Hamilton Reformed Hamilton Reformed Church 2010Church 2010

New Testament SurveyNew Testament Survey

Session 5 – The Other LettersSession 5 – The Other Letters

New Testament SurveyNew Testament Survey

1.1. BackgroundBackground

2.2. The Synoptic Gospels and ActsThe Synoptic Gospels and Acts

3.3. The Writings of JohnThe Writings of John

4.4. Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters

5.5. The Other New Testament LettersThe Other New Testament Letters

The Other LettersThe Other Letters

HebrewsHebrews JamesJames 1 & 2 Peter1 & 2 Peter JudeJude

How to read a letter 101How to read a letter 101 GreetingGreeting Doxology (sometimes)Doxology (sometimes) Thanksgiving and prayerThanksgiving and prayer Doctrinal sectionDoctrinal section Practical sectionPractical section Concluding salutations and benedictionConcluding salutations and benediction

Look for variations in pattern!Look for variations in pattern!

HebrewsHebrews

Don’t know author Don’t know author Originally thought Paul (BC Art 4)Originally thought Paul (BC Art 4) Now thought Apollos? Barnabas?Now thought Apollos? Barnabas?

Don’t know audienceDon’t know audience Where? When? Who?Where? When? Who?

Not really letter at all Not really letter at all sermon (chapters 1-12)sermon (chapters 1-12) with epistolary appendix (chapter 13)with epistolary appendix (chapter 13)

So what do we know? So what do we know?

HebrewsHebrews

Probably written before AD70Probably written before AD70 Temple worship spoken of in present tenseTemple worship spoken of in present tense No mention destruction of templeNo mention destruction of temple

To ChristiansTo Christians Who began well Who began well Now finding life hard, expect it to get worse Now finding life hard, expect it to get worse Tempted turn to JudaismTempted turn to Judaism

Sermon with one main point …Sermon with one main point … Christ is better!Christ is better! Proves from the OTProves from the OT

HebrewsHebrews Five comparisonsFive comparisons

Angels chs 1:4-2:18Angels chs 1:4-2:18 Moses (& Joshua) 3:1-4:16Moses (& Joshua) 3:1-4:16 Aaron & priesthood 5:1-8:13Aaron & priesthood 5:1-8:13 Old Covenant 9:1-10:39Old Covenant 9:1-10:39 Heroes of Faith 11:1-12:13Heroes of Faith 11:1-12:13

Five warningsFive warnings Drifting 2:1-4Drifting 2:1-4 Hard hearts 3:7-4:16Hard hearts 3:7-4:16 Spiritual immaturity 5:11-6:12Spiritual immaturity 5:11-6:12 Sagging faith 10:19-31Sagging faith 10:19-31 Losing heart 12:1-24 Losing heart 12:1-24

HebrewsHebrews

Preacher urges congregation to look forward not Preacher urges congregation to look forward not backback

Grounds message thoroughly in OTGrounds message thoroughly in OT Demonstrates truth of 2 Tim 3:16,17Demonstrates truth of 2 Tim 3:16,17 Most OT of NT booksMost OT of NT books Shows that there is meaning in the details of OT Shows that there is meaning in the details of OT

worship (8:5,6; 9:5)worship (8:5,6; 9:5) Reminds us we still live in shadowlands – reality is Reminds us we still live in shadowlands – reality is

yet to comeyet to come Some of strongest warnings in all ScriptureSome of strongest warnings in all Scripture

Don’t trade the realities for the shadows!Don’t trade the realities for the shadows! Endure to the end!Endure to the end!

JamesJames

James brother of Jesus James brother of Jesus (not John’s brother / Apostle Acts 12:3)(not John’s brother / Apostle Acts 12:3) Headed up Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13ff c.f. 12:17; Headed up Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13ff c.f. 12:17;

Gal 2:9)Gal 2:9) To Jews scattered amongst nationsTo Jews scattered amongst nations

(c.f. Acts 8:1; 11:19)(c.f. Acts 8:1; 11:19) Probably written early (before AD50)Probably written early (before AD50)

Probably from JerusalemProbably from Jerusalem Somewhat controversialSomewhat controversial

Luther – “epistle of straw”Luther – “epistle of straw” Some people like to pit against PaulSome people like to pit against Paul

Worth noting that James and Paul use terms differently …Worth noting that James and Paul use terms differently …

JamesJames

““Faith works”Faith works” Live wisely Live wisely andand love your neighbour love your neighbour

““Sermon on the mount”ishSermon on the mount”ish E.g. Compare 3:11,12 with Mt 7:16-20E.g. Compare 3:11,12 with Mt 7:16-20

NT wisdom literatureNT wisdom literature Assumes rather than expounds doctrineAssumes rather than expounds doctrine Jumps from subject to subjectJumps from subject to subject Notoriously difficult to outline!Notoriously difficult to outline!

1 & 2 Peter1 & 2 Peter The ApostleThe Apostle To Christians (Jew and Gentile) scattered in To Christians (Jew and Gentile) scattered in

Asia MinorAsia Minor May have written from Rome or … (1 Pet 5:13)May have written from Rome or … (1 Pet 5:13) Writes as pastor to “feed my sheep” (Jn Writes as pastor to “feed my sheep” (Jn

21:15ff)21:15ff) 11stst Epistle speaks to persecution from outside Epistle speaks to persecution from outside 22ndnd Epistle speaks to false teachers / evil doers Epistle speaks to false teachers / evil doers

insideinside Very pastoral and practical in approachVery pastoral and practical in approach Written to church enduring difficult timesWritten to church enduring difficult times Seem to have been written after Paul’s letters Seem to have been written after Paul’s letters

(2 Pet 3:15,16)(2 Pet 3:15,16)

1 & 2 Peter1 & 2 Peter

Statements of purpose (1 Pet 5:12; 2 Pet Statements of purpose (1 Pet 5:12; 2 Pet 1:12-15)1:12-15)

Strong emphasis on truth have been Strong emphasis on truth have been taughttaught

Strong sense of eternal realities shaping Strong sense of eternal realities shaping present behaviourpresent behaviour

Very practical ethical injunctions in terms Very practical ethical injunctions in terms of private conduct and public witnessof private conduct and public witness

Peter’s own imminent end gives a sense of Peter’s own imminent end gives a sense of urgency esp. to 2 Peter. (2 Pet 1:13,14)urgency esp. to 2 Peter. (2 Pet 1:13,14)

JudeJude

Most probably Jesus’ brother (Mt 13:55; Most probably Jesus’ brother (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3; Jude 1:1)Mk 6:3; Jude 1:1)

Probably written similar time to 2 PeterProbably written similar time to 2 Peter May have depended on one another’s May have depended on one another’s

writingwriting Written to ChristiansWritten to Christians Statement of purpose (vv3-4)Statement of purpose (vv3-4)

Note orig desire and change of purposeNote orig desire and change of purpose Combating antinomianismCombating antinomianism

JudeJude

Shows deep pastoral concern for the saintsShows deep pastoral concern for the saints … … and thorough contempt for false teachersand thorough contempt for false teachers

Bulk of letter shows the falseness of their waysBulk of letter shows the falseness of their ways Quotes from two apocryphal books (vv9,14-Quotes from two apocryphal books (vv9,14-

15)15) Balance in vv22,23 worth notingBalance in vv22,23 worth noting Urges believers to persevere (vv20ff) …Urges believers to persevere (vv20ff) … But points them to the God who strengthensBut points them to the God who strengthens

Concluding remarksConcluding remarks

Although NT written over 50 years, covers period Although NT written over 50 years, covers period of around 100 years …of around 100 years …

King has comeKing has come Church establishedChurch established Kingdom spreading rapidlyKingdom spreading rapidly Despite persecution from outside / heresy Despite persecution from outside / heresy

insideinside Describes beginning and end of last daysDescribes beginning and end of last days The back of the book tells us of Christ’s ultimate The back of the book tells us of Christ’s ultimate

victory and the consummation of His Kingdomvictory and the consummation of His Kingdom

The King has come!The King has come!

……

And He is coming againAnd He is coming again

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)(Rev 22:20)