Yes—Paul's letters are vitally important because they contain the fundamental doctrines for salvation and the Christian walk in this present age of grace.
In the Church Age, Paul is the designated apostle of the Gentiles, and his letters are where the basic truths for salvation, daily Christian living, and local church operation are gathered. Paul himself wrote that all Scripture is inspired and profitable, but unique to his writings are the doctrines of grace that are not found elsewhere in Scripture. This makes his epistles essential for believers today.
Romans 11:13 — Identifies Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles, the basis for turning to his letters.
2 Timothy 3:16 — Shows that all Scripture, including Paul's letters, is inspired and profitable.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Records the core gospel message Paul preached—Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
The Bible identifies Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles: 'For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office' (Romans 11:13). Paul also describes the heart of his message: 'For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures' (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Paul further states that he received this gospel 'by the revelation of Jesus Christ' (Galatians 1:12). And 2 Timothy 3:16 declares that 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.'
Les Feldick teaches that for this present age of grace—the Church Age—Paul is the designated apostle of the Gentiles. Therefore, the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the operation of the local church must be gathered from Paul's letters. Les says these letters are intrinsic to our daily needs and salvation needs, and that the core of everything Paul writes is the work of the cross: Christ died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead. While Les uses the whole Scripture and acknowledges that all Scripture is inspired, he emphasizes that Paul's writings contain unique doctrines of grace that are not found anywhere else in the Bible. He also points to Romans 11:13, where Paul calls himself 'the apostle of the Gentiles,' and notes that Paul's letters alone are written to the Church.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul was uniquely called of God to be the apostle of the Gentiles—not one of many, but THE apostle. At his conversion, God told Ananias that He would send Paul 'far hence unto the Gentiles,' and Paul later wrote, 'I am the apostle of the Gentiles' (Romans 11:13). Les notes that while other men such as Barnabas and Silas were also considered apostles, only Paul's letters are written to the Church. Therefore, believers must go to Paul for their basic doctrines.
No. Les Feldick is careful to say he does not isolate Paul's letters and teach only from them. Paul himself wrote that all Scripture is inspired of God and profitable, and Les says he uses the whole Scripture, Genesis through Revelation. However, unique to Paul's writings are the doctrines of grace, and Paul brings out many doctrines that are not found anywhere else in Scripture. So while the entire Bible is profitable, Les teaches that believers should spend the best part of their time in Paul's epistles and then funnel back and forth throughout all the rest of the Scriptures.
Les Feldick says that everything Paul writes centers on the work of the cross: Christ died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead. That is the core of everything he writes. Paul's letters are therefore intrinsic to our daily needs and salvation needs. Les also points out that the average churchgoer often never gets the opportunity to learn much of what Paul teaches, which is why his epistles are among the most neglected writings in the Bible.
Paul is the designated apostle of the Gentiles
Les identifies Paul as the designated apostle of the Gentiles for this age of grace, explaining that the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church must come from Paul's letters.
Paul's letters are intrinsic to our salvation needs
Les says Paul's epistles are intrinsic to our daily and salvation needs, and that the work of the cross—Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again—is the core of everything Paul writes.
Paul's unique revelations for the Gentile
Les explains that prior to Paul's epistles, Scripture was directed primarily to Israel, but Paul was commissioned to the Gentiles and received revelations from God that produced truths found nowhere else in the Bible.
Paul's apostleship under attack
Les notes that Paul constantly had to defend his apostleship, and he points to Romans 11 as a plain statement of Paul's role as apostle to the Gentiles.
Paul is THE apostle to the Gentiles
Les says Paul is THE apostle of the Gentiles, not one of many, and that believers must go to Paul for their basic doctrines.
Using the whole Scripture with Paul's uniqueness
Les clarifies that while he strongly promotes Paul, he uses the whole Scripture—and Paul's writings contain the unique doctrines of grace.
Spending the best time in Paul's epistles
Les teaches that Paul's epistles contain many doctrines not found elsewhere, so we should spend the best part of our time there while funneling back and forth through all Scripture.
Paul's letters alone are written to the Church
Les cites Romans 11:13 to show Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, and adds that Paul's letters alone are written to the Church.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
This verse directly identifies Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles, the foundation for looking to his letters.
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Shows that Paul's letters, along with all Scripture, are inspired and useful for teaching and correction.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is the core gospel message that Paul says he preached, which underlies everything in his letters.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Explains that Paul's unique teaching came directly by revelation from Christ.
No—Paul himself said all Scripture is inspired and profitable. Les Feldick uses the whole Bible, but he teaches that Paul's letters contain unique doctrines of grace for the Church Age.
At his conversion, God commissioned Paul to go to the Gentiles, and Paul later wrote, 'I am the apostle of the Gentiles' (Romans 11:13). Les teaches that Paul is THE apostle to the Gentiles for this age, and his letters alone are written to the Church.
The work of the cross—Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Les says this is the core of everything Paul writes, and these truths are intrinsic to our salvation and daily walk.
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