Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Preface and Introductions | Page 8

this have been our
"first" to the Corinthians? Some think not, in which case there must
have been an "intermediate" letter. This some students find in 2Co 10
1-8:1O. If so, there must have been four letters. Some have thought that
in 2Co 6:14-7:1, and 8, 9, yet another is embedded, making possibly
five in all. The reader must form his own conclusions, inasmuch as the
evidence is almost entirely internal. On the whole it would seem that

our first Letter, conveyed by Titus, had produced a good effect in the
Corinthian Church, but that this wore off, and that Titus returned to the
Apostle in Ephesus with such disquieting news that a visit of Paul just
then to Corinth would have been very embarrassing, alike for the
Church and the Apostle. Hence, instead of going, he writes a "painful"
letter and sends it by the same messenger, proceeding himself to Troas
and thence to Macedonia, where, in great tension of spirit, he awaits the
return of Titus. At last there comes a reassuring account, the relief
derived from which is so great that our second Letter is written, with
the double purpose of comforting those who had been so sharply
rebuked and of preventing the recurrence of the evils which had called
forth the remonstrance. In this way both the tenderness and the severity
of the present Letter may be explained.
Paul's Letter to the Galatians
There is no question as to the genuineness of this Pauline Letter, but
unlike most other writings of the Apostle it was addressed to
"Churches" rather than to a single community.
Formerly it was not easy to decide the precise meaning of the term
"Galatia." Opinions differed on the subject. The "North Galatian
theory," contended for by some German scholars, maintained that the
Letter was addressed to the Churches of Ancyra, Tavium, Pessinus and
possibly to those in other cities. The "South Galatian theory," which
now holds the field in English-speaking countries, is to the effect that
the congregations intended were those of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium,
Derbe and Lystra; and this is strongly supported by the unique
resemblance between this Letter and Paul's sermon in Pisidian Antioch
(Ac 13:14-41). In any case the population was very mixed, consisting
of Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, Gauls and Jews.
The date of the Letter cannot be exactly fixed. The periods assigned by
recent scholarship vary from 46 A.D. to 58 A.D., but the medium
estimate of 53 A.D., adopted by Harnack and Ramsay, satisfies all the
requirements of the case.
The Apostle certainly visited Galatia during his second missionary tour,

perhaps about 51 A. D., and, although suffering from illness, was
received with enthusiasm. After a short stay he departed cherishing a
joyful confidence as to his converts there. But when, less than three
years afterwards, he came again, he found that the leaven of Judaism
had produced a definite apostasy, insomuch that both the freedom of
individual believers and his own Apostolic authority were in danger.
Even his personal presence (Ac 18:23) did not end the difficulty. Hence,
possibly during his journey between Macedonia and Achaia, he sent
this Letter. Its rugged and incoherent style shows that it was dictated
under great stress of feeling, and the doctrine of justification by faith is
stated more emphatically than in any other of his writings. But his
earnest insistence upon the "fruit borne by the Spirit" proves that his
ideal of practical holiness was rather strengthened than impaired by his
plea for Faith as the mainspring of Christian life.
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians
This appears to have been a kind of circular Letter to the Churches in
Roman Asia, and was not addressed exclusively to the Church in
Ephesus.
Ephesus was a well-known seaport and the principal city in Roman
Asia. It was famous alike for its wonderful temple, containing the
shrine of Artemis, and for its vast theatre, which was capable of
accommodating 50,000 persons.
Paul was forbidden at first to preach in Roman Asia (Ac 16:6), but he
afterwards visited Ephesus in company with Priscilla and Aquila (Ac
18:19). About three years later (Ac 19:1) he came again and remained
for some time--probably from 54 to 57 A. D.--preaching and arguing in
the school of Tyrannus, until driven away through the tumult raised by
Demetrius. He then went to Jerusalem, by way of Miletus, but was
arrested in the uproar created by the Jews and was taken first to
Caesarea (Ac 23:23), and thence to Rome (Ac 28:16). This was
probably in the spring of 61 A.D.
Late in 62 or early in 63 A.D., this Letter was written, together with the

companion Letters to the Colossians and Philemon.
Paul's Letter to the Philippians
This Letter was written shortly before that to the Ephesians, probably
late in 61