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Grasping God’s Word. New Testament Letters Chapter 14. NT Letters by Author. Pauline Epistles Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon. General Epistles Hebrews James
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Grasping God’s Word New Testament Letters Chapter 14
Pauline Epistles Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon General Epistles Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude NT Letters by Author Doctrinal Early Prison Pastoral
Characteristics of NT Letters • Comparable to Other Ancient Letters • Authoritative Substitute for Presence (1 Thes. 2:13) • Situational (Gal. 1:6-7) • Carefully Written & Delivered • Intended for Christian Community
Characteristics of Greco-Roman Letters (Dictionary of New Testament Background, pp. 642-644) • Letter Opening • Prescript (sender, recipient, & salutation) • Health Wish • Thanksgiving Formula (less common) • Colossians 1:1-3 (NIV): Paul, an apostle of ChristJesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you…
Characteristics of Greco-Roman Letters • Letter Body • Disclosure Formula (2 Corinthians 1:8)—commonly, “I want you to know that…” • Appeal Formula (1 Corinthians 1:10) • Verb “I appeal” or synonym • Persons Addressed • Authority • Content of Appeal
Characteristics of Greco-Roman Letters • Letter Body • Confidence Formula (Galatians 5:10) • Emphatic “I” • Verb of Confidence • Reason for Confidence • Course of Action • Peri de Formula (“Now about”)—introduces the next subject (1 Corinthians 7:1) • Ta de loipa Formula (“Finally”)—introduces the last subject (Philippians 4:8)
Characteristics of Greco-Roman Letters • Letter Closing • Farewell Wish • Health Wish • Secondary Greeting • Autograph • Illiteracy Formula
Colossians 4:14-18 • 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord." 18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Interpreting Letters • What did the text mean to the biblical audience • Survey (A Survey of the New Testament, Gundry) • Introduction (New Testament Introduction, Guthrie) • Commentary • Other (Dictionary of New Testament Background) • What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? • What are the theological principles of the text? • How should Christians today apply the principles in their lives?