Dr. Heiser is spot-on in his analysis that New Testament writers wrote their letters on a specific pattern. New Testament Epistles usually contain:
1. Name of the writer
2. Name of the recipient
3. Greeting
4. Often a prayer to build rapport before confrontation
5. Body of the letter
.....a. Teaching
.....b. Addressing the problem or circumstance
.....c. Application of teachings (in Paul’s letters, these are usually in the second half of the letter)
.....d. Command or exhortation
6. Final Greeting
Paul’s letters are written to solve problems. But, he doesn’t have that pithy delivery common to present-day bloggers that comes out slinging with exhortations to change some aspect of behavior without the niceties of human obligations. Back then, letters were important. When Christians received letters from their leaders, they passed them back and forth, and cherished the writer and the message. Change happened because a letter was written.
Anytime an Epistle in the New Testament is studied, the six aspects that are common to most should be located and identified. No proper interpretation of epistles can occur without knowing the sender, the audience, and the message, as well as how their corrected actions can be achieved, as well as the results they should expect. All of these details are critical to understand the literal meaning behind the words.
Liberal scholars might stop right there in the interpretation process. If it is a letter for a certain people, then the message is applicable only to them in that time. But, the Word of God is living, not dead. Though the message certainly is applicable to the receivers in their time, the deeper things of God are also within those recorded letters. The moment that epistles were included inside the Canon, they were acknowledged as the inspired, inerrant, Word of God, worthy and able to guide modern-day Christians to the places that God wills them to go. Professional Theologists must go past the literal application of epistles and move toward the deeper things revealed and connected to Scripture.
It is important to remember that not all the epistles written during the time of the Early Church were placed into Scripture. There were many letters written in that time. Only a few qualified to be included within Scripture; Early Church leaders and councils were guided by God to include certain ones in the Canon. As a result of their inclusion, we must look to the epistles in both the literal and the supernatural connections that God guides us to know through His inerrant Word.
Bibliography
Heiser, Michael S. BI101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources: LOGOS Bible Software.
Links
About the Author
Kathy L. McFarland is President and Founder of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and the Becker Professional Theology Academy. She is also a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, is on track for the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School in 2016 and will be seeking a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology and Apologetics beginning in the fall of 2016. She is the originator of the newest theological movement to encourage Christian leaders to minister within the modern-day marketplace as Professional Theologists. She is also the Curriculum Developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy and a teaching faculty member. Kathy's favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian Apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
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