PRINCIPLES IN SERVING GOD

Transcription

1 PRINCIPLES IN SERVING GOD NEW TESTAMENT THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES JAMES; PETER; 1, 2, JOHN 1,2,3 ; AND JUDE

2 Introduction: Catholic Epistles: They were not written for a particular person or group, rather, they were written for the whole Church. The Church holds them in high regard and reads sections from them at every Divine Liturgy. 2

3 Letter Chapters 1 Peter Peter John John 1 3 John 1 Jude 1 James

4 James He is called James the righteous, the brother of the Lord Jesus [Gal 1: 19], that is, His maternal cousin. He was ordained bishop of Jerusalem and led the first apostolic Council in the year A.D. 52 [Acts: 15] concerning the entering of Pagans to the faith. He wrote the epistle around the year A.D. 61. During that time, the Church was subject to severe persecution from Domitian and Tarragon. Therefore, the aim of the epistle was to encourage the believers to tolerate suffering because God will give them power which exceeds the suffering. He also focused on the practical faith that appears in sayings, deeds and emotions. 4

5 James Concept of Religion: - Defines religion as typically Jewish good works ( ); - Charitable practices that will save the soul and cancel a multitude of sins ( ); - he type of religion that God approves is practical: - helping orphans and widows ; and - keeping oneself untarnished by the world (1.27); 5

6 James Greetings to the twelve tribes Profiting from Trials The Perspective of Rich and Poor Loving God Under Trials Qualities Needed in Trials Doers not Hearers only Beware of Personal Favoritism Faith Without Works Is Dead The Untamable Tongue Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom Pride Promotes Strife Humility Cures Worldliness Do Not Judge a Brother Do Not Boast About Tomorrow Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged Be Patient and Persevering Meeting Specific Needs Bring Back the Erring One *

7 BEST VERSE IN JAMES James 2:18 Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

8 1 Peter: There is a similarity between this epistle and that of Saint James, as both of them are directed to those persecuted by the enemy of good. Therefore, it is filled with serious practical encouragement. He also mentioned many of the Old Testament prophecies. He also quotes many of the words and sermons given by Jesus, the Lord of Glory.

9 1 Peter: Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims A Heavenly Inheritance Living Before God Our Father The Enduring Word The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People Living Before the World Submission to Government Submission to Masters Submission to Husbands A Word to Husbands Called to Blessing Suffering for Right and Wrong Christ s Suffering and Ours Serving for God s Glory Suffering for God s Glory Shepherd the Flock Submit to God, Resist the Devil Farewell and Peace

10 BEST VERSE IN 1 PETER 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

11 II Peter: Saint Peter wrote it after The Lord Jesus declared to him the approaching of his departure from that world. It was therefore a farewell to his children in which he expressed the desire of his heart for the Kingdom of Heaven and the second coming of Jesus Christ. In this epistle, he asserted the importance of maintaining the faith, rejecting heresies and adhering to the light of Christ.

12 II Peter: Confirming One s Calling and Election Prophecy of Scripture False Teachers and Their Destruction The Day of the Lord

13 BEST VERSE IN II PETER 2 Peter 3:17 Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

14 I John: The Apostle of love, God is Love. He wrote this first epistle after the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem. This is why he did not talk about the Jews persecution of the church but rather, he focused on God s Love and the mystery of incarnation and the relationship of love to both light filiations and faith. He answered the group of Gnostics who wanted everything to be supported by evidence and logic, looking away from faith.

15 I John What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched Fellowship with Him and One Another The Test of Knowing Him Their Spiritual State Do Not Love the World Deceptions of the Last Hour Let Truth Abide in You The Children of God Sin and the Child of God The Imperative of Love The Outworking of Love The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error Knowing God Through Love Seeing God Through Love The Consummation of Love Obedience by Faith The Certainty of God s Witness Confidence and Compassion in Prayer Knowing the True - Rejecting the False

16 BEST VERSE IN I JOHN I John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

17 II John: The theme here is that true faith is manifest in one s love for God and others

18 II John Greeting the Elect Lady Walk in Christ s Commandments Beware of Antichrist Deceivers John s Farewell Greeting 1

19 BEST VERSE IN II JOHN II John 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.

20 III John: He wrote it to the beloved Gaius. The name of Gaius was mentioned several times in the New Testament. Gaius joined the faith through Saint John the beloved while he was baptized by Saint Paul. Gaius was loving and kind to all, particularly the sojourners and the servants of the Word.

21 III John Greeting to Gaius Gaius Commended for Generosity Diotrephes and Demetrius Farewell Greeting 1

22 BEST VERSE IN III JOHN 3 John 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

23 Jude: This is Jude the brother of James, that is, the maternal cousin of the Lord Jesus. He wrote his epistle to all Christians about the importance of faith and receiving it soundly from the hands of the saints and delivering it to the coming generations. To maintain this sound faith, we must watch for heretics whose target is to corrupt the faith by wrong teachings, in pride and disobedience to the Church.

24 Jude Greeting to the Called Contend for the Faith Old and New Apostates Apostates Depraved and Doomed Apostates Predicted Maintain Your Life with God Glory to God 1

25 BEST VERSE IN JUDE Jude 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

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