The Uniqueness of Paul and his Epistles

About the Book

For years, I believed the so-called New Testament, from the book of Matthew through the book of Revelations, was one united book containing one gospel edifying Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Perhaps as many of you, while in your youth as I, heard countless pastors, Bible teachers, ministers, and evangelists treating the so-called New Testament as one unit. One thing must be considered is where the New Testament truly begins. Th ere is much speculation that it does not begin with the book of Matthew but with Acts and possibly elsewhere. Th is subject will be addressed in later chapters. Also, I heard but never understood why some believers state they only read Paul’s epistles. Th is puzzled me greatly but will be likewise addressed later.

About the Author

In August, 1939, I was born, raised, and educated in Chicago, Illinois. Principally, I grew up in Ida B. Wells Projects, Englewood, Washington Heights areas of the “Windy City.” Much later, I lived in Forest Park, Illinois. My three sisters and I attended parochial schools through high school, which truly began my encounter with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I did not become born-again until my eighth grade in 1953 at St. Martin’s School. As those of you who have similar beginnings, parochial schools did not teach the bible but exposed us students to a catechism, which is primarily church doctrine. In those times, the bible was somewhat hidden from students as well as parishioners. I remember clearly, if one desired to know something from the bible, an appointment had to be made with a parish priest. In 1981, I vividly remember having a deep craving for learning much more about Jesus Christ and the Bible. I contacted a priest I had known for decades. My mother and his mother would sometimes accompany each other to church, and a brother and sister of his were high school classmates about this craving and the whereabouts of a good Bible study program. In a sarcastic tone, he said to me, “What do you want to do, become one of those Bible-quoting Christians?” Being immediately off ended because that was precisely my personal goal, I took a step backwards and walked away from him and Catholicism. I later attended the University of Illinois, Navy Pier, Chicago, with a major in aeronautical engineering and graduated from Roosevelt University, Chicago. Cost of my college education was earned through summer employments, part-time and some full-time employment opportunities. I must admit borrowing $25 from a parish priest to purchase a book my initial year at the Pier. My biblical knowledge was acquired through constant reading and studying scripture and listening to certain media ministers. In 1982, I began conditioning myself to reading and studying certain numbers of Bible chapters weekly. To this day, the same commitment remains unchanged.