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 203

instinct is ever supreme. Their letters are too human, too personal, too vital to be formal treatises or arguments. They throb with passion for truth and love for souls. Their directness and affectionate inten sity convert their authors into prophets of truth, preachers of grace, lovers of men and missionaries of the cross. Hence, their value as spiritual biographies of the writers is immeasurable. As letters are the most spontaneous and the freest form of writing, the New Testa ment Epistles are the very life-blood of Christianity. They present theology, doctrine, truth, appeal, in terms of life, and pulsate with a vitality that will be fresh and re-creative till the end of time.

~ Dwight Pratt. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (software edition). Bible Library Edition. 1998-2001.

A. Principles

1. The principle of apostolic interpretation and application . 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. They interpret the meaning of the Christ event for our lives and faith.

b. They apply the meaning of the Christ event to different occasions and specific issues.

2. The principle of contextualization . Christian leaders are to apply the teaching of the life and ministry of Jesus and his Kingdom to specific situations, guided by the truth of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

a. The truth of Scripture, 2 Tim. 3.16-17 – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.