Session 1 Slides

aithfulto theF

E n dA Study in the

General Epistles

These EpistlesCanon, Composit ion, Themes

faithful to the end • week 1

• A Trail Less Traveled: The General Epistles• Our Street Address: The GE in Canon• Our Neighborhood: The GE in Composition• Our Message: The GE in Theology• Our Incarnation: The GE at Zion

Generally




Generally




Generally• A Trail Less Traveled: The General Epistles

he Trail Less Traveled: The General EpistlesTWhy is this a trail less traveled?


We don’t always read this far



We like Paul’s melody



We like Paul’s melody

They’re small

he Trail Less Traveled: The General EpistlesTWhy shouldn’t this be a trail less traveled?


2 Timothy 3.16-17


2 Timothy 3.16-17

These are “long haul” letters


2 Timothy 3.16-17


They have a needful melody on salvation


2 Timothy 3.16-17


They have a needful melody on salvation

“Together with the Book of Revelation, 1 Peter is unrivaled among NT documents for its concern with questions of Christian identity, constitution, and behavior in a hostile world.” (Joel Green, 1 Peter, 11).




Generally




Generally

• Our Street Address: The GE in Canon

ur Street Address: The GE in CanonO

What’s the very first thing you notice when you turn to any book in Scripture?

ur Street Address: The GE in CanonOThe New Testament


Gospels

announces and establishes the story

of redemption

The New Testament


Gospels Acts/Epistles


of redemption

anticipates the end amid the continuing story of the mission of

God’s people, their successes, failures and challenges

The New Testament


Gospels Acts/Epistles Revelation


of redemption



awaits final consummation

The New Testament

ur Street Address: The GE in CanonOThe Hebrew Bible


Torah (Instruction)

(Pentateuch)


of redemption

The Hebrew Bible


Torah (Instruction)

(Pentateuch)Prophets


of redemption



The Hebrew Bible


Torah (Instruction)

(Pentateuch)Prophets Writings


of redemption




The Hebrew Bible




of redemption




The New Testament

ur Street Address: The GE in CanonOAct/Epistles


Acts

narrative story of the church

Act/Epistles


Epistles (Letters)Acts


genre change to “situational” spotlights on the good, the bad, and the ugly

drawn from and expanding on the previous narrative

Act/Epistles

ur Street Address: The GE in CanonOHebrew Prophets


Former ProphetsJoshua • Judges • Samuel • Kings

narrative story of Israel

Hebrew Prophets


Latter ProphetsIsaiah • Jeremiah • Ezekiel • The Twelve (Minor Prophets)

Former ProphetsJoshua • Judges • Samuel • Kings

narrative story of Israel genre change to “situational” spotlights on the good, the bad, and the ugly


Hebrew Prophets


Epistles (Letters)Acts


genre change to “situational” spotlights on the good, the bad, and the ugly


Act/Epistles

ur Street Address: The GE in CanonOThe Epistles (Letters)


Pauline EpistlesRom •!1-2Cor • Gal • Eph • Col • Phi •!1-2Thess •!1-2Tim • Tit • Phil • Heb

The Epistles (Letters)

13 (14?!?) letters written by Paul, the “star” of Acts 12-28


General EpistlesPauline EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • JudeRom •!1-2Cor • Gal • Eph • Col • Phi •!1-2Thess •!1-2Tim • Tit • Phil • Heb



7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the

“stars” of Acts 1-11*


General EpistlesPauline Epistles

We are here!

James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • JudeRom •!1-2Cor • Gal • Eph • Col • Phi •!1-2Thess •!1-2Tim • Tit • Phil • Heb



7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the

“stars” of Acts 1-11*



the new testament

Our LocationTorah

(Instruction)Prophets

(Former/Latter)Writings

the old testament



the new testament

Our LocationTorah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our LocationTorah



the old testament

GE

you’ve read this far

you’ve read this far



the new testament

Our Context?Torah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our Context?Torah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our Context?Torah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our Context?Torah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our Context?Torah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our Context?Torah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our Context?Torah



the old testament

GE



the new testament

Our Context?Torah

(Instruction)Prophets Writings

the old testament

GE




Generally




Generally

• Our Neighborhood: The GE in Composition

ur Neighborhood: The GE in CompositionOWe want to address the question:

ur Neighborhood: The GE in CompositionOWe want to address the question:

Which books? (or: Where does Hebrews go?)

ur Neighborhood: The GE in CompositionOWhich Books? (or: Where does Hebrews go?)


It’s not always clear which corpus Hebrews goes with. Is it a Pauline Epistle or General Epistle?



(this won’t be the last word!)



(this won’t be the last word!)

What would be some barriers to including it with the Pauline Epistles?


No explicit author

No explicit addressee

Theology different or different emphases

Greek is different (and difficult!)

Robert Wall (NT as Canon) argues title puts it with GE

Paul was apostle to Gentiles, not Jews



What would be some reasons to include it with the Pauline Epistles?


Lack of explicit author/addressee could be explained by position/function

Theological focus varies among Paul’s letters

Further, does Paul spend any time reflecting on how the OT, the Torah (Pentateuch) in particular, applies to the church?


Some of Paul’s letters (cf .Ro 16.22, Gal 6.11) were “written” down by others

David Trobisch (1st Edition of the NT) would argue the title puts it with PE

Paul, apostle to Gentiles, started his mission in each city in the synagogue and penned “…first to the Jews, then the Gentiles…” (Ro 1.16-17)


In early manuscripts, Hebrews was always grouped with Paul’s Letters


Based on content, canonical evidence, and manuscripts, Hebrews seems to fit better as the last Pauline letter than the first General Epistle

Whatever the case, Wall makes a point generally agreed upon:


Whatever the case, Wall makes a point generally agreed upon:“My tentative suggestion regarding the canonical intentionality of Hebrews is that it is the canonical coordinate between the Pauline corpus on the one hand, and the non-Pauline corpus on the other. By 'canonical coordinate', I mean that Hebrews, because of its affinities with both the Pauline and non-Pauline collections, effectively brings the two into a profitable canonical conversation.” Robert Wall, The New Testament as Canon: A Reader in Canonical

Criticism, (JSNT 76; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1992), 178, emphasis his.

ur Neighborhood: The GE in CompositionOHebrews :: General Epistles





General EpistlesPauline Epistles(Hebrews) (James)

ur Neighborhood: The GE in CompositionO

What are some major themes (toward the end) of Hebrews?

Hebrews :: General EpistlesGeneral EpistlesPauline Epistles

(Hebrews) (James)


What are some major themes (toward the end) of Hebrews?• Not continuing in sin (10)• Perseverance for an abiding reward (10)• FAITH that DOES (11) • Suffering (12) • The coming Kingdom (12) • Christ as example (12-13)• Christian conduct (13: strangers; marriage; money; praise with lips; aiding others; leaders)


(Hebrews) (James)




How about some familiar people/phrases/words?


(Hebrews) (James)


How about some familiar people/phrases/words?• Noah (11.7) • Abraham (11.8-12) • Rahab (11.31)• “alien” / “foreign” / “strangers”/ “exiles” (11.8-13)• raising from the dead (11.19, 35)• enduring ill-treatment with God’s people (11.24)• sprinkling of blood (11.28; 12.24)• suffering of Christ (12.1-3; 13.12)


(Hebrews) (James)




It appears that (the end) of Hebrews introduces the major theme(s) of the General Epistles.


(Hebrews) (James)


It appears that (the end) of Hebrews introduces the major theme(s) of the General Epistles.

If the GE could have a “theme verse” (if that’s even safe), it seems like this would fit them well:


(Hebrews) (James)


Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrew 12.1-3!


(Hebrews) (James)

ur Neighborhood: The GE in CompositionOThe General Epistles are almost at the end of the canonical story


They appear to pick up threads from the end of Hebrews and develop them into a theology of perseverance in faith through suffering to salvation


They appear to pick up threads from the end of Hebrews and develop them into a theology of perseverance in faith through suffering to salvation

Their drumbeat seems to be:Be Faithful to the End!




Generally




Generally

• Our Message: The GE in Theology

ur Message: The GE in TheologyODon’t expect to hear Paul (though don’t expect to hear him repudiated either)


With Hebrews as the pivot, we enter a new refrain in the canonical hymn


With Hebrews as the pivot, we enter a new refrain in the canonical hymn

We will argue that James in a sense provides an introduction and sets the tone for the GE

ur Message: The GE in TheologyOWith James, the GE may then be generally letters about persevering through suffering, sin, and shysters by living faith unto the goal: salvation


Suffering will be the norm



Christ will often be the example




Faith will be what is practiced




Faith will be what is practiced

Salvation will be the hope that keeps you climbing




Generally




Generally

• Our Incarnation: The GE at Zion

ur Incarnation: The GE at ZionOWhat do we mean by “our incarnation”?


What do we do on the Sabbath?



Why?



Why?

What implications does this have for this class (or any Sabbath activity at Zion)?

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E n d

JamesWord inDeed

living faith and living community

week 2

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Session 1 Slides