BIBLE STUDY METHODS 02 NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES

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1 BIBLE STUDY METHODS 02 NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES An epistle is a letter. It may have different forms and like the letters we write today, it may have different parts. It can be addressed to individuals or groups. Parts of a typical Christian contemporary handwritten letter: (1) Name of Recipient Dear Dr. Bob. (2) Name of Writer This is Pastor Briggs from Trinity Church International in Lake Worth, Florida. (3) Greeting I wish you well today and trust God is continuing to bless you. (4) Prayer wish I have prayed and asked God to grant your desire for a website that would reach the nations. (5) Body I have the following suggestions for you concerning how to create such a website. First, gather your existing teaching material. Second, edit it into the appropriate format. Third, prepare subject groups. Fourth, enlist a website designer to put it all together. (6) Final Greeting and Farewell I hope to see you soon. May God bless you and your family. (7) Final words to praise and glorify God (A Doxology) Example: To God, who is magnificent and full of Glory, who keeps us safe, and who provides us with wisdom and understanding, be blessed and honored forever. Amen. Parts of a Letter in the New Testament Example: Acts 15: (1) Name of the writer Leaders of the church (2) Name of the recipient Gentile Christians in the three cities (3) Greeting Greetings (4) Prayer wish There is not one in this particular letter (5) Body of the letter The message Vs The biggest part of the letter (6) Final greetings Farewell (7) Doxology (final blessing to God) None 1

2 ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Romans: A letter Written by Paul. 1. Name of writer Paul 1:1 2. Name of recipient The church at Rome 1:7 3. Greeting 1:7 4. Prayer wish 1: Body 1:11-15:33 6. Final greeting 16: Doxology 16:25-27 Principles for Studying New Testament Epistles 1. All New Testament Epistles were written for specific occasions. (In Bible study terms, they are occasional. ) 2. Parts of the New Testament epistles are useful today for TASK THEOLOGY: (a) Solving problems Example: Paul s Epistle to Titus (1) The churches in Crete lacked proper leadership and Paul told Titus how to put it in place. (2) There were doctrinal problems, related to speech, behavior and integrity. (b) Learning how to live a godly life Example: Galatians, Chapter 5 (1) Warning against going back to a life of religious spiritual bondage, along with the solution (Galatians 5:1-15) (2) Instructions for walking in the Spirit by living a God-pleasing, Godimitating life (Galatians 5:16-26). Take note that Paul identifies the problem and provides the solution. 3. Remember - the context in which the New Testament epistles were written is different from what we have today. They may or may not be normative. 4. Some addressed specific problems we do not deal with today. Do not make a doctrine out of these parts of the epistles. What was normal for that particular culture at that particular time may not be normal today. 5. The writer of the epistle was tasked by the Holy Spirit, with getting his reader(s) to understand and agree with what he wrote. Then they could make 2

3 adjustments to line up with the Scripture and solve the problem or get guidance for the future. What to Look For in a New Testament Epistle 1. Look for subject matter. Do not confine yourself to studying by chapter and verse. The subject will transcend chapters and will be multi-versed. 2. When you center your attention on a single set of Scriptures, enlarge your focus and find the bigger boxes. Then reverse your original thinking and go from big to little! (This takes discipline and time.) 3. Pay attention to the verbs. This means we are to look for the action words. Two examples First Example: Ephesians Walk Vs.1 A. Worthy B. Lowliness C. Gentleness D. Patience 2. Keep Vs.3 A. Unity of the Spirit B. Bonds of peace/bonds glued together with peace 3. Gave Vs Come Vs. 13 Second Example: Colossians 3 1. Seek things of above 2. Set your mind on things above THEREFORE 3. Put to death your members Third Example?

4 Matters of Indifference and Hard Sayings Matters of indifference are those things that are not essential to our faith. They are issues that are neutral with God. (1 Corinthians 8:8 NIV) "But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do." There are also some Scriptures in the Epistles that we cannot explain. These are hard sayings. In many, or perhaps most cases, you will find they do not relate to, or help clarify the Gospel message (the Scarlet Thread of Redemption) that flows through all Scripture. It may be tempting to spend your time on these. People will often challenge students of the Bible by using these. Here is an example of a hard saying. 1 Corinthians 15:29 (NKJV) Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? Can you explain this Scripture? No one knows what baptized for the dead meant to the readers of 1 Corinthians. There is no cultural reference point to help us understand what it means. Do not get stuck on these kinds of things. Avoid matters of indifference and hard sayings. Choose matters that matter! Ask yourself 1. Is it a moral issue? (righteous or unrighteous) 2. Is it an issue of relationships? 3. Is it an issues of my walk with the Lord? Of A. patience B. endurance C. holiness 4. Is it an issue of sin? Issue of Freedom in Christ Satan often controls people and puts them into bondage through matters of indifference or arguments about hard sayings. Be careful. It can happen to any of us. 4

5 Seven Guidelines to Studying the Epistles Matters of Indifference Salvation and freedom in Christ! 1. Aim for what is central to the Bible s message and purpose. 2. Recognize the difference between what the New Testament sees as sinful and what is not. 3. See where the New Testament is uniform and consistent in witness and teachings. (Let your Scripture study be led by these two words: uniform and consistent.) Look for examples of this: God repeats Himself! 4. Aim for the absolute principals (things that are always the same), but expect applications to be different. 5. Watch out for the occasional nature of the epistles. Example: Paul talking to Philemon about Onesimus (a runaway slave). 6. Do not look at much of what was said about women as normative for here and now! The subject of women is mostly culturally relative to the First Century in Palestine. Above all else, think contextually. Think paragraphs! Remember that the New Testament epistles were written to address particular occasions! Usually, the occasion was some behavioral problem or potential problem. They often were written to correct the problem. Four Basic Rules for Studying the New Testament Epistles Rule #1 Remember the most basic rule: A text cannot mean what it never meant! Rule #2 When we share a similar life situation with a first century situation, God s Word to us is the same as it was to them. 5

6 Rule #3 No proof texting! This is comparable to eisegesis. It means taking one Scripture and making a doctrine out of it without cross-referencing it to other Scriptures that validate it. NEVER MAKE A DOCTRINE OR ACCEPT AS NORMATIVE SOMETHING YOU GET FROM A SINGLE SCRIPTURE. Never means never! Rule #4 No argument from silence! IF THE BIBLE IS NOT SPECIFIC IF IT DOES NOT SAY IT, DO NOT MAKE IT A FACT OR CONSIDER IT BIBLICAL TRUTH. Construct your theology, doctrine and learning from what is written, not implied. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He began each reply with It is written. Individual Study: Epistle of Third John (NKJV) {3} THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: {2} Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. {3} For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. {4} I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. {5} Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, {6} who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, {7} because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. {8} We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. {9} I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. {10} Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. {11} Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. {12} Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. {13} I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; {14} but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. (1) Name of the writer = (2) Name of the recipient = (3) Greeting = (4) Prayer wish = (5) Body of the letter begins and ends (6) Final greetings = (7) Doxology? (final blessing to God) = 6