Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Preface and Introductions | Page 9

or early in 62 A.D. Epaphroditus had been sent to Rome to
assure the Apostle, in his imprisonment, of the tender and practical
sympathy of the Philippian disciples (Php 2:25; 4:15,16). The
messenger, however, fell ill upon his arrival, and only on his recovery
could Paul, as in this Letter, express his appreciation of the thoughtful
love of the Philippians.
The Apostle appears to have visited the city three times. In 52 A.D. it
was the place of his first preaching in Europe (Ac 16:12); but he came
again in 57 and in 58 A.D. (Ac 20:2,6), on the last occasion spending
the Passover season there.
Two special traits in the Macedonian character are recognized by the
Apostle in this Letter; the position and influence of women, and the
financial liberality of the Philippians. It is remarkable that a Church
displaying such characteristics, and existing in a Roman "colonia,"
should have lived, as this one did, "without a history, and have perished
without a memorial."
Paul's Letter to the Colossians
This Letter belongs to the same group as those to the Ephesians and
Philemon, and was probably written from Rome about 63 A. D.
Colossae was a town in Phrygia (Roman Asia), on the river Lycus, and
was destroyed by an earthquake in the seventh year of Nero's reign.
The Church there was not founded by Paul himself (Col 2:1), but by
Epaphras (Col 1:7; 4:12), and this Letter arose out of a visit which
Epaphras paid to the Apostle, for the purpose of discussing with him
the development, at Colossae, of certain strange doctrines which may
possibly have been a kind of early Gnosticism. Paul here writes to
support the authority and confirm the teaching of Epaphras.
Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians

During his second missionary tour (Ac 17), Paul came to Thessalonica
and preached the Good News there with no little success. The
city--which had had its name given it by Cassander, after his wife, the
sister of Alexander the Great--was the most populous in Macedonia,
besides being a "free city" and the seat of the Roman pro-consular
administration. Its modern name is Saloniki.
Very soon the unbelieving Jews stirred up the mob against Paul and
Silas, and dragged Jason before the magistrates. Hence the brethren
sent the missionaries away by night to Beroea, being alarmed for their
safety. As the Apostle was naturally anxious about the persecuted flock
which he had been obliged to leave behind, he made two attempts to
return to them, but these being frustrated (1Th 2:18), he then sent
Timothy, from Athens, to inquire after their welfare and encourage
them.
The report brought back was on the whole satisfactory, but left
occasion for the self-defence, the warnings and the exhortations of this
Letter, which was then sent from Corinth, probably in 53 A.D.
Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians
This Letter was written from Corinth not long after the preceding one,
and probably in the year 54 A.D. Its occasion was the reception of
tidings from Thessalonica which showed that there had been a measure
of misapprehension of the Apostle's teaching in regard to the Return of
the Lord Jesus, and also that there was a definitely disorderly section in
the Church there, capable of doing great harm.
Hence Paul writes to correct the error into which his converts had fallen,
and at the same time he uses strong language as to the treatment to be
dealt out to those members of the Church who were given to idleness
and insubordination.
Paul's First Letter to Timothy
There has never been any real doubt among Christian people as to the
authorship of the three "pastoral" Letters. But definite objections to

their genuineness have been made in recent times upon the ground of
such internal evidence as their style, the indications they present of
advanced organization, their historic standpoint and their references to
developed heresy.
Says one scholar, "While there is probably nothing in them to which
the Apostle would have objected, they must be regarded on account of
their style as the product of one who had been taught by Paul and now
desired to convey certain teachings under cover of his name. The date
need not be later than 80 A.D."
Yet a thorough examination of the matter does not support such
objections. It is certain that the three Letters stand or fall together, and
there is no sufficient reason for dismissing the ancient conclusion that
they are all the genuine work of Paul, and belong to the last years of his
life, 66-67 A.D.
This first Letter was probably written from Macedonia.
Paul's Second Letter to Timothy
The marks of genuineness in this Letter are very pronounced. For
instance, the thanksgiving, the long list of proper names--twenty-three
in number--the personal details and the