Letters

1. Letters Ablaza, Geraldine Castillo, LianSabella Daella, Paula Angelica Dimayacyac, Kristina Liao, Mara Laise Quinto, Jarren James Teng, Grizelda Tenorio, Ma. Clarissa Andrea TREDTRI NO2

2. Epistle • Twenty-one books of the New Testament • Pauline Epistles • General Epistles

3. Pauline Epistles • Letters of St. Paul call after the group of peoples to whom they are addressed. • Divided into two categories: • Nine epistles written to the church • Four pastoral and personal epistles

4. Romans • To introduce Paul to the Romans and to give a sample of his message before he arrives Rome. • 57 CE • Paul was preparing for his visit to Jerusalem • What to Believe • Sinfulness of humanity • Forgiveness of sin through Christ • Freedom from sin’s grasp • Israel’s past, present and future • How to Believe • Personal responsibility • Personal Notes

5. 1 Corinthians • To identify the problems in the Corinthian church, to offer solutions, and to teach the believers how to live for Christ in a corrupt society. • 55 CE • Near the end of Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus. • Paul addresses church problems • Divisions in the church • Disorder in the church • Paul answers church questions • Instruction on Christian Message • Instruction on Christian freedom • Instruction on public worship • Instruction on ressurrection

6. 2 Corinthians • To affirm Paul’s ministry, defend his authority as an apostle, and refute the false teachers in Corinth. • 55-57 CE • From Macedonia • Paul explains his actions • Paul defends his ministry • Paul defends the collection • Paul defends his authority

7. Galatians • To refute the Judaizersand to call Christians to faith and freedom in Christ. • Judaizers • Taught that Gentile believers must obey the Jewishh law in order to be saved • 49 CE • From Antioch • Authenticity of the gospel • Superiority of the gospel • Freedom of the gospel

8. Ephesians • To strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their Christian faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the church, the body of Christ • 60 CE • From Rome during Paul’s imprisonment • Unity in Christ • Unify in the body of Christ

9. Philippians • To thank the Philippians for the gift they sent Pail and to strengthen these believers by showing them that true joy comes from Jesus Christ alone • 61 CE • From Rome during Paul’s imprisonement • Joy in suffering • Joy in serving • Joy in believing • Joy in giving

10. Colossians • To combat errors in the church and to show that believers have everything they need in Christ • 60 CE • At Rome during Paul’s imprisonment • What Christ has do • What Christians should do

11. 1 Thessalonians • To strengthen the Thessalonian Christians in their faith and give them the assurance of Christ’s return • 51 CE • From Corinth, one of Paul’s earliest letters • Faithfulness to the Lord • Watchfulness for the Lord

12. 2 Thessalonians • To clear up the confusion about the second coming of Christ • Written a month after 1 Thessalonians was written • The bright hope of Christ’s return • Living in the light of Christ’s return

13. 1 Timothy • To give encouragement and instruction to Timothy, a young leader • 64 CE • From Rome or Macedonia, (possibly Philippi), probably just prior to Paul’s final imprisonment in Rome • Instructions on right belief • Instructions for the church • Instructions for elders

14. 2 Timothy • To give final instructions and encouragement to Timothy, pastor of the church at Ephesus • 66 or 67 CE • After a year or two of freedom, Paul was arrested again and executed under Emperor Nero. • Foundations of Christian service • Difficult times for Christian service

15. Titus • To advise Titus in his responsibility of supervising the churches on the island of Crete • 64 CE • From Macedonia when Paul traveled between his Roman imprisonments • Leadership in the church • Right living in the church • Right living in the society

16. Philemon • To convince Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and to accept him as a brother in the faith. • 60 CE • Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome • Paul’s appreciation of Philemon • Paul’s appeal for Onesimus

17. General Epistles • Named after their respective authors, with the exception of Hebrews

18. Hebrews • To present the sufficiency and superiority of Christ • 70 CE • Probably before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem • The Superiority of Christ • Christ is greater than the angels • Christ is greater than Moses • Christ is greater than the Old Testament priesthood • The new covenant is greater than the Old • The Superiority of Faith

19. James • To expose hypocritical practices and to teach right Christian behavior • 49 CE • Probably prior the Jerusalem council held in 50 CE • Genuine religion • Genuine faith • Genuine wisdom

20. 1 Peter • To offer encouragement to suffering Christians • Around 62-64 CE • Possibly from Rome • God’s great blessings to his people • The conduct of God’s people in the midst of suffering • The shepherding of God’s people in the midst of suffering

21. 2 Peter • To warn Christians about false teachers and to exhort them to grow in their faith in and knowledge of Christ • 67 CE • 3 years after 1 Peter was written • Possibly from Rome • Guidance for growing Christians • Danger to growing Christians • Hope for growing Christians

22. 1 John • To reassure Christians in their faith and to counter false teachings • Between 85 and 90 CE • From Ephesus • God is light • God is love • God is life

23. 2 John • To emphasize the basics of following Christ—truth and love—and to warn against false teachers • Around 90 CE • About same time as 1 John • From Ephesus • Watch out for false teachers • John’s final words

24. 3 John • To commend Gaius for his hospitality and to encourage him in his Christian life • Around 90 CE • From Ephesus • God’s children live by the standards of the gospel • John’s final words

25. Jude • To remind the church of the need for constant vigilance—to keep strong in the faith and to oppose heresy • Around 65 CE • The danger of false teachers • The duty to fight for God’s truth