Paul the Prisoner Learning About Paul From His Prison Epistles

Paul the Aged Prisoner Paul spent two years in a Roman prison, c. A.D (Acts 28:30-31) Paul was aged at this time (Philemon 9) Paul suffered at this time (Eph. 6:20) What can we learn about Paul from his prison epistles (Eph., Phil., Col., Philemon)?

Paul the Aged Prisoner Praising the Lord “ “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Praying to God “ “cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:16) “I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy” (Phil. 1:3)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Praying to God … “We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you … For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you” (Col. 1:3,9) “I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers” (Philemon 4)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Preaching the Word “ “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things (Eph. 3:8-9) “and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph. 6:19-20)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Preaching the Word “ “Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel; so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest; and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear” (Phil. 1:12-14)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Preaching the Word “ “whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you- ward, to fulfil the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Col. 1:25-29)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Preaching the Word “ “Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (Col. 4:1-4) “whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel” (Philemon 13)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Positive in attitude “ “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4) “I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13) (Col. 1:24) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church; (Col. 1:24)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Positive in attitude “ “ For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother” (Philemon 7) “ Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ. Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you (Philemon 20ff)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Progressing in faithfulness “ “Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Pattern to believers “ “according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death” (Phil. 1:20) “because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf: 30having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me” (Phil. 1:29-30)

Paul the Aged Prisoner Pattern to believers “ “The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:9)