Yes—Paul's epistles should receive the primary share of Bible study because they contain the foundational truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul is the designated Apostle of the Gentiles, and therefore the letters of Paul are where believers today find the essential doctrines of grace. He explains that Paul's writings are unique because they contain truths revealed to him that are not found elsewhere in Scripture, even though the entire Bible remains profitable.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Paul himself declares that all Scripture is inspired and profitable, which is the verse Les cites to show that focusing on Paul does not mean rejecting the rest of the Bible.
Romans 3:21 — This verse states that the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, a key truth Paul emphasizes in his epistles.
Acts 9:15 — God commissions Paul as a chosen vessel to the Gentiles, explaining why his letters are so foundational for Gentile believers today.
Scripture shows that Paul was chosen by God to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. In Acts 9:15 the Lord says of Paul, “he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Paul also testifies in Galatians 1:12 that he received his gospel “by the revelation of Jesus Christ,” not from man. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” This confirms that every part of Scripture matters. In Romans 3:21 he proclaims that “the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.” The core of Paul's message is the gospel he summarizes in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: “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.”
Les Feldick teaches that Paul is “the designated Apostle of the Gentiles,” and therefore the letters of Paul are where we find “the fundamental truths for salvation, for the Christian walk, for the operation of the local church” [Clip 1]. He stresses that this never implies the rest of the Bible is inappropriate, because Paul himself writes that all Scripture is inspired and profitable [Clip 1, Clip 7]. Rather, Paul's writings contain “so many doctrines that you won't find anywhere else in Scripture” [Clip 2]. Feldick explains that everything from Genesis 12 up until Paul's epistles was addressed primarily to Israel, but at his conversion Paul was commissioned to go to the Gentiles and received revelations that were then put into his letters [Clip 3]. These truths, unique to Paul, include the doctrines of grace [Clip 7]. For this reason, Les says believers should “spend the best part of our time” in Paul's epistles and then “funnel back and forth throughout all the rest of the Scriptures” [Clip 2]. He adds that he could easily spend five years on Paul's letters alone because they are intrinsic to our daily and salvation needs [Clip 4]. Feldick also insists that focusing on Paul does not mean rejecting the rest of the Bible. He says, “I'm never going to say ignore the Gospels. I'm never going to say ignore the Old Testament. We take the whole book from cover to cover, but you have to begin with some basics” [Clip 6]. The basics—found in Paul—include the righteousness of God without the law and the work of the cross: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again [Clip 4, Clip 6].
Les says yes, because we are in the Church Age and Paul is the designated Apostle of the Gentiles. The fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the operation of the local church all come from Paul's letters. This does not mean the rest of the Bible is inappropriate, but it does mean that Paul's epistles are where believers today should start.
Les explains that God gave Paul revelations that are now written in his letters and are not found anywhere else in the whole Bible. Many things Paul brings out are absent from the Old Testament, Christ's earthly ministry, and the early chapters of Acts. This uniqueness is why Paul's epistles deserve special attention.
Absolutely. Les says Paul never lifts himself up as the only one to pay attention to, and all Scripture is inspired and profitable. Les uses the whole Scripture from Genesis through Revelation and never tells people to ignore the Gospels or the Old Testament. He simply says to begin with the basics found in Paul's letters.
Paul's letters focus on the cross—Christ died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. This is the core of everything Paul writes. Paul also makes clear that the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, a truth unique to his writings.
Romans 3: Why No One Can Be Saved by the Law
We had a call the other day from Maine, that's the first time we've heard from out there. But anyhow, we now have viewers from Maine to California, and from Florida to Washington State, and we want all of them to understand that when you see these same faces in the same place for four weeks in a row, it's just simply because we have produced four programs all in one afternoon.
Paul's Letters Provide Fundamental Truths
Les identifies Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles and says the essential doctrines for salvation, the Christian walk, and the church come from Paul's letters.
Doctrines Unique to Paul
Paul's epistles contain doctrines not found elsewhere in Scripture, so believers should spend the best part of their study time there.
Paul Commissioned to the Gentiles
Everything before Paul was primarily directed to Israel; God commissioned Paul to the Gentiles and gave him revelations not found elsewhere in the Bible.
The Riches of Paul's Epistles
Paul's letters hold the truths essential to our daily needs and salvation, centered on the cross—Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Paul's Teaching Not in the Gospels
Many truths Paul brings out are absent from the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the early Acts, showing why his epistles are necessary.
Righteousness Without the Law, but Keep the Whole Bible
Paul puts the righteousness of God without the law in the spotlight, but Les insists we never ignore the Gospels or the Old Testament.
Whole Bible, Unique Doctrines of Grace
Les uses all Scripture from Genesis through Revelation, but Paul's writings uniquely contain the doctrines of grace.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Paul states that every part of Scripture is inspired and profitable; this is the verse Les cites to show he is not discarding the rest of the Bible.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
This verse declares the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, which Les calls a truth put in the spotlight in Romans.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 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:
Paul summarizes the gospel—Christ died, was buried, and rose again—which Les says is the core of everything Paul writes.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul says he received his gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ, supporting Les's statement that Paul received truths not found elsewhere in Scripture.
Acts 9:15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
God tells Ananias that Paul is a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles, showing Paul's unique commission.
No. Les repeatedly says we use the whole Scripture from Genesis through Revelation and that all Scripture is inspired and profitable. He stresses Paul's letters, but never says to ignore the Gospels or the Old Testament.
Les says we should spend the best part of our time in Paul's epistles and then funnel back and forth through the rest of Scripture. He also says he could easily spend five years on just Paul's letters.
Because Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, and the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the church are found in his letters. These doctrines are unique to Paul's writings.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 3: Why No One Can Be Saved by the Law