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XI. Understanding the NT Letters The New Testament letters provide us with a good deal of very valuable doctrinal information, as well as some historical insights. However, we need to remember that we are reading someone else’s mail and may lack some of the “frame of reference” that existed between the author and the original recipients and this might contribute to some questions about meaning in a few instances. Letters vs. Epistles - It is probably not too important for us to try and distinguish “letters’ from “epistles” here, but we will not this distinction: epistles were written for general, public reading (ex. James & 2 Peter), while letters were occasional documents written to particular recipients about particular situations and issues in which the writer and recipients are named and there is a greeting, prayer wish, body, final greeting and farewell. Letters to churches were meant to be shared with a larger audience (Colossians 4:16), whereas personal letters were directed to individuals and only later were shared with a larger audience (1-2 Timothy & Titus). Seek the Historical Context - Bible Dictionaries, NT Introductions, or the introduction section of a commentary will help you understand the original setting. Always read the whole letter through once to experience the whole document. Then re-read the letter and look for some specific information, such as: (1) what is said about the recipients themselves, (2) the author’s attitude toward the recipients, (3) anything mentioned about the letter's occasion, and (4) the letter's natural, logical divisions. Let the letter itself inform you about the situation and the nature of the congregation being written to. Here are some examples. Concerning the Roman church, we know that Paul was addressing two groups in different sections – the early portion of the letter was aimed at Jewish Christians (2:17) tending toward hypocritical judgment of Gentiles (2:1-16), while it is obvious that Paul eventually swings over to warning Gentile Christians against arrogance toward Jews (11:13) – there was obviously some friction between the two groups over Jewish Law issues (14). The Corinthian church was divided over just about everything (1:10-11): who baptized them (1:12-17; 3:1-9) and taking each other before civil courts (6). Then, Paul responded to questions they had directed to him about: marriage (7), food and idol temples (8-10), male and female relationships and the Lord’s Supper (11), spiritual gifts (12-15), and the resurrection (15). The Galatians were being pressured to embrace Judaism (4:21) as an essential foundation for Christianity, including circumcision (5:1-12; 6:12-13) and keeping Jewish festivals (4:9-10). The Ephesian church wrestled with false teachers (1Timothy 1:3-7), questions about the role of women (1Timothy 2:9-15), and which single women to financially support (1Timothy 5), while the church on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5) struggled with Jewish trouble-makers (Titus 1:10-14; 3:9-11), and changed lifestyles (Titus 2:1 – 3:1-3,8,14). The Colossians seemed to have been threatened by philosophical arguments (2:8) and also some pressure to embrace Jewish/Mosaic traditions/boundaries (2:16-18). The Philippians seemed to have some “dis-unity” problems (2:1-7; 4:2). The Thessalonians were hassled by the Jewish community (1Th. 2:14) and also were struggling with “end-time” questions (1Th. 4:13 – 5:3; 2Th. 2). 2 Peter and Jude were both focused on “false teacher” problems within churches (2Peter 2:1-3; Jude 3-4ff). Think in terms of Paragraphs and issues – Sometimes the main concern of the writer comes out clearly, as in 1Corinthians, where Paul identifies issues that he has been asked to comment on (1Cor. 7:1; 8:1; 12:1). At other times, you must discern from the content what the focus was – from the repetition alone, it is obvious that Paul’s main point to Titus was “get the believers on Crete doing good deeds” (Titus 1:16; 2:7,14; 3:1,8,14). Paul’s doctrinal discussions in Romans are extended, each major point being several chapters long. Problem Passages – Probably the major questions from the letters have to do with comments and phrases for which first century original recipients had more “background information” and “frame of reference” for understanding. While there had to be some clearly defined background information and a commonly-shared “frame of reference” between Paul and the mid-first century Corinthian believers, we are reading their mail without that background information and are uncertain as to what "because of the angels” (1Corinthians 11:10) means or exactly “what” was being practiced at Corinth that Paul refers to as "baptism for the dead” (1Corinthians 15:29). There are several theories on the meaning of the “spirits now in prison” (1Peter 3:18), but we aren’t given much else to go on aside from this passage. While we can make some guesses about the “man of lawlessness,” it is obvious that the Thessalonians had more information on this issue than we can get from the letter alone (2Thessalonians 2:5-6). Rather than try to construct complicated hypothetical notions from the “problem passages,” focus on the larger lessons that are more clearly taught and handle “problem passages” on the principle that “revealed” (and emphasized/discernible) matters are more worthy of our time and energy than the rare and “secret” (or mysterious) problem stuff (Deuteronomy 29:29). Principles: (1) A text cannot mean NOW what it never could have meant to the author and original recipients. (2) The applicability of a "situational" text varies directly with the similarity of the original situation to the present one. As an example, 1Timothy 5:23 may apply somewhat to a person with stomach trouble and/or in a situation where the water supply is poor, but this passage does not authorize recreational “wine-drinking” for everyone with a taste for wine. (3) The best guide to how “universal” a NT teaching might be is how many persons/congregations received similar instruction. Issues like not continuing in habitual sin (1Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5; Hebrews 10:23-27; 1John 3:2-10) and Christian “household” instruction (Ephesians 5:22 - 6:9; Colossians 3:18 - 4:1; 1Timothy 5:1-16; 6:1-2; 1Peter 3:1-9) were obviously general Christian teaching, for similar teachings were addressed to several locations. (4) Let the writers identify their lessons - 1Peter obviously emphasizes submission to authority and doing what is right even if it brings suffering for the sake of Christ (1Peter 2:21-25; 3:8-18), whether it be in the context of dealing with civil government (2:13-17), as a slave (2:18-20), with an unbelieving husband (3:1-9), or with social peer-pressure (4:1-5). 1John is offering “tests of spiritual life” and John marked some of his main points with the phrase “by this we know” (2:3,5; 4:6,13; 5:2). --------------------------------------- Charles E. McCoy March 16, 2006
Email Chuck at: chuck@severnchristian.org
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