herm7 wnt lett

Introduction

◦ As in the ancient world, letters play an important role in our lives today

NT – Letters

Business Personal

Medical Legal

Introduction

Characteristics of NT letters ◦ Comparable to other ancient letters

Paul’s letters are quite long by ancient standards, averaging 2,495 words. (R. Richards)

Why did Paul need the extra space?

NT includes more informal, personal letters (like Philemon) as well as more formal letters (like Romans)

◦ Authoritative substitutes for the author's personal presence Substitute for personal presence Authoritative substitute

(Christ’s representatives)

◦ Situational – written to address specific situations or problems in the churches To clarify an issue (Thessalonians) To address a doctrinal problem (Colossians) To confront the ethical behavior of readers (James)

Implications of the occasional nature of letters

Never meant to be read as exhaustive dictionaries of doctrine

Provides SOME of the teachings having to do with an issue

Galatians – freedom 1 Corinthians – obedience

Reading a NT letter is a lot like listening to one end of a phone conversation.

– Reconstruction the original situation that called for the letter in the first place

◦ Intended for the Christian community

Meant to be read aloud again and again to the church

“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” —Revelation 1:3

“After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.”

—Colossians 4:16

• Meant to be exchanged with other churches

Form of NT letters

Standard form of a contemporary letter

Date

Name Address

Greeting,

Body of the letter

Closing & signature

Introduction

Writer Recipients

Greeting

Body of the letter (largest section focusing on the specific situation)

Conclusion (a variety of elements normally ending in a grace benediction)

Standard form of a NT letter

Step 1: Grasp the text in their town. Read the entire letter in one sitting. Reconstruct the historical context.

How to Interpret New Testament Letters

Reconstructing the historical context Who was the author? What was his background? When did he write? What was the nature of his ministry? What kind of relationship did he have with the

audience? Why was he writing? Who was the biblical audience?


Reconstructing the historical context What were their circumstances? How was their relationship with God? What about their relationship to the author? each

other? What was happening at the time the book was

written? Are there any historical-cultural factors that might

shed light on the book?


Step 1: Grasp the text in their town. Read the entire letter in one sitting. Reconstruct the historical context. Identify the literary context. Read the text carefully. Observe!!!


Step 2: Measure the width of the river to cross. The river is generally narrow.


Step 3: Cross the principlizing bridge. Does the author state a principle? Does the broader context reveal a theological

principle? Why was a particular command or instruction

given?


Step 4: Consult the biblical map. Make sure the principle you formulate doesn’t

contradict a clear teaching found elsewhere in Scripture.


Step 5: Grasp the text in our town. Remember the 3 steps to applying a theological

principle from chapter 13.


3 commonly used methods: ◦ Diagramming a passage.

visual representation of the grammatical relationships in a sentence.

Sample diagram◦ Arcing

Identifies the clauses in a passage/ link clauses with arcs/ determine relationship of one clause to another (purpose, result, etc)

Bible Arc◦ Mechanical layout

Tracing the flow of thought (step 1)

http://www.biblearc.com/

Independent clauses (complete thoughts) at placed toward the left-hand margin and written on the same line.

Dependent clauses (incomplete thoughts) or modifying phrases are placed on the next line under the word they modify or describe.

Connectives (coordinating conjunctions) may be placed above the line or joined to the phrases or clauses they join with bracketing lines.

Mechanical layout basics

Example: Col. 3: 2-3

•Set your minds on things that are above• Not on things that are on earth

• For you have died •And• Your life is hidden with Christ

• In God

Helps you think through the relationships within among the various sentences, clauses, etc.

Examples (see separate handout)

Value?

Practice: Phil. 1: 9-11 (NASB)

(9) And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and discernment , (10) so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; (11) having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Phil. 1: 9-11

AndThis I pray•That your love may aboud

• Still more and more• In real knowledge

• And• Discernment

•So that you may approve the things that are excellent• In order to be sincere and blameless

• Until the day of Christ•Having been filled with the fruit

• Of righteousness• Which comes through Jesus Christ• To the glory and praise of God.

herm7 wnt lett

Documents