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

New Testament epistles are an extension of the Gospels. Both were written by authoritative Christian leaders and both existed to explain the life and teachings of Jesus. ~ Leland Ryken. The Literature of the Bible . Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974. p. 317.

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C. Categories of the epistles

1. The Pauline Epistles . The letters of the Apostle Paul total thirteen in number (if Hebrews is excluded). They are not arranged in the NT in the order of their time of writing, but, as some have suggested, according to the rank of the places to which they were sent. The Pauline epistles were usually written by an amanuensis (one who wrote on his behalf) under his dictation, after which he added a few words in his own hand at the close.

a. Romans

b. 1 Corinthians

c. 2 Corinthians

d. Galatians

e. 1 Thessalonians

f. 2 Thessalonians

g. The Prison Epistles . These letters of Paul have come to be designated the Prison Epistles because they were written during one of the terms of Paul’s Roman imprisonment.