Paul soon emerged as leaders of the rapidly spreading church .
ROMANS : Written for a sophisticated audience , Romans presents theology in a logical , organized form .
1 CORINTHIANS : A very practical book , 1 Co rin thi ans addresses the problems in the church in Corinth : marriage , factions , immorality , public worship and lawsuits .
2 CORINTHIANS : Paul wrote this follow-up letter to defend himself against accusations by false teachers .
GALATIANS : A short version of the message of Romans , this book addresses legalism . It shows how Christ came to bring freedom , not bondage to a set of laws .
EPHESIANS : Although written in jail , this letter is Paul ’ s most optimistic and encouraging . It tells of the advantages a believer has in Christ .
PHILIPPIANS : The church at Philippi ranked among Paul ’ s favorites . This friendly letter stresses that joy can be found in any situation .
COLOSSIANS : Written to oppose certain cults , Colossians tells how faith in Christ is complete . Nothing needs to be added to what Christ did .
1 THESSALONIANS : Composed early in Paul ’ s ministry , this letter gives a short history of one church , as well as Paul ’ s direct advice about specific problems .
2 THESSALONIANS : Stronger in tone than his first letter to the Thessalonians , the sequel goes over the same topics , especially the church ’ s questions about Christ ’ s second coming .
1 TIMOTHY : As Paul neared the end of his life , he chose young men such as Timothy to carry on his work . His two letters to Timothy form a leadership manual for a young pastor .
2 TIMOTHY : Written just before Paul ’ s death , 2 Tim othy offers Paul ’ s final words to his young assistant .
TITUS : Titus ministered in Crete , a notoriously difficult place to nurture a church .
Paul ’ s letter gave Titus practical advice on how to handle the challenge .
PHILEMON : Paul urged Philemon , owner of runaway slave Onesimus , to forgive his slave and accept him as a brother in Christ .
HEBREWS : No one knows who wrote Hebrews , but it probably was directed to Chris tians in danger of slipping back into Judaism . It interprets the Old Testament , explaining many Jewish practices as symbols that prepared the way for Christ .
JAMES : James , a man of action , emphasized the right kind of behavior for a believer . Someone called “ Chris tian ” ought to act like it , James believed , and his letter spells out the specifics .
1 PETER : Early Chris tians often met violent opposition , and Peter ’ s letter comforted and encouraged Chris tians who were being persecuted for their faith .
2 PETER : In contrast to Peter ’ s first letter , this one focused on problems that sprang up from inside the church . It warned against false teachers .
1 JOHN : John could fill simple words — light , love , life — with deep meaning . In this letter , he elegantly explains basic truths about the Chris tian life .
2 JOHN : Warning against false teachers , John counseled churches on how to respond to them .
3 JOHN : Balancing 2 John , this companion letter mentions the need to be hospitable to true teachers .
JUDE : Jude gave a brief but fiery exposé of heretics .
REVELATION : A book of visions and symbols , Revelation is the only New Testament book that concentrates on prophecy . It completes the story , begun in Genesis , of the cosmic battle between good and evil being waged on earth . It ends with a picture of a new heaven and new earth .