Paul follows the letter writing conventions of the day when he writes to the churches by first identifying himself. There is some variations in the way he does this. Here is how he does so in the 13 letters recognized as his.
Rom — Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God . . . To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: . . .
1 Cor — Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth . .
2 Cor — Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth. . .
Gal — Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: . . .
Eph — Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus . . .
Phil — Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, . .
Col — Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse:
1 Thess — Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church . . .
2 Thess — Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Tim — Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith . . .
2 Tim — Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son . . .
Tit — Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness . . .To Titus,
Philm — Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow-worker . . .
He does not identify himself with any label in his letters to the Thessalonians. Elsewhere he identifies himself as an apostle (9x), servant (3x) and prisoner (1x). Whether there is any significance to the variations is a matter of debate.
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