redemption in connection with the name of Christ, he protests against their doctrinal errors (1:1–5). Verse one. Paul, an apostle. By the addition of the title apostle to his name, Paul at the very beginning of his letter, claims to be one who is divinely commissioned to preach the gospel and authorized to plant Christianity. He conceived of his apostleship as related to the Church universal, and thought of Christianity as an organic whole, not simply as isolated centers of effort and of divine appointment