Interpreting Biblical Epistles 1 Form of Ancient Letters

Interpreting Biblical Epistles

1. Form of Ancient Letters • Identification of writer and audience • Greeting (often single word) • Thanksgiving: polite expression of thanks • Body of Letter • Personal News/Greetings • Single-word Farewell

2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting a. AADP: Author, Audience, Date, Purpose (1) Authorship: • Note if author identified or anonymous (Hebrews) • See Osborne for discussion of use of scribes and pseudonymity

2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting a. AADP: Author, Audience, Date, Purpose (2) Audience: • Range: From specific to general audiences • Learn about cultural setting of audience and specific church setting

2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting a. AADP: Author, Audience, Date, Purpose (3) Date: • Use of internal and external evidence • Often broader possibilities

2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting (4) Purpose: Use Internal Evidence • Occasion and Purpose Distinction Occasion: The initial reason(s) for writing the letter; specific reasons why the author picks up the pen to write Purpose: The broader intention of the author in writing the letter

2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting b. Historical Reconstruction • Necessary for interpretation of epistles Example: Philippians 2: 1 -4; 4: 2 Issue of Disunity

2. Paying Attention to Historical Setting Historical Reconstruction • Necessary for interpretation of epistles • Danger of Mirror Reading: The conclusion that each command or argument of a letter is tied to a specific problem in the audience of the letter

3. Tracing the Argument • Separation of Clauses [point: to isolate individual ideas] • Identification of Clarifying Conjunctions [point: to understand connections between clauses] • Identification of Relationship between Clauses [point: to follow the flow of thought from beginning to end]

I ate an entire box of chocolates *** I was depressed.

Interpreting Biblical Epistles