I have just finished teaching the book of Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians...books that Paul wrote to different groups.   One was to Gentiles, another to Jewish Christians...very different messages based on their knowledge of the Old Testament.   And the way Paul expresses truth is very different.

The Gentiles knew nothing, and needed to know who God was, what he had promised, and how Jesus fulfilled prophecy.  The Jewish Christians were transitioning from one religion with certain expectations, to another based on freedoms they had not known would happen.  They were having trouble letting go of their rituals

This morning, I began a different letter.  The second letter to Timothy--who Paul identified as being like a son to him.  It is written in an entirely different voice than his letters to Gentiles and Jewish Christians.

I love to read Paul.  He was educated by the top teacher in the Jewish religion, but  after he met Christ, he became an entirely new creature.  Instead of murdering Christians, locking them up, and tracking them down...he made a 180 degree turn from elitism to an humble servant of Jesus.  

Every now and then, I learn something new as I study.  I knew that writers spoke of Scripture as being old testament.  Except for one letter from Peter--who gave Paul honor by telling people to read the teachings of Paul.  (Remember that Paul chewed Peter out at a dinner they were out...so Peter’s praise is important--he could have been resentful.)  But in 2 Peter 3:15 Peter recognizes the importance of what Paul wrote as being something we should read...as truth--the only place in the New Testament where written words are equated along with Scripture of the Old.