Whatever the mind can conceive and believe the

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve. ” NT 101 C-03: A Survey of the New Testament Chapters 22 & 23–Hebrews & General Epistles: James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John and Jude

Hebrews: “Superiority of Christ, the Great High Priest, Who is All in All" 22 – Hebrews: Jesus as Priest 1. Christ is superior over the prophets and the angels (mediators of the Torah), chs. 1 -2 - Exhortation 2: 1 -4 2. Christ is superior over Moses and Joshua (founders of the nation), chs. 3 -4 - Exhortation 3: 7 -4: 16 3. Christ is superior over Aaron and the Levitical Priesthood (ministers of the Temple), chs. 5 -7 Exhortation 5: 11 -6: 20 4. Christ serves in a superior Sanctuary (Covenant. Sanctuary-Sacrifice), chs. 8 -10 - Exhortation 10: 19 -39 5. Faith is hope/assurance--a better result (witnessing martyrs), chs. 11 -12 - Exhortation 12: 1 -39 (13: 17) 6. Final exhortations, ch. 13 (May have been added with a letter type of closing, but it seems that the argument continues as an integral part of the letter. )

23 – The Catholic, or General, Letters James: “Testing of Faith that Works” Key Verses: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me. ’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. ” (James 1: 12 -13 NIV) Key Words: peirasmos/peiradzo (1: 2, 12) = “trial” or “temptation” & dokimion/dokimos (1: 3, 12) = “prove” or “test” • James in the NT discursive and moralistic • Proverbs in the OT practical and ethical

23 – The Catholic, or General, Letters First Peter: “Christ’s Glory through Suffering Realized in the Suffering Believer” Purpose of 1 Peter: To bring joyful and serene hope, to offer heavenly and eternal outlook and to impart sober and functional advice to the Christians who are starting to experience their trials of faith in sufferings due to pagan milieu. Distinctive Highlights: ü Its content deals with Christians who met with persecution because of their faith in Christ. ü It directs on how believers should respond to undue oppression and suffering (3: 9 -5: 11). ü It highlights the nature of being aliens and strangers in this world for believers (1: 1; 2: 11). ü It applies God’s people OT titles to NT Christ’s believers (e. g. , 2: 5, 9 -10).

23 – The Catholic, or General, Letters Second Peter: “The Promise of Christ’s Return and the Coming of God’s Judgment” “In Defense of Orthodoxy” is theme of 2 Peter. Heretical teachers who peddled false doctrine and practiced immorality were beginning to make serious inroads into the church. Second Peter polemicizes against them, particularly against their denial of Jesus’ return, and affirms the true knowledge of Christian belief to counter their heretical teaching. The similarities of 2 Peter with Jude is notable feature.

23 – The Catholic, or General, Letters Jude: “Christian Responsibility of Vying for the Faith to Keep the Unity of the Faith” Dual Purpose (dating: ca. AD 63, same as 2 Pet) • To immediately caution the believers concerning the grave danger of the heretics and their rebellious impact within the Christian communities. • To persuasively confront every true believer to stand up and “contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (v. 3 RSV). Summary of Jude: Although the Epistle of Jude is somewhat brief (only 25 vv. in length), it could be parted into two segments: • Danger of the teachings of the heretics (1 -16) • Duty to the truthfulness of the faith (17 -25)

23 – The Catholic, or General, Letters 1 st John: “The Testing of Love in the Truth and the Fellowship of Righteousness in the Light” Purpose of 1 John: o To unmask and reject the doctrinal heresies and ethical faults of the false teachers. o To challenge the author’s spiritual children to the pursuit of sanctified fellowship, truthful righteousness, joyful assurance, eternal life, obedient faith and Spirit’s presence. Standards of the True Christian Confession: q Consistent righteous conduct q Reciprocal Christian love q Incarnational Christology

23 – The Catholic, or General, Letters 2 nd John: “Abiding in the Truth of Divine Love” Content Outline of 2 John: I. Christian Salutation (vv. 1 -3) II. Commendation and Charge (vv. 4 -6) III. Counsel and Caution (vv. 7 -11) IV. Closing Remark (vv. 12 -13) v Recipient: Using figurative “Chosen Lady” for a local church its congregation is her “children. ” v Warning: Do not to entertain heretic teachers! Unique Features: a). appeal to be discerning in light of the apostle’s teachings; b). very brief NT writing; c). Unpretentious and very simple in content, vocabulary and style

23 – The Catholic, or General, Letters 3 rd John: “Acting in the Truth of Apostolic Authority” Content Outline of 3 John: I. Opening Greetings (vv. 1 -4) II. Reassuring Gaius of Truth (vv. 5 -8) III. Reproving Diotrepes by Truth (vv. 9 -11) IV. Respecting Demetrius on Truth (v. 12) V. Closing Thoughts (vv. 13 -14) Ø Less on doctrinal matters but more of needed governance in disseminating truth Ø Entertaining the itinerant Christian ministers Special Aspects: a). gives insight into the facets of early Christian hospitality; b). sees the Christian blessings meet spiritual and physical needs