The Epistles make up 21 of the 27 books of the NT. Many of them are written sermons.
The Epistles are the truth about Jesus and the application of the new covenant in Christ in the lives of the first-century churches.
The Epistles are to the new covenant what the prophets were to the old covenant. How to live in light of God’s chosen method of relating to his people (covenant).
Outline of the Letters
The Epistles follow a set structure that was in line with other letters of that time.
- Name of the writer
- Name of the recipient
- Greeting (“ grace to you and peace from God our Father…”)
- Prayer wish or Thanksgiving ( I always thank God for you…”)
- Body
- Final greeting and farewell ( the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you…”)
Four Keys for Reading and Studying
The New Testament letters were written to specific people, for specific purposes, with similar solutions grounded in God’s grace in Christ.
Written to Specific People
The Epistles were written to specific people, this could be a church such as Ephesus or to an individual such as Philemon. We get to view one side of a two-way conversation.
Therefore one of the first questions we should ask ourselves when reading Epistles is “What did the passage say to its first recipients?” NOT “what is this passage saying to me.
This is why context is important. Observe. Look
Though they were not written directly to us they are still for us, “The letters in the New Testament are more than time-based communication; they are works inspired by the Holy Spirit, offering authoritative instruction to the church in every age.” (Robert Plummer, 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible)
One tip for reading Epistles is to Read the entire letter in one sitting as it was originally intended then make an outline that states the content and the purpose of why it’s stated.
Written for a Specific Purpose
The Epistles are “occasional writings.” They were typically written for three reasons: correcting behavior, doctrine, or misunderstanding.
A simple question to always ask: “What’s the point?”
- What is the reason for writing this letter?
- What problem is this letter trying to solve?
- What area of life does the gospel need to be applied?
Through observation and an understanding of the letter’s purpose gives an inclination as to how to apply it to our lives.
- “Making the connection between the issue addressed in the teaching and the response to it is a major clue to the way in which we apply the message to contemporary life.” – Sinclair Ferguson, From the Mouth of God
In our attempt to determine what a text means and how it applies to our lives this principle is helpful:
“A text cannot mean what it never could have meant to its authors or readers.” (How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth)
Similar Themes, Solutions, and Patterns of Responses
Though the problems differ letter to letter, there are similar basic start points to the author’s response.
For example, in Paul, a repeated them is that we are in Christ, and because of what God has done and who He is we are to respond accordingly.
Grounded in God's Grace in Christ (Reality and Commands)
The word “Therefore” is often the hinge in many of the letters (See Rom. 12:1). Ephesians 1-3 describes the glorious reality of what God has done for us in Christ then Paul transitions to the ethical response in 4-6 but it is all grounded in God’s grace in Christ
Ferguson is helpful when he writes. “Always it is God’s grace the grounds our obedience. The greater and richer the grace expounded the more rigorous and demanding the imperatives it is able to sustain in our lives.”
Reflection Questions
- How will you use these four keys in your personal study?
- Why is it important that we emphasize God’s grace in Christ when reading the Epistles?
- How are the Gospels connected to the Epistles?