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

e. As priest after the order of Melchizedek, Christ Jesus is superior to the priesthood of Aaron, 4.14-5.10.

f. As member of an eternal priesthood, Christ Jesus is superior to the entire Levitical system, 5.11-7.28.

g. As mediator of a new covenant, Christ Jesus is superior to old covenant, 8.1-9.10.

h. As author of an eternal salvation, Christ Jesus is superior to the insufficient atonement of the Law, 9.11-10.18.

6. The practical application of the teaching of Christ’s superiority ought to result in steadfastness, endurance in suffering and chastisement, holy living and pursuit of the will of God, and confidence in the Shepherd who will complete their discipleship, chs. 10.19-13.25.

G. The General Epistles of James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude: Christ our Pattern and Prophet

1. Catholic or general epistles (Greek, epistolai katholikai ).

2. Over against the Pauline Epistles and Hebrews, these seven letters were applied to early Christian thinkers like Origen and thought of as “catholic,” in the sense of universal or general.

3. Even in the early history of the Church, as early as the 3rd century, they were given the term “encyclical,” for “they are not addressed to single churches, but generally ( katholou ) to the faithful, whether to the Jews of the Dispersion, as Peter writes, or even to all who are living as Christians under the same faith” (Theodoret).