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

Ses s i on 6: The Ep i s t l es : The I nterpretat i on and App l i cat i on of Chr i s t 175

(1) Ephesians

(2) Philippians

(3) Colossians

(4) Philemon

h. The Pastoral Epistles . The epistles to Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles because they contain various kinds of spiritual and pastoral instructions from a pastor to a pastor.

(1) 1 Timothy

(2) 2 Timothy

(3) Titus

2. The Epistle to the Hebrews . As much a sermon as an epistle, the letter to the Hebrews argues passionately that faith in Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah is superior to the Old Testament law and priestly system.

3. The Catholic (General) Epistles. The General epistles are named largely because they are not addressed to any particular church or individual but rather to believers in general. Of these, three were written by John, two by Peter, and one each by James and Jude. This division is strictly accurate, for 1 Peter and 2 and 3 John, although addressed to particular persons, have little in them that is properly local and personal.

a. James

b. The Epistles of Peter