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Interpreting Biblical Epistles

Interpreting Biblical Epistles. 1. Form of Ancient Letters. Identification of writer and audience. Greeting (often single word). Thanksgiving: polite expression of thanks. Body of Letter. Personal News/Greetings. Single-word Farewell. 2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting.

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Interpreting Biblical Epistles

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  1. Interpreting Biblical Epistles

  2. 1. Form of Ancient Letters • Identification of writer and audience • Greeting (often single word) • Thanksgiving: polite expression of thanks • Body of Letter • Personal News/Greetings • Single-word Farewell

  3. 2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting a. AADP: Author, Audience, Date, Purpose (1) Authorship: • Note if author identified or anonymous (Hebrews) • See Osborne for discussion of use of scribes and pseudonymity

  4. 2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting a. AADP: Author, Audience, Date, Purpose (2) Audience: • Range: From specific to general audiences • Learn about cultural setting of audience and specific church setting

  5. 2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting a. AADP: Author, Audience, Date, Purpose (3) Date: • Use of internal and external evidence • Often broader possibilities

  6. 2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting • Occasion and Purpose Distinction (4) Purpose: Use Internal Evidence Occasion: The initial reason(s) for writing the letter; specific reasons why the author picks up the pen to write Purpose: The broader intention of the author in writing the letter

  7. 2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting b. Historical Reconstruction • Necessary for interpretation of epistles Example: Philippians 2:1-4; 4:2 Issue of Disunity

  8. 2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting Historical Reconstruction • Necessary for interpretation of epistles • Danger of Mirror Reading Mirror Reading: The conclusion that each command or argument of a letter is tied to a specific problem in the audience of the letter

  9. 3. Tracing the Argument • Separation of Clauses [point: to isolate individual ideas] • Identification of Clarifying Conjunctions • [point: to understand connections between clauses] • Identification of Relationship between Clauses • [point: to follow the flow of thought from • beginning to end]

  10. I ate an entire box of chocolates *** I was depressed.

  11. Interpreting Biblical Epistles

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