The Epistles: Learning to Think Contextually*

*How to read the Bible for All Its Worth, Fee & Stuart

They are not always easy to understand:
(from 1 Corinthians)
How is Paul’s opinion to be taken as God’s word? 7:25
How does excommunication apply to today? (Chap 5)
What’s the point of 12-14 if gifts are not accepted in the church?
What about head coverings? 11:2-16
Or praying and prophesying by women?


The Nature of the Epistles

A. Letters and Epistles

What are some differences between 1 Cor., Galatians and Philemon on the one hand, and Romans, 2 Peter, 1 John on the other?

B. The form of standard letters

What is the form of a standard letter in ancient times? (see Philemon)

Six Basic Elements of Ancient Letters

1. Writer’s name v. 1
2. Recipient’s name v. 1 & 2
3. Greeting (Grace…) v. 3
4. Prayer or thanksgiving vv. 4-7 (I always thank God…)
5. Body vv. 8-22
6. Final greeting or farewell vv. 23-25 (The grace of the Lord…)

C. All epistles/letters are written for a particular occasion and are written in the first century.
1. The letters were written to address certain problems, certain situations.
2. Thy are not theological treatises.
For example—use of the word justify
.......Romans-15 times
.......Galatians-8 times
.......All of Paul’s other letters-2 times

Case Study of 1 Corinthians (and 2 Thessalonians) Homework for those missing class on Friday, 26 Feb is to do the steps below for 2 Thessalonians. I am only asking for 2 pages (A4) of notes, so you can be brief.

How to Study a Letter: —1 Corinthians, 2 Thessalonians

1. The Historical Context (This is the homework assignment for those who missed school Friday, 19 Feb)

A. Find out as much as possible about Corinth and its people (w/ your study Bible or dictionary).

B. Read the whole book through in one sitting.
(OK, it will probably take you more than one.)

As you read, briefly take four kinds of notes:

1. What do you notice about the recipients,(e.g. are they Jew, Greek, wealthy, slave, do they have problems, attitudes…etc.)
2. What are Paul’s attitudes towards them?
3. What is specifically mentioned which indicates the specific occasion of the letter? (e.g. “I heard from John Doe that you were having problems”)
4. What are the letter’s logical divisions? i.e. what are some of the issues Paul addresses?)

2. The Literary Context
Go through the letter paragraph by paragraph
1. What does the writer say here?
2. Why does he say it here? How does it fit into his letter?