A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

2. Letters were a common genre (type or form) of ancient person-to-person communication, e.g., OT references to epistles written (2 Sam. 11; 1 Kings 21; 2 Kings 5; 10; 20; 2 Chron. 30; 32; Ezra 4-5; 7; Neh. 2; 6; Esther 1; 3; 8-9; Isa. 37; 39; Jer. 29)

3. Epistles are a dominant part of the NT record, representing twenty-one out of twenty-seven of the writings of the NT.

B. Characteristics of epistles

1. Apostolic commentary . The epistles provide us with apostolic commentary on the nature of Christ, and the relationship of Christ in the nature of the Church, the family, one’s personal discipleship, and living faithfully in service and mission in the world.

a. Interpretation of the meaning of Jesus of Nazareth in the world

(1) The majesty and sufficiency of Christ, Col. 1.13-19 – He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemp tion, the forgiveness of sins. [15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.