What order were Paul's letters actually written in?
Paul's letters were not written in the order they appear in the New Testament. Thessalonians was written first, likely followed by Galatians, then Romans, then Corinthians, then Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, and finally 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Galatians was written about two years before the Corinthian letters.
Les explains that Paul's letters are always in the same exact order in every New Testament manuscript, even though they are not in the chronological order they were written. He notes that Thessalonians was written first, probably then Galatians, then Romans, then the Corinthians, then Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, and then first and second Timothy and Titus. Galatians was written about two years before the Corinthian letters, and its theme is to convince believers that we are not under Law but under Grace. Other New Testament books may appear in different orders, but Paul's letters never do.
More Questions
Are Paul's letters always in the same order in ancient New Testament manuscripts?
Paul's letters always appear in the exact same order in every New Testament manuscript available in museums and libraries, unlike the Gospels and the smaller letters at the back, which vary in order.