The Letter to the Hebrews
This is possibly the most self-consciously “theological” work in the entire New Testament, and is more of a treatise than a “letter.” Although the last few lines of Chapter 13 look like the kind of ending which Paul favoured, the author is not identified anywhere in the work, and few scholars today include it among Paul’s writings.
The point of the letter to the Hebrews is to use Jewish scriptures to delineate how God has effected the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ. Using Jewish laws about Temple sacrifice, the book presents a picture of Jesus as both perfect Temple Priest and perfect sacrificial victim. The author assumes throughout that Sacrifice is a fundamental and valid part of God’s moral universe, and asserts that this universal fundamental has been completed and perfected in Jesus.
|
| Hebrews 4:14-16 | Jesus was tried and tested in every respect like we are, but all the same was “without sin.” |
| Hebrews 9:24-28 | The central theme of Hebrews. |
| Hebrews 11:1 | A definition of “faith.” |
| Hebrews 12:1-2 | We are “surrounded by witnesses” so let us hold fast to the faith. |
| |
The “Catholic” Epistles
The designation “catholic” in this context applies to a group of letters, found near the end of the New Testament, which were written to a general or universal audience (the word “catholic” means “universal”). These letters - one attributed to James, two to Peter, three to John, and one to Jude - contrast sharply with the true “correspondence” which we have from Paul.
They are like essays, or multi-purpose homilies, and concern themselves with practical matters of behaviour and church order. Several of them were not accepted as true “Scriptures” until more than two hundred years after the time of Christ. Some, despite the names they bear, were not written until long after the apostolic era. James, and 1 Peter, however, may well be by the people whose names they bear.
The letters attributed to “John” merely identify themselves as being from “the elder,” but the style is very similar to that of the Fourth Gospel, and many people feel that all were written by the “disciple Jesus loved” (see John 21:20-25) or one of his followers. |
|
Selected readings from the “catholic” epistles
|
|
James
|
| James 2:1-7 | Prejudice, and judging by externals. |
| James 2:18-22 | While Paul asserts that no human action can earn us a place in Heaven, James here insists that a faith which does not show itself in concrete actions is dead. |
| James 3:1-12 | Watch your tongue! |
| James 4:13-15 | The proper spirit in which to make a business plan. |
| James 5:1-6 | Tirade against greed and wealth. |
| James 5:13-16 | Prayer and laying-on of hands for healing. |
| |
|
1 Peter & 2 Peter
|
| 1 Peter 1:6-9 | Faithfulness to the unseen Lord. |
| 1 Peter 2:11-17 | The role of Christians as citizens.
Note that although Peter coins the idea that Christians are “refugees” or “pilgrims” in the world, he nonetheless urges co-operation with this world’s authorities.
Note also the list of ethical attitudes: “respect” for everyone, “love” for fellow church members, “reverence” (“fear”) for God, and “respect” for the government. |
| 1 Peter 2:20 | The value to slaves of unjust beatings. |
| 1 Peter 3:16-18 | The correct attitude of a Christian under persecution. |
| 1 Peter 5:8 | The Devil is portrayed as a “roaring lion.” |
| |
|
1 John, 2 John, 3 John & Jude
|
| 1 John 1:8-9 | The universality of sin, and forgiveness. |
| 1 John 3:13-18 | Action speaks louder than words. Love is an action. |
| 1 John 4:1-21 | God is Love. |
| 2 John, verse 7 | A hint at early church controversy: a challenge from “docetists,” who said that Jesus only appeared to be a human being, only seemed to have human feelings and a human mind. |
| ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
