Did Paul's ministry happen over a short period or over many years?
Paul's ministry unfolded over many years, not a short period. By the time he reached Rome, he had already ministered to Gentiles for 23 years. His writings and revelations developed progressively over those years, deepening from Thessalonians to Romans and later letters like Ephesians and Philippians.
Les teaches that Paul spent 23 years ministering to Gentiles before finally arriving in Rome, emphasizing that this did not happen in a month or two but progressively took place over the years. In that period, Romans had not yet been written. Les explains that Paul's letters likewise developed over time, moving from Thessalonians to deeper revelations like Romans, and finally to letters such as Ephesians and Philippians, which he calls deep water and a higher plane.