Hamilton Reformed Church 2010 New Testament Survey Session

Hamilton Reformed Church 2010 New Testament Survey Session 5 – The Other Letters

New Testament Survey 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Background The Synoptic Gospels and Acts The Writings of John Paul’s Letters The Other New Testament Letters

The Other Letters n n Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter Jude

How to read a letter 101 n Greeting Doxology (sometimes) Thanksgiving and prayer Doctrinal section Practical section Concluding salutations and benediction n Look for variations in pattern! n n n

Hebrews n Don’t know author n n n Don’t know audience n n Where? When? Who? Not really letter at all n n n Originally thought Paul (BC Art 4) Now thought Apollos? Barnabas? sermon (chapters 1 -12) with epistolary appendix (chapter 13) So what do we know?

Hebrews n Probably written before AD 70 n n n To Christians n n Temple worship spoken of in present tense No mention destruction of temple Who began well Now finding life hard, expect it to get worse Tempted turn to Judaism Sermon with one main point … n n Christ is better! Proves from the OT

Hebrews n Five comparisons n n n Angels chs 1: 4 -2: 18 Moses (& Joshua) 3: 1 -4: 16 Aaron & priesthood 5: 1 -8: 13 Old Covenant 9: 1 -10: 39 Heroes of Faith 11: 1 -12: 13 Five warnings n n n Drifting 2: 1 -4 Hard hearts 3: 7 -4: 16 Spiritual immaturity 5: 11 -6: 12 Sagging faith 10: 19 -31 Losing heart 12: 1 -24

Hebrews n n n n Preacher urges congregation to look forward not back Grounds message thoroughly in OT Demonstrates truth of 2 Tim 3: 16, 17 Most OT of NT books Shows that there is meaning in the details of OT worship (8: 5, 6; 9: 5) Reminds us we still live in shadowlands – reality is yet to come Some of strongest warnings in all Scripture n n Don’t trade the realities for the shadows! Endure to the end!

James n James brother of Jesus n n n To Jews scattered amongst nations n n (c. f. Acts 8: 1; 11: 19) Probably written early (before AD 50) n n (not John’s brother / Apostle Acts 12: 3) Headed up Jerusalem Council (Acts 15: 13 ff c. f. 12: 17; Gal 2: 9) Probably from Jerusalem Somewhat controversial n n Luther – “epistle of straw” Some people like to pit against Paul n Worth noting that James and Paul use terms differently …

James n “Faith works” n n “Sermon on the mount”ish n n Live wisely and love your neighbour E. g. Compare 3: 11, 12 with Mt 7: 16 -20 NT wisdom literature Assumes rather than expounds doctrine n Jumps from subject to subject n Notoriously difficult to outline! n

1 & 2 Peter n n n n n The Apostle To Christians (Jew and Gentile) scattered in Asia Minor May have written from Rome or … (1 Pet 5: 13) Writes as pastor to “feed my sheep” (Jn 21: 15 ff) 1 st Epistle speaks to persecution from outside 2 nd Epistle speaks to false teachers / evil doers inside Very pastoral and practical in approach Written to church enduring difficult times Seem to have been written after Paul’s letters (2 Pet 3: 15, 16)

1 & 2 Peter n n n Statements of purpose (1 Pet 5: 12; 2 Pet 1: 1215) Strong emphasis on truth have been taught Strong sense of eternal realities shaping present behaviour Very practical ethical injunctions in terms of private conduct and public witness Peter’s own imminent end gives a sense of urgency esp. to 2 Peter. (2 Pet 1: 13, 14)

Jude n n Most probably Jesus’ brother (Mt 13: 55; Mk 6: 3; Jude 1: 1) Probably written similar time to 2 Peter n n n Written to Christians Statement of purpose (vv 3 -4) n n May have depended on one another’s writing Note orig desire and change of purpose Combating antinomianism

Jude n n Shows deep pastoral concern for the saints … and thorough contempt for false teachers n n n Bulk of letter shows the falseness of their ways Quotes from two apocryphal books (vv 9, 14 -15) Balance in vv 22, 23 worth noting Urges believers to persevere (vv 20 ff) … But points them to the God who strengthens

Concluding remarks Although NT written over 50 years, covers period of around 100 years … n King has come n Church established n Kingdom spreading rapidly n Despite persecution from outside / heresy inside n Describes beginning and end of last days n The back of the book tells us of Christ’s ultimate victory and the consummation of His Kingdom

The King has come! … And He is coming again Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22: 20)