The Letters of Paul: Complete Outlines and Notes on the Epistles of Paul

by P.C. Nelson and Paul the Apostle

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882435469
• ISBN13: 9780882435466
• Release Date: January 1976
• Publisher: Gospel Pub House
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Valuable Outlines To Aid in Mastery of the Pauline Epistles

The late P.C. Nelson was a respected Pentecostal, Assemblies of God minister who was, and is, better known for his book "Bible Doctrines," also published by the Gospel Publishing House (GPH). Nelson's book "The Letters of Paul" was copyrighted by Myrtle E. Nelson in 1945 and the revised edition was published in 1976 by GPH. The reason I make this information available is because of the nature of this work. It is intended as a reference tool for studying the Apostle Paul's letters in outline format using various commentaries and translations of the scriptures available to Mr. Nelson at the time. Some of the translations are not popular today. For example, Mr. Nelson uses Arthur S. Way's "The Letters of St. Paul and Hebrews" as well as "The New Testament Revised and Translated" by A. S. Worrell and "The New Testament: A New Translation" by James Moffatt. Of course, the standard King James Version is used along with the American Revised Version. Some of the commentaries consulted are better known such as those by Alexander Maclaren, Albert Barnes, Charles Hodge, "Jamieson, Fausset & Brown," and Adam Clarke, among others.Although unpopular translations are sometimes used for quotes, they are nonetheless helpful and the work as a whole is a valuable tool. Also, Mr. Nelson recommends in his Preface using more than one translation of the letters to compare with the outlines. He also states that his intention was to "gather up every germane thought and to express it briefly, sometimes in words similar to those in the text, and sometimes in entirely different words, and to make manifest to the eye the relation of each part to the whole." This he does brilliantly. Paul's letters have opened up to me in a powerfully memorable way by using this book. Each letter is given a short introduction, a condensed outline, and an extended outline with notes and footnotes. Also included is the letter to the Hebrews which some Bible scholars do not think was authored by Paul but contains thoughts that are certainly "Pauline" in many ways so that other equally qualified scholars think the letter was authored by Paul. Mr. Nelson's Pentecostal beliefs also show in his interpretive notes, but those who aren't Pentecostal or Charismatic can still benefit from this book. Because it is in outline format, it makes a great Bible study tool not only for Christians in general but also for Pastors, Teachers and others who are involved in public speaking and sermon preparation. As a layman and Sunday School teacher, this book has helped me master the content of the letters by seeing their main points, the logic of their arguments, and their relationship to each other. This is a book I carry around in my briefcase along with a pocket-sized Bible. This book is highly recommended.