It’s instructive to consider how Paul opens his letters. Titus is my favorite. Philemon is the only one where he refers to himself as a prisoner.
I’m going to wait in line to talk to Paul on the New Earth.
|
Letter |
Paul’s Designation (ESV) |
| 1 Corinthians | Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus |
| 2 Corinthians | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God |
| Galatians | Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through God |
| Ephesians | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God |
| Philippians | Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus |
| Colossians | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God |
| 1 Thessalonians | Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy |
| 2 Thessalonians | Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy |
| 1 Timothy | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope |
| 2 Timothy | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus |
| Titus | Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior |
| Philemon | Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus |
