Paul's opening lines to the churches and pastors

In each letter written by Paul, the opening line or verse addressed specifically to the intended audience is interesting.

The letters to the churches are especially interesting. The churches to which letters are written are the following.

Romans

Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

Thessalonians

The individual recipient letters are the following.

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

1 Titus

Phileman

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [kjv]

καγω δε σοι λεγω οτι συ ει πετρος και επι ταυτη τη πετρα οικοδομησω μου την εκκλησιαν και πυλαι αδου ου κατισχυσουσιν αυτης [gnt]

Most people agree that the church should represent the "gathering of believers" that are "called (out) together". The word "church" comes from "Lord" or "Master".

12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. [kjv]

κυριος γαρ εστιν του σαββατου ο υιος του ανθρωπου [gnt]

"ἐκκλησία" ≈ "assembly, called-out, church" as in a "group of believers".
"κύριος" ≈ "lord or master".

Discuss: Is your "church" a "gathering of believers" or an entity that wants to be "Lord" or "Master" of those in the "church"?

More: Matthew 16: Calling a masterful gathering of outgoing church believers

Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. [kjv]

The "saints" as holy or sanctified ones are mentioned.

More: Wholesome and healthy sanctified saints

Paul includes God the "Father" and "Jesus" but not the "Holy Spirit".

More: Trinitarianism and Modalism

Romans 1:7

All

KJV: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greek: πασιν τοις ουσιν εν ρωμη αγαπητοις θεου κλητοις αγιοις χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου

1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: [kjv]

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: [kjv]

The "saints" as holy or sanctified ones are mentioned.

More: Wholesome and healthy sanctified saints

1 Corinthians 1:2

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KJV: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Greek: τη εκκλησια του θεου τη ουση εν κορινθω ηγιασμενοις εν χριστω ιησου κλητοις αγιοις συν πασιν τοις επικαλουμενοις το ονομα του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου εν παντι τοπω αυτων τε και ημων

2 Corinthians 1:1

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KJV: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Greek: παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου ιησου δια θεληματος θεου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος τη εκκλησια του θεου τη ουση εν κορινθω συν τοις αγιοις πασιν τοις ουσιν εν ολη τη αχαια

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) [kjv]

1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: [kjv]

Paul includes God the "Father" and "Jesus" but not the "Holy Spirit".

More: Trinitarianism and Modalism

The "brethren" are mentioned. The "saints" are not mentioned.

More: Wholesome and healthy sanctified saints

Galatians 1:1

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KJV: Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Hebrew: פולוס השליח לא מבני אדם ולא על ידי בן אדם כי אם על ידי ישוע המשיח ואלהים האב אשר העירו מן המתים׃

Greek: παυλος αποστολος ουκ απ ανθρωπων ουδε δι ανθρωπου αλλα δια ιησου χριστου και θεου πατρος του εγειραντος αυτον εκ νεκρων

Galatians 1:2

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KJV: And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

Greek: και οι συν εμοι παντες αδελφοι ταις εκκλησιαις της γαλατιας

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: [kjv]

The "saints" as holy or sanctified ones are mentioned.

More: Wholesome and healthy sanctified saints

Paul includes the "faithful" in his greeting.

Ephesians 1:1

All

KJV: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Greek: παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου ιησου δια θεληματος θεου τοις αγιοις τοις ουσιν εν εφεσω και πιστοις εν χριστω ιησου

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: [kjv]

The "saints" as holy or sanctified ones are mentioned.

More: Wholesome and healthy sanctified saints

For some reason, Paul feels the need to include both the (plural) "bishops" and (plural) "deacons" in his opening remarks.

More: Philippians 1a: A gracious favor of joy to Philippi

More: A bishop to visit and oversee the flock

More: Deacon as an administration gopher

Philippians 1:1

All

KJV: Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Greek: παυλος και τιμοθεος δουλοι ιησου χριστου ιησου πασιν τοις αγιοις εν χριστω ιησου τοις ουσιν εν φιλιπποις συν επισκοποις και διακονοις

Latin: Paulus et Timotheus servi Iesu Christi omnibus sanctis in Christo Iesu qui sunt Philippis cum episcopis et diaconis

Luther: Paulus und Timotheus, Knechte Jesu Christi: Allen Heiligen in Christo Jesu zu Philippi samt den Bischöfen und Dienern.

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [kjv]

There are (at least) three ways in which "saints" and "faithful brethren" can be interpreted.

Colossians 1:2

All

KJV: To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greek: τοις εν κολασσαις κολοσσαις αγιοις και πιστοις αδελφοις εν χριστω χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. [kjv]

2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: [kjv]

Nether "saints" as "holy ones" nor "brethren" are addressed. Just the "church".

1 Thessalonians 1:1

All

KJV: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greek: παυλος και σιλουανος και τιμοθεος τη εκκλησια θεσσαλονικεων εν θεω πατρι και κυριω ιησου χριστω χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου

2 Thessalonians 1:1

All

KJV: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Greek: παυλος και σιλουανος και τιμοθεος τη εκκλησια θεσσαλονικεων εν θεω πατρι ημων και κυριω ιησου χριστω

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; [kjv]

1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. [kjv]

1 Timothy 1:1

All

KJV: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Greek: παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου ιησου κατ επιταγην θεου σωτηρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου ιησου της ελπιδος ημων

1 Timothy 1:2

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KJV: Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Greek: τιμοθεω γνησιω τεκνω εν πιστει χαρις ελεος ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και χριστου ιησου του κυριου ημων

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, [kjv]

1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. [kjv]

2 Timothy 1:1

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KJV: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

Greek: παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου ιησου δια θεληματος θεου κατ επαγγελιαν ζωης της εν χριστω ιησου

2 Timothy 1:2

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KJV: To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Greek: τιμοθεω αγαπητω τεκνω χαρις ελεος ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος και χριστου ιησου του κυριου ημων

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; [kjv]

1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. [kjv]

Titus 1:1

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KJV: Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Greek: παυλος δουλος θεου αποστολος δε ιησου χριστου κατα πιστιν εκλεκτων θεου και επιγνωσιν αληθειας της κατ ευσεβειαν

Titus 1:4

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KJV: To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Greek: τιτω γνησιω τεκνω κατα κοινην πιστιν χαρις ελεος και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος και κυριου ιησου χριστου ιησου του σωτηρος ημων

Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, [kjv]

1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: [kjv]

1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [kjv]

Philemon 1:1

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KJV: Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Greek: παυλος δεσμιος χριστου ιησου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος φιλημονι τω αγαπητω και συνεργω ημων

Philemon 1:2

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KJV: And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Greek: και απφια τη αγαπητη αδελφη και αρχιππω τω συστρατιωτη ημων και τη κατ οικον σου εκκλησια

Philemon 1:3

All

KJV: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greek: χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου