General Epistles



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General Epistles

  • General Epistles

  • A. Overview information about the general epistles:

  • 1. Groupings: A group of 7 letters (James, I & II Peter, I-III John, Jude) known as General or Catholic Epistles

  • 2. Titles: Apart from II & III John, they do not specify their addressees



B. The acceptance & use of the General Epistles

  • B. The acceptance & use of the General Epistles

  •  

  • C. Approach: purpose & content



JAMES

  • JAMES

  •  

  • Introduction

  • A. Disparagement of the epistle

  •  

  • B. Affirmation of the epistle



Ancient Mirror

  • Ancient Mirror





2. Alternatively: another publishing under James’ name, as supported by the following…

  • 2. Alternatively: another publishing under James’ name, as supported by the following…

  • a. Greek appears to be too cultured & polished in style

  •  

  • b. If the author was Jesus’ brother, why so few references to Jesus (1:1; 2:1)?



Purpose

  • Purpose

  • A. Distinctives

  • 1. Ethical injunctions

  • a. strong contrasts between right & wrong

  •  

  • b. use of vivid every day life examples (cf. Proverbs)

  •  



2. Numerous imperatives

  • 2. Numerous imperatives

  •  

  • 3. Frequent appeals to OT figures (Abraham: 2:21; Rahab: 2:25; Job: 5:11; Elijah: 5:17)

  •  

  • 4. Use of questions (2:14; 4:1) & imagined interlocutor (2:18-29; 4:13)

  •  



B. Form

  • B. Form

  • Suggestive of a synagogue sermon:

  • 1. Anthology of sermons

  •  

  • 2. OT Wisdom

  • 3. James & Matthew on Jesus’ tradition

  • 4. Protrepic (encouraging) discourse



C. Occasion

  • C. Occasion

  • 1. Difficulty in determining precise occasion

  •  

  • 2. Theories about occasion



Content

  • Content

  • A. Indefinable structure

  •  

  • B. Possible format

  • 1. Introduction of issues (1:2-11)

  • a. Joy in testing

  •  

  • b. Wisdom with regard to wealth & poverty

  •  

  • 2. Blessedness of testing (1:12-18)

  •  



3. Wisdom with its practical fruits

  • 3. Wisdom with its practical fruits

  •  

  • Wisdom = Faith + Good Works

  •  

  • Further evidence …

  • a. In our speech (1:19-27)

  •  

  • b. In our approach to wealth (2:1-26)



Mosaic

  • Mosaic



c. In taming the destructive power of the tongue (3:1—4:17)

  • c. In taming the destructive power of the tongue (3:1—4:17)

  • i. the power of the tongue

  •  

  • Wisdom = Faith + Right Speech

  •  

  • ii. not salt & fresh water together: true wisdom vs. dissension

  •  

  • iii. neither slander, boasting nor judging

  •  

  •  d. In rebuking the rich who oppress (5:1-6)



4. Perseverance in the face of suffering (5:7-11)

  • 4. Perseverance in the face of suffering (5:7-11)

  •   

  • 5. Concluding exhortation (5:12-20)

  • a. Right speech: avoid oaths (5:12)

  •  

  • b. Power of the prayer of faith (5:13-18)



Prayer & anointing the sick (see 5:14-16)

  • Prayer & anointing the sick (see 5:14-16)

  • How to minister to the sick:

  • i. Elders (presbyters) to pray

  • ii. Anointing of oil

  • iii. Sin & sickness

  • iv. Meaning of 5:16: “Therefore confess sins to one another, and pray for one another that you might be healed.”

  • What is the connection between 5:16 & the preceding verses?

  •  c. Power of restoring wisdom (5:19-20)



Key issues

  • Key issues

  • A. The inter-relatedness of testing, wisdom, speech & actions

  •  

  • B. The manifestation of true wisdom

  • 1. Control of the tongue: right speech reflects the character of God

  •  

  • 2. Right attitude to wealth (as in the OT & in Jesus, a thoroughgoing concern; 1:9-11; 2:1-13; 4:8-10, 13-16; 5:1-6)



C. The issue of faith & works, in regard to …

  • C. The issue of faith & works, in regard to …

  • 1. The tongue (1:26; 3:9-12; 4:11-12 [cf. 2:4]; 5:9, 12)

  •  

  • 2. Money (1:27; 2:1-4; 4:3; 5:1-6)



D. James & Paul & the concept of justification by faith alone

  • D. James & Paul & the concept of justification by faith alone

  • A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in/of Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16)

  • A person is justified by faith, apart from the works of the law (Rom 3:28)

  • By contrast …

  • A person is justified by works & not by faith alone (Jas 2:24)



How one defines “faith” & more importantly “works”:

  • How one defines “faith” & more importantly “works”:

  • 1. Faith

  •  

  • 2. Works

  •  

  • 3. Justification

  •  

  • The supposed contradictions in theologies between Paul & James are only matters of emphases



HEBREWS

  • HEBREWS

  • Introduction

  • A. Unusual content for many moderns

  • 1. unusual concepts & complex use of symbols

  • 2. sustained & detailed argumentation

  •  

  • B. Outstanding language

  •  

  • C. Enigmatic origins (authorship, addressees, provenance, & date)



Genre, Authorship, Addressees, Provenance, and Date

  • Genre, Authorship, Addressees, Provenance, and Date

  • A. Genre

  • 1. Hebrews employs a vast range of 1st century techniques

  • a. rhetorical

  • b. stylistic techniques

  •  

  • 2. Combining elements of rhetorical forms



3. Influences

  • 3. Influences

  • a. Jewish mysticism

  • b. Gnosticism

  • c. Qumran

  • d. Philo

  • e. broad stream of Hellenistic Judaism

  •  

  • 4. More a sermon than a letter with apologetic purpose



B. Authorship

  • B. Authorship

  • 1. Inconclusiveness

  •  

  • 2. Early tradition (in the East around AD 200)

  •  

  • 3. Unlikely to be Paul:

  • for several reasons …

  • a. Conversion

  • b. Self-identification/signature

  • c. OT usage

  • d. Language

  • e. Theology



4. Similarities also with:

  • 4. Similarities also with:

  • a. Stephen’s speech (Acts 7)

  •  

  • b. I Peter

  • c. John



5. Other suggestions

  • 5. Other suggestions

  • a. Barnabas

  •  

  • b. Luke & Priscilla

  •  

  • c. Apollos



Conclusion on authorship: Quality of Greek & knowledge of LXX suggest author was a Jewish Christian with good Hellenistic education & some knowledge of Greek philosophical & rhetorical categories.

  • Conclusion on authorship: Quality of Greek & knowledge of LXX suggest author was a Jewish Christian with good Hellenistic education & some knowledge of Greek philosophical & rhetorical categories.



C. Addressees

  • C. Addressees

  • 1. Anonymity

  •  

  • 2. Internal data

  •  

  • 3. Probabilities

  • a. Probably persecuted Hellenistic Jewish Christians tempted to go back to Judaism

  •  

  • b. Perhaps a house church within a larger Christian community



D. Provenance

  • D. Provenance

  • 1. Suggestions

  •  

  • 2. Hypotheses:

  • a. Probably not Jerusalem or Judea:

  •  

  • b. Possibly Rome (the majority view at present)

  •  

  • E. Date



Content

  • Content

  • A. Main sections

  • 1. 1:1—10:18: superiority & finality of God’s revelation in Christ

  •  

  • 2. 10:19—13:21: a concluding exhortation

  •  

  •  



B. Section One (1:1—10:18)

  • B. Section One (1:1—10:18)

  • The superiority of Christ…

  • 1. The superiority and finality of Christ over previous revelation (1:1—2:18)

  • a. In these final days …

  • b. … as such, he is far superior to the angels (messengers) who mediated the message in the past (1:4-14).

  • c. Therefore, be warned … if the angels’ message was binding, how much more that of Christ? (2:1-4).



d. The incarnation only enhances the superiority of Jesus (2:5-18)

  • d. The incarnation only enhances the superiority of Jesus (2:5-18)

  • (1) He thus fulfills Ps 8

  • (2) He is thereby even more qualified to be our merciful & compassionate high priest to make expiation for the sins of the people.



2. The superiority of Christ over Moses, the human mediator of the previous revelation (3:1-18)

  • 2. The superiority of Christ over Moses, the human mediator of the previous revelation (3:1-18)

  • a. Moses is like the house, but Jesus is the builder.

  •  

  • b. Moses was a faithful servant, but Jesus is the son.

  •  

  • c. Therefore, be warned, if those who rebelled against Moses did not find rest, neither will those who through unbelief disobey Christ!



3. The superiority of Christ, who offers a true Sabbath rest, over Joshua (4:1-13)

  • 3. The superiority of Christ, who offers a true Sabbath rest, over Joshua (4:1-13)

  • a. Joshua was not able to offer the final Sabbath rest (4:1- 10).

  •  

  • b. Therefore, let us make every effort not to miss out due to disobedience (4:11-13).



4. The superiority of Christ’s High Priesthood over that of Aaron (4:14—10:18)

  • 4. The superiority of Christ’s High Priesthood over that of Aaron (4:14—10:18)

  • “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (4:14a)



a. Jesus fulfills the 2 requirements of the office (4:14—5:10).

  • a. Jesus fulfills the 2 requirements of the office (4:14—5:10).

  • (1) Divine appointment

  •  

  • (2) True humanity

  •  

  • Perfection in Hebrews



b. Therefore… reproach and warning over their lack of diligence and faith (5:11—6:12)

  • b. Therefore… reproach and warning over their lack of diligence and faith (5:11—6:12)

  • c. Consider the example of Abraham’s faith in the certainty of God’s sure promise (6:13-20)

  •  

  • d. Jesus’ high priesthood is superior since it is of the order of Melchizedek (7:1-28)



Who was Melchizedek? (Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 110:4)

  • Who was Melchizedek? (Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 110:4)

  •  

  • (1) Superiority of Melchizedek over Aaron (7:1-10)

  • (a) Melchizedek was a typological archetype of Christ

  • - King of righteousness, king of peace

  • - without father or mother

  •  

  • (b) Abraham tithed to him, and thus did Levi and so Aaron



(2) Superiority of Jesus, who, like Melchizedek, is the Levitical priesthood (7:11-28)

  • (2) Superiority of Jesus, who, like Melchizedek, is the Levitical priesthood (7:11-28)

  • (a) Discourse on why the promise of another “order” if Aaron’s was sufficient (7:11, 18)

  •  

  • (b) Confirmation by God’s oath (7:20ff)



(c) Permanence of Jesus’ high priesthood—he lives forever; they died (7:23-25)

  • (c) Permanence of Jesus’ high priesthood—he lives forever; they died (7:23-25)

  •  

  • (d) Complete sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice—their sacrifices needed to be repeated (7:26-28)



e. Summation: The complete superiority of the New Covenant High Priesthood (8:1—10:18)

  • e. Summation: The complete superiority of the New Covenant High Priesthood (8:1—10:18)

  •  

  • Earthly Tabernacle versus Heavenly Tabernacle

  •  

  • Moses  earthly Tabernacle (copy)  leading Israel in desert wandering  Promised Land

  •  

  • Jesus  heavenly sanctuary (reality)  leading his people in earthly journey  Sabbath rest

  •  





(1) Jesus serves at the superior heavenly tabernacle (8:1-6)

  • (1) Jesus serves at the superior heavenly tabernacle (8:1-6)

  •  

  • (2) Citing Jer 31:31-34, the old covenant has been made obsolete by the new (8:7-13)



(3) The old tabernacle & rites were only shadows of the reality to come in Christ (9:1-10)

  • (3) The old tabernacle & rites were only shadows of the reality to come in Christ (9:1-10)

  • (4) The blood of his unique self sacrifice far superior to that of bulls & goats (9:11—10:18)



C. Section Two (10:19—13:25)

  • C. Section Two (10:19—13:25)

  • Final exhortation to perseverance…

  • 1. Having been cleansed, let us not deliberately sin lest we be cut off (10:19-31).

  •  

  • 2. Hold fast to your earlier endurance (10:32-39).

  •  

  • 3. Remember the example of the heroes of faith (11:1-39).



4. Consider your present trouble—understood as God’s discipline—as a sure sign of your sonship (12:1-13).

  • 4. Consider your present trouble—understood as God’s discipline—as a sure sign of your sonship (12:1-13).

  • 5. Don’t betray your sonship, as did Esau (12:14-17).

  •  

  • 6. Our unshakeable heavenly Mount Zion is far superior to an earthly Mount Sinai (12:18-29).

  •   

  • 7. Concluding exhortation (13:1-25)



Purpose

  • Purpose

  • A. Emphases in Hebrews

  • 1. Theme: the superiority of all that Christ represents

  •  

  • 2. Encouragement (“confidence,” “assurance”)

  •  

  • 3. Warnings against apostasy (2:1-4; 3:12; 4:1; 6:4-6; 10:26-29)



B. Situation of addressees

  • B. Situation of addressees

  •  

  • C. Patron/Client convention

  •  

  • D. Discourse on considerations & consequences

  • 1. Seriousness of the problem

  • 2. Refutation of “return” as an option

  •  



E. Discourse on appropriate action

  • E. Discourse on appropriate action

  • So then, dear brothers and sisters, put your trust in…

  • 1. Christ, our pioneer, trailblazing champion into our true Sabbath rest (2:10; 12:2)

  •  

  • 2. Christ, our high priest

  •  



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