How do Paul's prison epistles differ doctrinally from his earlier letters?
Paul’s prison epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians—written from prison after Acts 28, differ from his earlier letters by being a jump up doctrinally in depth and understanding. Earlier letters include Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, and Thessalonians from his original ministry in Asia Minor, Greece, and Corinth.
Les explains that before starting Ephesians, he reviewed Paul’s unfolding church epistles, including 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Paul’s original ministry covered especially Asia Minor, Greece, and Corinth, producing letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, and Thessalonians. Then, beginning with Acts 28, from his time in prison he writes what are called the prison letters or prison epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians—which Les describes as just a jump up doctrinally in depth and understanding from what came before.