles

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

The Pauline epistles are not arranged chronologically but rather according to a divine order for the spiritual edification of the Body of Christ. According to 2 Tim. 3:16, we must have doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction to be edified in the faith.

 

The apostle Paul wrote nine epistles by inspiration of God to seven churches. Let's consider the order of the church epistles:

Salvation in Christ
• Romans - doctrine of salvation by grace through faith
• 1 & 2 Corinthians - reproof for not living by the doctrine of Romans
• Galatians - correction for listening to doctrine not in line with Romans

Body of Christ
• Ephesians - doctrine of the body of Christ
• Philippians - reproof for not living by the doctrine of Ephesians
• Colossians - correction for listening to doctrine not in line with Ephesians

Coming of Christ
• 1 & 2 Thessalonians - doctrine, reproof, and correction concerning the coming of the Lord

Taken together these epistles provide instruction in righteousness for the present age.

 

The apostle Paul also wrote four epistles to individuals by inspiration of God. The epistles to Timothy and Titus concern the proper order for the church. The second epistle to Timothy deals with the apostasy of the last days. The epistle to Philemon is fittingly placed last because it illustrates the doctrines of Paul's epistles through a real-life situation.