Les Feldick Bible Study

Do Paul's letters appear in the same order in every New Testament manuscript?

Yes. Paul's letters appear in the same order in every available New Testament manuscript. Other New Testament books may vary in order, but Paul's letters are always exactly as they are in our New Testament today. This consistency confirms the Holy Spirit's control over Paul's apostleship.

Les explains that the Holy Spirit was definitely on Paul's apostleship, and this is shown by the fact that in every single manuscript of the New Testament still available somewhere in the world, Paul's letters are always in the same order as they are in our New Testament today. Other books of the New Testament may be in various order, but Paul's letters are always exactly as we have them today. He notes that Paul's letters are not in chronological order—1st and 2nd Thessalonians were written first, then probably Galatians and Romans, then perhaps the Corinthians, with the prison epistles like 1st and 2nd Timothy, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and Titus written toward the end of his ministry. Yet despite this, the manuscript order remains consistent, confirming the Holy Spirit's total control over what Paul accomplished.

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.