Yes — Paul's letters are the primary source for church doctrine in the Church Age.
Les Feldick teaches that for this age of grace, Paul is the designated Apostle of the Gentiles, so the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church must come from Paul's letters. Paul received his gospel directly from the ascended Lord after the cross, while the Gospels record Christ's earthly ministry before the cross was accomplished.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Shows that all Scripture remains profitable even while Paul's letters are the focus for church doctrine, as Les explicitly notes.
Galatians 1:11-12 — Demonstrates that Paul's gospel came by direct revelation from Jesus Christ, not from the pre-cross earthly ministry.
Paul's own letters show that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul also tells the Galatians that the gospel he preached was not after man — he did not receive it from man nor was he taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). These passages establish that Paul's message came directly from the risen Lord while still affirming that every Scripture remains profitable.
Les Feldick teaches that in this present age of grace — the Church Age — Paul is the designated Apostle of the Gentiles. Because of that, the Pauline letters are where believers must gather the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the operation of the local church. He emphasizes that this never implies the rest of the Bible is inappropriate, since Paul himself writes that all Scripture is profitable (Clip 1).
Les identifies Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles for the Church Age and says the basic truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church all come from Paul's letters. The reason is Paul's unique source: he did not receive his gospel from Christ's earthly ministry or from the Twelve, but from the ascended Lord after the cross, resurrection, and ascension. That places Paul's teaching after the finished work of the cross, making it the doctrine for the church.
Les says the Gospels record Christ's earthly ministry under the law, before the cross was accomplished, so the gospel is not found back there. He adds that we can go back and study the Gospels and get moral application and Christ's compassion, but Christ was not preaching death, burial, and resurrection during that time. At the same time, Les maintains that the rest of the Bible is not inappropriate: all Scripture is profitable, and Paul never lifts himself up as the only one to pay attention to. Instead, believers should spend the best part of their time in Paul's epistles and then go back and forth through the rest of Scripture.
Les explains that after Paul established the churches throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and Syria, the Holy Spirit prompted him to begin writing letters because the churches needed doctrine, correction, and instruction. The content of those letters centered on the work of the cross — that Christ died for sin, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead. This is why Paul's letters are so intrinsic to the daily and salvation needs of believers.
Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained
and get home. Okay, back to Romans chapter 5, and for those of you out in television, we just cherish your letters, and as I mentioned in the last program, when you write to us, don't fear that you'll be getting back on our mailing list and get a mailbox full of appeals and what have you. We do not do that.
Paul: Apostle of the Gentiles
Les teaches that in the Church Age, the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and local church life come from Paul's letters because Paul is the designated apostle to the Gentiles.
Gospels Before the Cross
Les explains that the Gospels record a time before the cross was accomplished, so Christ was not yet preaching death, burial, and resurrection; therefore church doctrine must come from Paul's writings.
Paul's Core: The Work of the Cross
Les says the core of everything Paul wrote is Christ died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead.
Letters Written for the Churches
Les describes how Paul wrote his letters after establishing the churches, prompted by the Holy Spirit, because the churches needed doctrine, correction, and instruction.
Gospel Received from the Ascended Lord
Les stresses that Paul did not receive his gospel from Christ's earthly ministry or the Twelve, but from the ascended Lord after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, making Paul's writings the primary source for our gospel.
Unique Doctrines in Paul
Les teaches that while all Scripture is profitable, Paul brings out doctrines found nowhere else, so believers should spend the best part of their study time in Paul's epistles and then go back and forth through the rest of Scripture.
Earthly Ministry vs. Ascended Lord
Les contrasts Paul's revelations from the ascended Lord with the Gospels' record of Christ's earthly ministry under the law, showing that the gospel is not found before the cross.
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.
Les cites this passage when explaining that focusing on Paul's letters does not diminish the rest of Scripture.
Galatians 1:11-12: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's independent revelation from the risen Christ underlies Les's teaching that Paul's letters carry the gospel for the Church Age.
No, according to Les, He was under the law and the cross had not yet been accomplished. The gospel of grace was revealed after His resurrection through Paul, who received it from the ascended Lord.
No. Les says all Scripture is profitable and Paul never lifts himself up as the only one to hear. Believers should spend the best part of their time on Paul's epistles and then funnel back and forth through all the rest of Scripture.
After Paul established churches, the Holy Spirit prompted him to write letters because the churches needed doctrine, correction, and instruction. His core message was the work of the cross — Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again.
Watch the Teaching: Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained