Letters, Epistles, and Revelation

how many books from the new testament are epistles

21

where do the letters come from

apostles or apostolic figures

how many letters are from paul

13

letter

nonliterary way of communicating between a writer and a real correspondent

epistle

type of letter, an artistic literary exercise used to teach a moral lesson to a general audience

structure of the canon

gospels, acts of the apostles, letters by paul, catholic epistles, revelations

3 types of letters by paul

those addressed to communities at geographical locations, those addressed to individuals, hebrews

4 reasons the letters were written

instruction and guidance, encouragement and support, correction and rebuke, communion and fellowship

instruction and guidance

written to churches to provide guidance on matters of doctrine, morality, and practical living

encouragement and support

letter of James encourages readers to persevere in the face of trials and to seek wisdom from God

correction and rebuke

letters to the churches in Galatia and Corinth address issues such as false teaching, immorality, and division within the church

communion and fellowship

letters of John emphasize the importance of loving one another and of walking in the light

structure of a letter

1. Opening Formula

2. Thanksgiving

3. Body or Message

4. Concluding Formula

opening formula

introduces the author, addressee, and greeting

cosenders

timothy in six letters

addressee

usually a church in a place

body or message

author teaches truths of faith and encourages the faithful to follow them

concluding/formula

benediction/blessing

what do paul's letters provide

valuable insights into his teachings and pastoral concerns

when were paul's letter written

during his extensive travels and imprisonment from 48-64 AD

what genre do paul's letters belong to

ancient Greco-Roman epistolary literature

what are paul's letters characterized by

a structured format including greetings, thanksgiving, prayer, body of the letter, and closing remarks

earliest works of new testament are...

paul's letters - 1 thessalonians

protopauline

letters that are believed to be written by paul himself

what are the protopauline letters

romans, 1 and 2 corinthians, galatians, hhilippians, 1 thessalonians, philemon

deuteropauline

letters that are believed to be written by paul's disciples

what are the deuteropauline letters

ephesians, colossians, 2 thessalonians, 1 and 2 timothy, titus

all of pauls letters are...

occasional

what does it mean to be occasional

written to specific people in specific situations; not meant to be a systematic theology

did he preach or write more

preach

what did paul emphasize

not the most important theology but what the people needed to hear

what do paul's letters reveal

what is going on in the early church

themes in paul's theology

soteriology, pneumatology, christology, ecclesiology, eschatology, ethics

Soteriology

the study of salvation

pneumatology

the study of the holy spirit

christology

the study of christ and his nature

ecclesiology

the study of the church

eschatology

the study of end times

ethics

the study of moral actions

hebrews were the first...

non-pauline letters

author of hebrews

anonymous

when was hebrews written

before 70 AD

( references to the temple in jerusalem )

"to the hebrews"

suggests it is written to jewish christians in israel

what does the author want to remind the people

the old covenant isn't complete so they shouldn't revert to Judaism

what does hebrews compare

old and new testament

characteristics of hebrews

talks about the priesthood of jesus, uses a lot of covenant theology

how many letters are called "catholic"

7

why are these letters called catholic

they are written to the "universal" church and not a specific community, they were universally accepted by the church as a whole, and they shed light on how the catholic church developed

who are the catholic letters believed to be written by ( similarly to the duteropauline letters )

pseudonymous writers

what are the catholic epistles

james, 1 and 2 peter, 1-3 John, and jude

main themes of revelation of john

conflict between good and evil, hope amidst trial and persecutio, eschatological hope and the victory of christ

symbols of revelation

lamb, dragon, beast, babylon, new jerusalem

lamb

symbolizes jesus

dragon

symbolizes evil, deception, opposition to God's purposes, satan or the devil, and the ultimate adversary of God and his people

beast

symbolizes oppressive political and religious powers, tyranny, persecution, and idolatry

babylon

symbolizes worldly power, materialism, idolatry, and a corrupt and immoral city or system that opposes God's kingdom

new jerusalem

symbolized the future hope of belivers, ethernal kingdom of god, and the ultimate dwelling place of god and his redeemed people

structure of revelation

1. prologue

2. letters to the seven churches

3. heavenly visions

4. cycles of 7

5. judgment of babylon and the fall of the beast

6. final victory and the new creation

prologue and 7 letters are written by

john the evangelist in mid 90s in Patmos to the 7 churches of asia minor

revelation is the only...

prophetic book in the new testament

what did these letters do

gave a blessing to all those who read from his visions