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Hamilton Reformed Church 2010. New Testament Survey Session 5 – The Other Letters. New Testament Survey. Background The Synoptic Gospels and Acts The Writings of John Paul’s Letters The Other New Testament Letters. The Other Letters. Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter Jude.
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Hamilton Reformed Church 2010 New Testament Survey Session 5 – The Other Letters
New Testament Survey • Background • The Synoptic Gospels and Acts • The Writings of John • Paul’s Letters • The Other New Testament Letters
The Other Letters • Hebrews • James • 1 & 2 Peter • Jude
How to read a letter 101 • Greeting • Doxology (sometimes) • Thanksgiving and prayer • Doctrinal section • Practical section • Concluding salutations and benediction • Look for variations in pattern!
Hebrews • Don’t know author • Originally thought Paul (BC Art 4) • Now thought Apollos? Barnabas? • Don’t know audience • Where? When? Who? • Not really letter at all • sermon (chapters 1-12) • with epistolary appendix (chapter 13) • So what do we know?
Hebrews • Probably written before AD70 • Temple worship spoken of in present tense • No mention destruction of temple • To Christians • Who began well • Now finding life hard, expect it to get worse • Tempted turn to Judaism • Sermon with one main point … • Christ is better! • Proves from the OT
Hebrews • Five comparisons • Angels chs 1:4-2:18 • Moses (& Joshua) 3:1-4:16 • Aaron & priesthood 5:1-8:13 • Old Covenant 9:1-10:39 • Heroes of Faith 11:1-12:13 • Five warnings • Drifting 2:1-4 • Hard hearts 3:7-4:16 • Spiritual immaturity 5:11-6:12 • Sagging faith 10:19-31 • Losing heart 12:1-24
Hebrews • Preacher urges congregation to look forward not back • Grounds message thoroughly in OT • Demonstrates truth of 2 Tim 3:16,17 • Most OT of NT books • Shows that there is meaning in the details of OT worship (8:5,6; 9:5) • Reminds us we still live in shadowlands – reality is yet to come • Some of strongest warnings in all Scripture • Don’t trade the realities for the shadows! • Endure to the end!
James • James brother of Jesus • (not John’s brother / Apostle Acts 12:3) • Headed up Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13ff c.f. 12:17; Gal 2:9) • To Jews scattered amongst nations • (c.f. Acts 8:1; 11:19) • Probably written early (before AD50) • Probably from Jerusalem • Somewhat controversial • Luther – “epistle of straw” • Some people like to pit against Paul • Worth noting that James and Paul use terms differently …
James • “Faith works” • Live wisely and love your neighbour • “Sermon on the mount”ish • E.g. Compare 3:11,12 with Mt 7:16-20 • NT wisdom literature • Assumes rather than expounds doctrine • Jumps from subject to subject • Notoriously difficult to outline!
1 & 2 Peter • The Apostle • To Christians (Jew and Gentile) scattered in Asia Minor • May have written from Rome or … (1 Pet 5:13) • Writes as pastor to “feed my sheep” (Jn 21:15ff) • 1st Epistle speaks to persecution from outside • 2nd Epistle speaks to false teachers / evil doers inside • Very pastoral and practical in approach • Written to church enduring difficult times • Seem to have been written after Paul’s letters (2 Pet 3:15,16)
1 & 2 Peter • Statements of purpose (1 Pet 5:12; 2 Pet 1:12-15) • Strong emphasis on truth have been taught • Strong sense of eternal realities shaping present behaviour • Very practical ethical injunctions in terms of private conduct and public witness • Peter’s own imminent end gives a sense of urgency esp. to 2 Peter. (2 Pet 1:13,14)
Jude • Most probably Jesus’ brother (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3; Jude 1:1) • Probably written similar time to 2 Peter • May have depended on one another’s writing • Written to Christians • Statement of purpose (vv3-4) • Note orig desire and change of purpose • Combating antinomianism
Jude • Shows deep pastoral concern for the saints • … and thorough contempt for false teachers • Bulk of letter shows the falseness of their ways • Quotes from two apocryphal books (vv9,14-15) • Balance in vv22,23 worth noting • Urges believers to persevere (vv20ff) … • But points them to the God who strengthens
Concluding remarks Although NT written over 50 years, covers period of around 100 years … • King has come • Church established • Kingdom spreading rapidly • Despite persecution from outside / heresy inside • Describes beginning and end of last days • The back of the book tells us of Christ’s ultimate victory and the consummation of His Kingdom
The King has come!…And He is coming againAmen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)