New Testament - Unit #4

Hebrews’ Big Idea

Jesus is better

Unit #4

The New Testament is both a book and a library

Author of Hebrews

a skilful writer, educated in rhetoric and well-read in the Septuagint; not an eye-witness of Jesus; a friend of Timothy.

Audience of Hebrews

probably Jewish Christians living in Rome. Not eyewitnesses of Jesus; had faced severe persecution in the past and were facing it again. Probably a mixed church with some true believers and some false believers.

Time of Hebrews’ Writing

before 70 A.D. and the destruction of the temple

Purpose of Hebrews

a call to persevere in the face of difficulties

Jesus is better than

the prophets, the angels, Aaron, Joshua, the sacrificial system

Jesus is a better

high priest, sacrifice, and initiated a better covenant

Key response in Hebrews

faith

the Three views on God’s judgment in Hebrews 6:4-8

Loss of Salvation, Loss of God’s Blessing, Not Genuine Believers

Hebrews application to today

Make sure it ain’t about you and don’t assume everyone has true faith

Psalm 110:1

Old Testament passage quoted most often in the New Testament

Main topic of James

Practical Righteousness

General Epistle

letters not written to a specific congregation but to a wider audience

Strongest example in the Hall of Faith

Abraham

General epistles

James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, and Jude

The two most similar books in Unit 4

2 Peter and Jude

James

the brother of Jesus and a leader of the early church in Jerusalem. Was killed in A.D. 62.

Recipients of James

Jewish Christians living outside of Israel

Outside message of James

There is a reality of trials, a requirement of patience, and there will be a reward for the faithful.

Inside message of James

Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger

According to James, selfishness

is the root of hasty anger

Main Topic of 1 Peter

suffering and persecution

Babylon

codeword for Rome

Time of 1 Peter’s writing

61/62 A.D.

1 Peter’s audience

5 Roman Provinces: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia

Peter and the 5 Roman Provinces

Peter probably hadn’t visited them but had met them elsewhere before they’d moved to the provinces

Verb “to suffer”

used 12 times in 1 Peter

Noun “suffering”

used 4 times in 1 Peter

3 main metaphors about persecution in 1 Peter

Pure gold, sojourners, and copies of Jesus

Relevance of 1 Peter

Persecution could happen here. Persecution is happening elsewhere. And we all suffer, and God uses it in our lives.

Main Topic of 2 Peter and Jude

defense against false teaching

Jude

the brother of Jesus and James

Message of 2 Peter and Jude

Christians must be able to tell the difference between truth and falsehood and right and wrong.

Theme of 2 Peter and Jude

the limits of Tolerance

Main Topic of 1 John

Assurance of Salvation

1, 2, & 3 John

John’s pastoral ministry

1 John’s problem

Departure from truth, denial of Christ’s humanity, and doubts regarding salvation

1 John’s three tests of spiritual life

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you love other believers? Do you obey God’s commands?

Main topic of 2 John

support of false teachers is wrong

The problem of 2 John

traveling false teachers were seeking to gain entrance into different churches

John’s response in 2 John

the church shouldn’t welcome false teachers into its fellowship, lest false views spread in the church

Main topic of 3 John

support of faithful leaders is right

the problem of 3 John

Christian missionaries were in need of housing and financial support, but some believers refused

John’s response in 3 John

he commended Gaius because of his love and willingness to help traveling Christian workers and condemned Diotrephes because of his selfish attitude and unwillingness to help traveling Christian workers

Main topic of Revelation

Jesus is victorious

Old Testament book correlating to Revelation

Daniel (7-12)

Gospel correlating to Revelation

Matthew (24-26)

Author of Revelation

John who was familiar with the church’s in and around Ephesus

Revelation’s place of writing

the island of Patmos

Patmos

a small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea; used by the Roman government as a place to exile prisoners

Revelation’s time of writing

toward the end of the reign of emperor Domitian (around A.D. 95)

Revelation’s type of writing

apocalyptic literature

apocalyptic literature

a highly symbolic description of visions concerning God’s intervention at the end of history

Preterist view

an approach to Revelation viewing it as a depiction of the first century struggle related to the fall of Rome or the fall of Jerusalem. Revelation is written in, to, and about the first century

Historicist view

an approach to Revelation viewing it as a picture of the unfolding of the historical events from the time of the first century to the return of Christ. Each church addressed in chapters 2 & 3 represents a period of time in church history

Symbolist view

an approach to Revelation viewing it as a picture of the present struggle between good and evil, a struggle that God will finally win. It is symbolic of important Christian ideas, but it is not a prophecy of real future events

Futurist: Time Travel Model

John was transported into the future, into our time. He found it necessary to use symbolic language to try and communicate to first century people the things he saw. We can decipher the meaning behind the symbols

Futurist: Prophetic Model

an approach to Revelation viewing it as a prophecy, speaking in symbolic language about real, future events. John chose the symbols because they would be understood by 1st century believers. Their time of suffering foreshadowed the future great tribulation

Eclectic view

an approach to Revelation viewing it as a book dealing with first century issues, issues that occur throughout church history (as symbols of important Christian ideals), and issues that relate to future events

Hebrews 6

warning against apostasy

Hebrews 11

heroes of the faith

Hebrews 12

God’s discipline

James 1

Trials and temptations

James 2

Faith and works

James 3

Controlling the tongue

1 Peter 4

Suffering for the sake of Christ

2 Peter 2

False teachers

Revelation 2-3

Letters to the seven churches

Revelation 5

Praise to the Lamb

Revelation 19

The second coming of Christ

Parousia

Christ’s second coming

Revelation 20

the millennium

Revelation 21-22

the new heaven and new earth

many today consider Hebrews to be our best example of…

an ancient sermon

number of Old Testament quotations in Hebrews

35 times

number of allusions to the Old Testament in Hebrews

34 times

Subheadings for the Word of God in Hebrews

the Word spoken, the Word as powerful, and the Word to be heard and obeyed

Reasons why Jesus’ offering as High Priest was superior

it was once for all, the offering was his own blood, and he entered the very presence of God in the heavenly tabernacle

the Day of Atonement

the day on which the high priest made an offering for sins that hadn’t been covered by other offerings during the year

the dispersion

the Jews scattered among the nations outside of Palestine

James 1:2-3

joy in the midst of trials

wisdom

a way of life that both understands and acts on God’s truth

control of the tongue

a sign of being a doer of the Word (James 1:26)

the relationship between faith and works in James

faith is expressed through works

Martin Luther

believed that James was a “letter of straw”

a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for the Lord’s possession

Gentile converts according to Peter

a holy nation

set apart and distinct from the rest of the world

Peter called believers to genuineness in relationship with

governing authorities, spouses, and elders

pseudonym

a person who writes under another person’s name

Peter’s death

martyrdom through upside-down crucifixion around 62-68 A.D.

Christian virtues listed in 2 Peter

faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and love

the reason God has delayed the ending of the ages

(2 Peter 3:9) out of mercy so that more people would repent

Characteristics of the ungodly intruders in Jude

immorality, rebellion, slander, grumbling, and boasting

Three truths about the ungodly intruders in Jude

they behaved immorally, they were selfishly motivated, and they were certainly doomed

how to contend for the faith according to Jude

rescue those who were susceptible to being led astray, emphasise true doctrine, and emphasise love, hope, and mercy

Reasons for John’s letters

to exhort believers not to sin, to assure them that they possessed eternal life, and to make his joy complete

Gnosticism

A belief that salvation comes through special, secret knowledge available only to some, and the flesh is bad, but the spirit is good.

Antichrists (according to John)

Christ’s opponents

John’s moral test

to have love for God and not the world