Title: New Testament 2 Master of Christian Studies
1New Testament 2Master of Christian Studies
- Hebrews and James
- 1 2 Peter and Jude
2HEBREWS Historical Concerns
- Author totally anonymous NT book
- Believed to be by Paul in the Middle Ages
(400-1600) - Not generally believed to be by Paul before 400
or in modern times - Reasons for rejecting Pauline authorship
- Greek style more polished than Paul
- Theology differing emphases (Jesus as priest)
- History writer is post-apostolic (23-4)
3HEBREWS Historical Concerns
- Author
- Not an eyewitness
- Probably Jewish (we)
- Scripture expert (many quotations)
- Well educated (superb writer)
- Of Pauls circle (knew Timothy, 1323)
- Barnabas? Luke? Silas? Apollos?
- Quotation of Origen (c. 240)
4HEBREWS Historical Concerns
- Date probably about AD 66
- Temple probably still standing (present tense in
84-5) - Serious persecution suggests post 64 date
- Place of origin unknown
- Destination possibly Rome
- Serious persecution there
- Quoted by Clement of Rome around AD 95
5HEBREWS Historical Concerns
- Recipients
- A specific group of Jewish Christians
- Massive citation of Scripture
- Emphasis on priesthood, rituals, and sacrifices
- Background
- Persecuted believers who had pulled away from the
larger (integrated) church - Afraid to make a complete break with Judaism
6HEBREWS Historical Concerns
- Occasion (reconstructed)
- Author became aware of situation
- Preached a long sermon Christ Is Better
- Sermon transcribed into letter format
- Sent to these people as permanent reminder of his
teachings
7HEBREWS Theological Concerns
- Purpose to wean Jewish believers from depending
on the Law of Moses and the OT as the final rule
for life. To accomplish this the author
emphasized the SUPERIORITY OF JESUS CHRIST - Key concept Jesus Christ is BETTER than the old
way. - Key text 11-3 Key term better
- Themes superiority of Christ new covenant
warnings
8HEBREWS Literary Concerns
- Greek style superior koiné Greek
- The best Greek in the NT
- Literary features
- Many quotations from Scripture, all from the
Septuagint (LXX) - Warning passages interspersed
- Some argue for typology adapted from Philo of
Alexandria
9HEBREWS Outline
- 1. Christ is better than old revelation (11-3)
- 2. Christ is better than the angels (14-218)
- 3. Christ is better than Moses (31-19)
- 4. Christ is better than Joshua (41-13)
- 5. Christ is a better priest (414-728)
- 6. Christ made a better sacrifice (81-1018)
- 7. Faith is the better way (1019-1325)
10HEBREWS Special Issue
- The warnings of Hebrews
- 21-4 37-19 411-13
- 511-16 1019-31 1225-29
- The warnings apply to genuine believers who might
recant and lose their salvation. - The warnings refer to loss of rewards by genuine
believers who backslide. - The warnings are for those considering conversion
but may turn away.
11HEBREWS Literary Concerns
- 4. The warnings are directed to all who profess
Christianity. - The warning is to prove ones genuineness by
refusing the pressure to apostasize. - A FAITH THAT FIZZLES BEFORE THE FINISH WAS
FAULTY FROM THE FIRST!
12HEBREWS Significance for Today
- Gods people are to reflect in their lives that
Jesus Christ is superior to everything else by
recognizing that the Law is obsolete as a way
of life living by faith in Christ refusing
all pressure to turn away
13JAMES Historical Concerns
- Author
- Calls himself James (Jacob)
- The only James who fits is James the brother of
Jesus - What is known about him
- Not converted until after Jesus resurrection
- Leader of Jerusalem church after Peter left
- Presided over Jerusalem Council (Acts 15, AD 49)
- Tradition of martyrdom in AD 62
14JAMES Historical Concerns
- Date about AD 45
- No knowledge of Gentile Christianity
- Jewish in form and orientation
- Church structure called synagogue (and led by
elders) - Probably first book of NT to be composed
- Place of origin Jerusalem
- Destination unknown
15JAMES Historical Concerns
- Recipients
- A group of Jewish Christians
- Called scattered and twelve tribes
- Not Palestinian living elsewhere in Roman
Empire - Poor
- Background
- Persecuted believers discouraged by their
circumstances - Need encouragement to keep on keeping on
16JAMES Historical Concerns
- Occasion (reconstructed)
- James became aware of situation
- As pastor of a large Jewish Christian
congregation, he wanted to offer practical
insights - Wrote this letter of exhortation to practical
Christian living
17JAMES Theological Concerns
- Purpose to let Christians know the importance of
a practical, living, everyday faith ( good
works) - Key concept Faith is to be lived out in everyday
life by good deeds. - Key text 226
- Key term deeds
- Themes good deeds, trials and temptations, the
tongue
18JAMES Literary Concerns
- Greek style ordinary koiné Greek
- Literary features
- Rambling style similar to Book of Proverbs
- pearls without a string
- Similar also to Sermon on the Mount
- Little interest in formal theology
19JAMES Outline
- PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY . . .
- TESTED BY TRIALS (chap. 1)
- PROVEN BY GOOD DEEDS (chap. 2)
- SHOWN BY LIFESTYLE (chaps. 3-4)
- STRETCHED BY PERSECUTION (chap. 5)
20JAMES Special Issue
- The relationship between James and Paul
- Luthers opinion Epistle of Straw
- PAUL JAMES
- faith alone saves saving faith works(Rom. 4-5)
(James 214-17) - Abraham the example Abraham the exampleIsaac
promised Isaac sacrificed(Rom. 4) (James
221) - Gen. 156 faith saves Gen. 156 faith
works(Rom. 43) (James 223) - Justification before whom?
21JAMES Significance for Today
- Gods people are to reflect in their lives that
the true demonstration of salvation is living a
practical life of good works, such as bearing up
under persecution, controlling the tongue, and
caring for widows and the other poor.
221 PETER Historical Concerns
- Author
- Simon Peter, apostle of Jesus
- self claim of the letter
- believed by early church
- pseudonymous authorship claimed by critical
scholars - based on elegant Greek and Pauline theology
- authorship may be accounted for by 512
- Silvanus ( Silas) as the scribe may have also
assisted with the literary style
231 PETER Historical Concerns
- Date about AD 64
- Serious persecution best fits Nero era
- Written shortly before Peters martyrdom
- Place of origin Rome
- Code named Babylon in 513
- Destination 5 provinces of Asia Minor
- Northern 2/3 of Turkey
- Listed in postmans order
241 PETER Historical Concerns
- Destination 5 provinces of Asia Minor
- Northern 2/3 of Turkey
- Listed in postmans order
- Recipients
- A number of (primarily Gentile) churches
- Facing serious persecution
- Perhaps a few were Jews as well
251 PETER Historical Concerns
- Background
- Little is certain about the background except for
the persecution - Nobody knows how Peter knew these believers
- Occasion (reconstructed)
- Peter had somehow become aware of the plight of
these believers and wrote them a letter with the
help of Silvanus
261 PETER Theological Concerns
- Purpose to encourage and exhort suffering
Christians to live in the accordance with the
HOPE they have received through Christ - Key concept Maintain hope in the midst of
suffering. - Key text 413
- Key term hope ( future certainty)
- Themes hope holiness humility
271 PETER Literary Concerns
- Greek style superior koiné Greek
- Among the best Greek in the NT
- Literary features
- Unlike Paul, Peter alternates between doctrinal
and practical sections - Has an important section on family relationships
(Haustafeln)
281 PETER Outline
- D1. Privileges of salvation (11-12)
- P1. Living in holiness (113-23)
- D2. Blessings of election (24-10)
- P2. Living in submission (211-312)
- D3. Theology of suffering (313-419)
- P3. Living in humility (51-14)
291 PETER Literary Concerns Special Issue 1
- Christs preaching to the spirits in prison
(319-20) - On earth in the days of Noah, Christ preached the
basic gospel message (through Noah) to
unbelievers who died in unbelief (and perished in
the Flood). - In the dwelling place of imprisoned angels
between his resurrection and ascension, Christ
preached a message of condemnation to fallen
angels who especially sinned.
301 PETER Literary Concerns Special Issue 2
- Suffering as a Christian
- Definition of suffering (314)
- Hope of suffering (13-5)
- Purpose of suffering (16-9)
- False suffering (415)
- Limit of suffering (419)
- Privilege of suffering (413-14)
311 PETER Relevance
- Gods people are to live with the absolute
certainty that Christs return and eternal life
with him far exceed any suffering they may
experience during this life.
322 PETER Historical Concerns
- Author
- Simon Peter, apostle of Jesus
- Claim of the letter and believed by early church
- All critical scholars reject Peters authorship
- Based on drastic differences in content and style
from 1 Peter - Changes may be accounted for by change of
secretary or loss of secretary - Ethical dilemma if a letter warning against
FALSE teachers written by a FALSE teacher!
332 PETER Historical Concerns
- Date about AD 66
- A few months after 1 Peter
- Shortly before Peters death by crucifixion, and
about the same time as 2 Timothy - Place of origin probably Rome
- Destination unknown, although possibly the same
as for 1 Peter
342 PETER Historical Concerns
- Recipients
- Possibly the same as 1 Peter (31)
- Background
- Whoever these people were, Peter knew them well,
for he called them beloved - Occasion (reconstructed)
- Peter had learned about false teachers planning
to infiltrate especially a denial of the Second
Coming
352 PETER Theological Concerns
- Purpose to warn Christians of the coming of
false teachers and to equip them with true
knowledge - Key concept Knowledge of truth is the best
defense against false teaching - Key text 31
- Key term truth
- Themes election, false teachers, day of the Lord
362 PETER Literary Concerns
- Greek style
- Very difficult, non-literary Greek
- Entirely unlike the Greek of 1 Peter
- Literary features
- Material on the day of the Lord is challenging,
but the main point is 311 What kind of people
ought you to be?
372 PETER Literary Concerns
- Outline
- True knowledge (chap. 1)
- False knowledge (chap. 2)
- The coming of Christ (chap 3)
- Special issue Doctrine of Scripture (121)
- Men spoke from God, carried along by the Holy
Spirit, not of their own initiative
382 PETER Relevance
- 2 Peter late to be recognized as canonical
- Brevity
- Style
- General nature
- Doctrine
- Gods people are to hold firmly to the truths
taught in Scripture, aware that false teachers
are always a threat.
39JUDE Historical Concerns
- Author
- Jude (Judah/Judas), brother of James
- Probably the brother of Jesus
- Hardly anything known about him
- Date uncertain
- Sometime between 65 and 80
- Place of origin unknown
- Destination unknown
40JUDE Historical Concerns
- Recipients
- Unknown Christian congregation
- Background
- False teachers had slipped into the church
- Teaching antinomianism
- Occasion
- Jude had planned to write on another subject, but
changed his mind when he learned about the false
teachers
41JUDE Theological Concerns
- Purpose to condemn false teachers and false
teachings - Key concept Christianity must be defended from
falsehood. - Key text verse 3
- Key term contend
42JUDE Literary Concerns
- Greek style
- Very difficult, non-literary Greek
- Least grammatical Greek in the NT
- Literary features
- Quotations from non-biblical sources
- Assumption of Moses (v. 9)
- 1 Enoch (vv. 14-15)
43JUDE Literary Concerns
- Special issue Jude and 2 Peter 2
- There is a literary relationship between Jude and
2 Peter 2. Somebody copied. - Jude preceded 2 Peter (majority view)
- 2 Peter (apostle) preceded Jude (non apostle)
- Both copied a lost source (NOT!)
44JUDE Relevance
- Gods people are to hold firmly to the truths
taught in Scripture, aware that false teachers
are always a threat.