BTGE-2740 New Testament Literature, Dr. Ford - Exam 3

Why do the NT and the OT need each other

New Testament needs the old because the NT explains the OT. Old testament needs the New because the New is the fulfillment of shadows of the Old

Dont make sense without the other

main point of Matthew

Jesus is the Messiah, heir of David

main point of Mark

Jesus is the Son of God who gave His life as a ransom for many

main point of Luke

Jesus is the Savior of All. Genealogy goes all the way back to Adam, highlighting the “all”

main point of John

the Divine Son Incarnate, and that you may believe

main point of Acts

to encourage us that (1) the gospel spread across the world (2) despite persecution (3) by the power of the Holy Spirit

main point of 1 Corinthians

Unity

main point of 2 Corinthians

suffering magnifies the gospel

main point of Galatians

salvation is by faith alone

main point of Ephesians

indicative: saved by grace through faith, so live like it

main point of Phillipians

unity through humility

main point of Colossians

Christ is supreme, therefore, live in light of His preeminence

main point of 1 and 2 Thessalonians

Christ is coming back, so live like it, persevere

main point of Hebrews

Jesus is greater, so listen to Him.

main sin addressed in Hebrews

licentiousness

clues in Hebrews that the author thinks Jesus is God

creator, contrast with the prophets, exact imprint of His nature

Reason for Jesus’ Divinity in the first verses of Hebrews

to elevate the gravity of His Word

Reason of mention of the angels in Hebrews 1

to argue that Jesus is God, and is greater than the angels, angels mediators of Old Covenant

main reason why Hebrews was not written by Paul

Paul claims to have heard the gospel firsthand from Jesus, while the author of Hebrews seems to have heard it from man

Meaning of Psalm 8 according to the author of Hebrews

Psalm 8 refers to Christ

Potential meaning of Psalm 8 in the Old Testament context

appears to refer to Adam

Reason Psalm 8 can refer to both Christ and Jesus

Jesus is the better Adam, typology

the iceberg effect

author hints at theologies with a lot of OT context hidden under the surface

“Loss of salvation” view in Hebrews warning passages

a believer can lose their salvation if they walk away from the faith in unrepentant sin

strengths and weaknesses of the “loss of salvation” view of Hebrews warning passages

fairly natural way of reading; if you fall away you can’t come back, also difficult to square with passages such as John 10

“once saved always saved” view of Hebrews warning passages

there is no way to lose salvation once you are saved, and claims unbelievers just look like believers (apostacy)

strengths and weaknesses of the “once saved always saved” view of Hebrews warning passages

does justice to scripture, but seems to strong to be for an unbeliever

“infallible warnings view” of the Hebrews warning passages

the warnings are the methods by which believers are encouraged to keep believing, avoid apostacy. True Christians can’t apostacise

strengths and weaknesses of “infallible warnings view” of Hebrews warning passages

believers will head warning, apostacy won’t happen, squares with canon; can feel artificial

Book James is most similar to

Proverbs

implications of James being like Proverbs

there is no clear linear structure

main point of the book of James

the faith that saves is never alone

difference between temptation and testing

temptation comes from sin nature, while testing is to prove faithful (sanctification). Intention matters!

source of temptation according to James

sin nature, our heart

main point of 1 Peter

pursue holiness in the midst of suffering in all its forms

main point of 2 Peter and Jude

trust and protect the true Word of God, and watch out for those who twist it

how are pastors priests

all believers are intermediaries since we all have the Spirit, and can talk to God the Father through the Christ

way believers should relate to government according to Peter

believers should submit to it

meaning of living with your wife in an understanding way

not to understand everything, but being tender hearted

Meaning behind Peter’s description of wives as the “weaker vessel”

speak to the tenderness with which husbands should love them

false teaching according to 2 Peter and Jude

heresy, change how you view the gospel, twisting essentials of the faith

our response to false teachers

“good riddance”! only if they are false teachers and not merely hearers

Main point of 1, 2, and 3 John

assurance of salvation

1 John being progressively recursive

repetition of ideas that progresses forward in theology and understanding

heresy addressed in 1 John

Proto-Docetism, belief that Jesus was not human

reason the heresy in 1 John spread

because Platonism thought of the material world as wicked

fighting sin related to assurance

sin often sprouts from doubts. Ignoring sin in name of assurance is wrong.

reason 1 John does not teach Perfectionism

by saying we do not sin, we are denying the very reasons that Jesus came to earth in the first place.

Importance of recognizing gospel as true, not merely helpful according to 1 John

because of assurance

1 John’s reminder to readers that are fighting sin

Christ intercedes on our behalf

Importance of John writing Revelation to churches of the time

plays into the idea that Revelation is not merely the future, but has relevance to us as it did to them

the best way of the 3 big ways to read Revelation

a blend of all three: Preterist, Idealist, and Futurist.

Genre of Revelation

Apocalypse, revelation

meaning of the 7 spirits in Rev. 1:4

the Spirit of God, 7 is number of perfection

impact of genre of Revelation on our reading

we should interpret much of the symbolism as symbolic, not as literal

Effect of the symbolism of Revelation

peals back the veil on the mundane of the world, communicates indirectly

Main point of Revelation

The beast is fierce but the Lamb will overcome. Persevere.

how the beast wages war against the Lamb and His people in Revelation

under God’s authority, corrupting hearts through immorality

Reason for Revelation’s focus on God’s Sovereignty

His sovereignty can serve as a means of comfort, as He is always in control.

Reason for Millennium describing the reign of Christ after second coming

binding of Satan, physical resurrection, literary structure